Very New And Have Questions

[tbm]

Hi, I am very new to the forum as to being a fish mommy, in fact we are still expecting the first ones.

I bought a gently used 29 gal aquarium for hubby for Christmas. It came with a 150 watt heater and a bio wheel filter, no instructions.

I went to Petsmart and was told the Bio wheel filter is discontinued and would have a hard time getting filters, so she sold me a new filter Aqua Clear which has cycle guard with maintenace biomax.

She also sold me 1 fl oz "cycle" (reduces fish loss) and a 1 fl oz "Aqua plus" water conditoner, which I have added to the water.

She also sold me gravel for the bottom.

I left the heater on high all night to warm the water up. I have no idea how submerged this heater should be. There is a minimum water line but not a maximum. It is a Topfin and has a "cap thingy" where the temp control is and the cord comes out of. It suctions to the side, but not smoothly so I wonder if it is supposed to be under water more.

I've been told I can add guppies, or neons or danios etc. Still only 2 at a time?

I've been told to wait a week and it will grow bateria naturally or add them now.

I've been told not to believe the staff at Petsmart and told to ask for advice.



Now what?

The one thing I notice on your board is there were no donators from Canada. I wonder if this is because of our water quality? I advertised to get filter media on our local craigslist type of thing, and out of the 10 responses, 9 said I didn't need it here. I live in Victoria, BC and our water is really good, not hard.

Sorry, I know I sound really dumb, but it's just too much info too quick, so I am on information overload.


Also, there is a small opening at the top of the tank that my kitten is loving to play with the water (she's weird, loves to put her paw in water). Will the chemicals harm her?

 

[Luketendo]

Cycle is useless. But Aqua Plus is good.

The heater should be fully submerged.

Having an empty tank does not grow any bacteria, so take a look at the fishless cycling topic here: [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/[/URL]

I believe water in Canada is fine and you need filter media of course!

It's the stuff in your filter, varies from sponges to polywool to ceramic rings to carbon, I'm sure your filter has some filter media in it.

Try not to let your kitten play with the water, I'd be worried about chemicals getting in the tank. I'm not against kittens, I have 3 cats (two from kitten.)

 

[tbm]

Cycle is useless. But Aqua Plus is good.

The heater should be fully submerged.

Having an empty tank does not grow any bacteria, so take a look at the fishless cycling topic here: [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/New-to-t...shless-Cycling/[/URL]

thanks for the fast reply.

I have read that thread, that's why my head is buzzing.

If I fully submerged the heater, both the cord and the temp control will be under water. That's the part I'm confused about.

 

[Luketendo]

Didn't the heater come with instructions?

Could you get me a picture of it, online will do.

Well both of my (english) heaters are fully submersible.

Do you have a freshwater test kit? If not you need to get one, get a liquid one as well.
The tests you need it to have are: pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate.

 

[tbm]

Didn't the heater come with instructions?

Could you get me a picture of it, online will do.

Well both of my (english) heaters are fully submersible.

Do you have a freshwater test kit? If not you need to get one, get a liquid one as well.
The tests you need it to have are: pH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate.

here's a link to the heater:

http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?...;utm_source=cse

no instructions as it came with the used tank.

Didn't get the test kit yet, the sales clerk was being easy on me yesterday. Probably afraid I would smash the tank when I found out how much I was going to have to do, lol

 

[Luketendo]

You need to get a test kit before you even think about adding fish. If levels in your tank are wrong, your fish could die.

That heater looks fully submersible, the summary of it said their was a minimum indication line, that means that the water must go past that level or the heater could overheat.

 

[tbm]

You need to get a test kit before you even think about adding fish. If levels in your tank are wrong, your fish could die.

That heater looks fully submersible, the summary of it said their was a minimum indication line, that means that the water must go past that level or the heater could overheat.

I have the water level between that line and the cap.

