filter help?

Question

for the bacteria thing to start in a recently set up tank do you need to turn on the filter? if so how long each day? and how long should i wait to put fish in? also can you plz give me other info on filters?

Answer 1

yes turn on the filter & run the filter 24-7 for cold water fish like fancy gold fish, black moors, fantails etc... 24 hours is all you need, if you are wanting tropical fish, then you have to wait untill the water is heated to the proper temperature. There are some products that will help in the way of preparing the tank for fish, a chlorine remover, and an "eco-start" or nitrifying bacteria drops. It is a live culture of the benifical bacteria needed to help break down waste in the tank. Follow the instructions on the package. As for the filter, follow the instructions change the charcoal medium once a month after the tank is established, different types of filters have different directions, for example if it is an "eclipse" style tank-filter system, then you need to buy the eclipse cartridges, if it is another type you need to by the charcoal ( loose or in packets) and other medium required by the specific filter type... If you bought your filter used, you should look up the model on-line to see if you can find a manual or set of instructions for it, so that you know what you need to do as far as maintanence goes. good luck!

Answer 2

Are u doing fresh water??
You should usually wait about 24 hours for the bacteria to set in.
Sometimes u can get a few feeder goldfish and when they waste in the water it speeds up the process.
What size tank?? Usually the filter will tell u the size tank its for.
When the 24 hours is up go ahead and slowly add fish and again depending on the size tank is the amount of fish u can have.
For instance 10 gallon about 10 to 15 fish. But don't add then all at once just a few each day.
20 gallon tank 15-20 and again add a few each day.

Good Luck!!
I worked for a pet store for 2 in a half years.

Answer 3

If you have a tank with a filter you need to turn it on right after you put all the water in the tank. And you leave it on. Almost all fish need moving water to breath. That is what the filter is for.
You also need to change out the carben part of the filter about once ever other month. If you go to just about any pet store they can tell you what you need for your tank.

Answer 4

It does not matter if filter is on to start bacteria process, you just need to wait around 24 to 36 hours to put fish in,give time for chlorine to to lets say leave the water,you can also get stuff at pet store to get rid of the chlorine in the water,but still wait at least 24 hours before adding fish,and I run filter always

Answer 5

Filter should run for 24 hours a day...how long should you wait for putting fish in it? It depends on what tapes of fish...I would let tank of water completed filtered before putting any fishes...By the way, I'd have raised some water plants first for 2 weeks before letting fishes go in...

Answer 6

You should always leave your filter running. The bacteria require constant oxygen and ammonia to survive. You have to have some sort of ammonia in your tank to start the biological cycle going, try reading this article http://www.bluecrayfish.com/cycle.htm , but you don't have to buy a test kit, your local pet store will test a sample if you bring it in.
Remember not to change your filter too often. When it becomes clogged, rinse it out in tap water, so not all the bacteria are destroyed. Only replace it when rinsing it out is no longer effective.
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Answer 7

You filter should always be running 24/7. Especially in the cases that you have a Biowheel (for the biologics) you will need to always have it running, or you will lose the valueable bacteria colonies that keep the ecosystem healthy and stable.

As for cycling your tank I would recommend for you to do what is called a "Fishless Cycle". Here is an article on it, and if you need further assistance - I would encourage you to join the boards I have listed for you in my sources (there are forums on each of these sites with extremely knowledgeable hobbyists on both, and joining is free).

Fishless Cycling (check out the 10 and 14 day recipes in additional to the main info on the page)
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Fishlesscycle.htm

Good Luck!

Answer 8

i have a 50 gallon tank and you should always have the filter runing and the filter should have ammonia chips and carbon in it helps keep it clean ammonia is built up because of the waste and a tank should be fully set up for one full week before adding fish the tank needs to build up a biological bed if you have any problems go to you'r local fish pet store and get info from them or buy a book on tropical fish keep in mind the larger the tank the more maintenence you have you need test kits for the ph balance amonnia test kit the tank should have 0 amonnia the test kits have instructions and follow them and you will have a beutiful tank

Answer 9

with mine, i just left the filter on all the time like there where fish in it. the guy at the pet store said you should wait 5 weeks. I personally think that's too long. i didn't wait that long and i guess it worked. the brand of the filters i have is Tetra. they seem to work pretty good, and they are pretty quiet too.

Answer 10

put the filter on as soon as the tank is set up, it should run 24-7 let it cycle for at least 24hrs before adding fish