I broke down my aquarium after 10 years and cleaned it just using hot water. I have new rocks. I just used STRESS COAT to treat the water which is all i have ever used. i didnt clean the filter it wasnt too bad and i have it running. How many days do I wait till I put fish in the tank? Anything else I need to add to the water?
2006-06-14 23:40:44 · 15 answers · asked by tammy 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
I'd go 24 hours after adding the stress coat. I really doubt you'd have any problems if you didn't wait though. And depending on the type of fish you add, you may want to buy a tank heater ($15 for a 10gal heater).
2006-06-14 23:46:17 · answer #1 · answered by blah j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You dont have to wait at all to put the fish in as long as your filter still has a cycle. How long has it been running without any fish? If its longer then a day or 2 the beneficial bacteria could be dead already which means you will need to start it all over again. And letting a tank sit with nothing in it other then water and any decorations you may have does nothing at all to the water other then get the temp to room temperature. I dont know why people think it gets the water ready, the cycle can't start unless there is a source of ammonia.
Dont forget if your tank isn't cycled and you add fish you have to keep an eye on the water params. High ammonia and nitrIte can and will kill your fish.
2006-06-15 13:59:56 · answer #2 · answered by Nunya Biznis 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
New tank means it has to go through the nitrogen cycle. There are two ways to accomplish this. Fish or fishless.
Fishless: no fish for 8 weeks and you start growing the necessary bacteria culture by using ammonia and other stuff. Not sure on this. Read up if you're intersted. This means no fish until cycle is complete... 1-2 months.
Fish: After water has cycled. Buy a couple of hardy fish (some tetras, barbs, cloud minnows, among others). You'll have to decide which ones you want; but it must be "hardy". As the tank goes through the cycle it can be toxic to fish. (because of the ammonia and then the nitrite).
Remember using fish for your cycle; only get 2-4 fish. The cycle will go slower; but at least you're not making the tank really toxic. You'll potentially loose fish. Water testing will indicate when the cycle is complete (again it's 1-2 months). Either get a test kit or get the pet store to test.
Read this link to being your research. I found it quite helpful when I started my tank a few months ago. It's a massive series of webpages; but I jumped ahead to the Nitrogen cycle for you
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/start_up/start_up4.html
2006-06-15 01:01:48 · answer #3 · answered by n-i-c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Experienced aquarist here with both fresh and saltwater tanks. The answer is - it all depends. Did you keep your substrate and transfer that to your new tank? The fact that you kept your filter is good because it already has the necessary bacteria to promote a quick 'cycle time'. If you did keep your substrate, then all you technically did was a 100% water change, in which case you could start to add fish fairly soon. I'd recommend at least buying an overnight cycle product such as Spiro or similar products that are very good at reducing the cycling time for newly setup fish tanks.
2006-06-15 00:25:11 · answer #4 · answered by G-man 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you did not scrub the filter, you could probably add a few fish immediately. Check the tank for ammonia every day if possible and add Ammoloc or similar if needed. Don't touch the filter for a month or two till the bacteria settles in your tank.
2006-06-15 01:28:20 · answer #5 · answered by Raj 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Providing that you didn't let your filter media dry out, I would say a week as it will seed your tank with new beneficial bacteria. Just don't add too many fish at once, do it slowly.
2006-06-15 00:06:43 · answer #6 · answered by iceni 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think you should ask a person from the acuarium or where you bought your fishes.
however, i have heard that you HAVE to make sure the water temperature is normal, neither too hot or too cold, it has to "rest" for 12 hours so it purifies and turns to room temperature
In acuariums, there are this liquids you put in water so it can get rid of all little insects or bacterias that could harm your fishes.
2006-06-14 23:49:25 · answer #7 · answered by LuiSiuS - 3410 * 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1/2 hr
and put the bage of fish in side tab
and slowlly let the fish come out
2006-06-15 01:18:36 · answer #8 · answered by ilmohammad 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'd say your good to go when the water is at room temp...then don't forget you have to acclimate the fish...put the bag you brought them home in, in the tank for a few hours.
2006-06-14 23:46:12 · answer #9 · answered by m37734 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would go ahead and add the fish in a few days and some "biozime" to start the nitrofing proses
2006-06-14 23:48:52 · answer #10 · answered by yankabilly46 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