I am going to Petsmart this afternoon and will get a test kit, some water or gravel from their tank and find out about the water level

Local fish owners from around here keep telling me I don't have to cycle, but then one of them just said "so what if your fish die, they're the cheap kind" so I won't be following THEIR advice, lol

 

[Luketendo]

- I suppose if your water is above the line, you're ok.
- You'd be better off with some mature filter media rather than gravel or water. (Then again it might not be a good idea since their tanks might not be very well looked after.)
- The fish that the 'local fish owners' own are probably dead. You do need to cycle, even my fish shop said that! They just got me to do a fish cycle rather than a fishless cycle. I don't like fishless cycling because I found it doesn't work, but if you do a fish cycle you run a risk upon your fish. Obviously they don't like their fish much.

 

[tbm]

- I suppose if your water is above the line, you're ok.
- You'd be better off with some mature filter media rather than gravel or water. (Then again it might not be a good idea since their tanks might not be very well looked after.)
- The fish that the 'local fish owners' own are probably dead. You do need to cycle, even my fish shop said that! They just got me to do a fish cycle rather than a fishless cycle. I don't like fishless cycling because I found it doesn't work, but if you do a fish cycle you run a risk upon your fish. Obviously they don't like their fish much.

I guess I could ask them about filter media. At least, their tanks would be well looked after. A couple of locals did say not to take media from someone's tanks as I wouldn't know if it was diseased or not.

I really don't want to harm the fish. I guess I will try a fisn cycle.

 

[Luketendo]

Look in their tanks for disease first then.

Personally I never got mature media from anyone else, I made my own via growing my own bacteria.

 

[tbm]

Look in their tanks for disease first then.

Personally I never got mature media from anyone else, I made my own via growing my own bacteria.

how do you grow your own bacteria?

 

[Luketendo]

Look in their tanks for disease first then.

Personally I never got mature media from anyone else, I made my own via growing my own bacteria.

how do you grow your own bacteria?

Basically the fishless cycling thread will explain all that.

To be brief:

1. Bacteria eat ammonia. (This bacteria is quite quick growing.)
2. This bacteria converts ammonia to nitrite.
3. Different bacteria eat nitrite. (This bacteria takes double the time to grow.)
4. This different bacteria converts nitrite to nitrate.
5. Nitrate is not eaten by bacteria, so has to be removed by water changes.

The point of this is that ammonia and nitrite are toxic to fish. The problem is that fish produce ammonia, so we need bacteria to eat this up before it can effect the fish, we have another problem with nitrite, which we use bacteria to eat this up also.

Then we're left with nitrate, we're lucky because this stuff isn't toxic to fish. The only problem with this is that excessive levels can stress fish out, which can cause disease and/or death. So if our nitrate levels are too high, we need to do a water change. (I try to do a water change if my nitrates are over about 50, sometimes I don't because my nitrates are 10-20! Having nitrates of 10-20 is very good because this is the levels people like to have for sensitive fish and even marines.)

So in brief again:

1. We need bacteria to keep Ammonia at 0ppm.
2. We need different bacteria to keep Nitrite at 0ppm.
3. We need water changes to keep Nitrates from getting high.

Growing bacteria may take over a month sometimes (mine took 3-4 weeks with fish), but it is very rewarding as it keeps your fish alive!

 

[vinylman]

I really don't want to harm the fish. I guess I will try a fisn cycle.

If you don't want to harm the fish, then don't do a fish-in cycle; they'll be exposed to Ammonia and Nitrites, both of which could kill them (or at least permanently damage their gills). If you don't want to do a fishless cycle, then getting some mature filter media is your best way to go.

 

[tbm]

I really don't want to harm the fish. I guess I will try a fisn cycle.

If you don't want to harm the fish, then don't do a fish-in cycle; they'll be exposed to Ammonia and Nitrites, both of which could kill them (or at least permanently damage their gills). If you don't want to do a fishless cycle, then getting some mature filter media is your best way to go.

well, I tried reading everything about the fishless cycle and every other thread for newbies here. I contacted local people and was told I could go ahead and put fish in after 24 hrs.

I did not understand the "cycle" that happened because I missed an important newbie thread, "avoiding new tank syndrom".

I really did not understand that it was the FISH that produced ammonia, I thought it was from the water and our water is really good here.

Bottom line, I screwed up and have 4 fish, 2 tetras and 2 mollys (I think that's what they are).

So, now I have to try to protect them as best as I can. The good news, all their color is back this morning, the tank is at an even temperature and they are eating.

Here are the responses I got for bacteria:

-You should buy new bottom material from a pet supply store and not take home someone else's mabey polluted gravel.
Set up your take with filters gravel and get some water plants..let cycle for a couple of weeks then add fish slowly.

-er.. that is.. dont put too many in at first. depending on how big the tank is id say put no more than 1 1-inch fish for every 2 gallons of water to start with.. after a month your tank should be decently cycled and is ready to add more fish

-You really don't need to go throygh this effort. If you buy a product called "Stress Zyme" it will help create the biological filter and act as a water stabilizer. You put in 5 ml per 40 US gallons. I would be surprised if you don't have it, or something similat now.

Hope that helps you

I have some filter media that needs to be changed soon. You can just add it to your new filter. Also, some gravel and "cycle" (helps to cycle the tank faster)

-victoria water is pretty decent for fish tanks. and honestly if your starting with basic run of the mill fish (guppies, neons, danios etc) it should be just fine. if you still have any reservations or are planning on buying expensive fish right away, id probably ask the pet store for a handful of gravel or filter media (sheesh, im starting to sound like a fish-geek here) most pet stores would be more than happy to help you out with some, but if their going to be dinks about it just ask for lots of water with your fish. the water is almost as good, its got lots of bacteria swimming around in it.
anyhoo.. ive worked in pet stores for years before i decided to fight fires and cut trees down for a living but i still have fish tanks and although i havent checked yet today im assuming their still alive. any more questions or advice will cost ya $3.99 a paragraph.. (just kiddn) really though, just let me know if you need anything else..

- Hey, I wanted to change some of my gravel soon anyways, so you can take some of mine.

(this one I thought was evil)
-hi, if you don't have fish alreadythen it is not a big deal. just wiat a week before adding fish. what kind of filter are you running? i also have some fish you can have to help cycle the tank,and if they die-no big deal(sounds cruel i know) but they are cheap fish until you get some good ones. how big is your tank?

-go buy some cycle you're going to need it anyway for when you do your weekly water changes

-whatever book or person told you that is pretty old school. to be honest, if your water quality is good (ph around 7, low chlorine levels) you can put fish directly into the tank. ive been keeping fish for 14 years and NEVER lost a fish to not cycling a tank first. saltwater is a sifferent story, but as long as its a freshwater tank, id fill it, use a little bit of water conditioner (to remove chlorine) and make sure the temperature is good. then id go right ahead and put my fish in. any other questions you have feel free to ask, my e-mail is

-saw your ad. is this a freshwater or saltwater tank? I don't know anything about saltwater tanks. But for fresh, i don't always use water from an old tank or anything. What it takes to get things going is mostly patience. I just set up a new tank and I bascially let the tank sit with filter running, added cycle (you buy it at the pet stores) added a hardy fish after a few days, Do small regular water changes, add more cycle... keep an eye on the ph and ammonia levels (buy test kits they will come in very handy) Before you know it the ammonia level will go to normal (after spiking) ph is perfect and you are ready to add the fish you want, but dont' add too many too quickly if possible. What filters are you using in your tank? How big is the tank? What fish do you plan to house?

Go to the library there are great books to borrow that will help you figure out what to do to get your tank going and keep it healthy. Also check out the victoria fish forum, lots of nice ppls there who are willing to help you out,

There are many, many more, but other than the one offer for media, everyone kept telling me our water was fine.

Should I go ahead and grab that media from that one lady?

I really wanted fish in there for Christmas as I have to leave to go to work until New Years and my hubby will be all alone

 

[vinylman]

If the media has been left in a working filter, go ahead. Any liquid in a bottle (such as 'Cycle') won't add any bacteria to the water/filter. The used media is definitely your best option right now. Now go easy feeding your fish (once every two days will be fine for the next week or so). When the time comes to clean the filter media, just rinse it out in a bucket of old tank water, NEVER tap water. Only replace the media if it's literally falling apart and then only replace half at a time with new media. Don't believe what the manufacturers tell you about replacing filter media every month - that's a VERY nice earner for them, and totally unneccessary.