It's a 50 gallon tank with 4 live plants already in it. We set it up on Sunday.
2007-02-13 03:06:16 · 12 answers · asked by lisamarie_625 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Then it should be ready!
24 to 48 hours is usually sufficient.
2007-02-13 03:10:30 · answer #1 · answered by Sparky5115 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Well that depends on how you are planning on cycling the tank. The tank is ready for fish now, but you don't have an establish biological filter. Cycling the tank will take at least 3 weeks. You can do cycling with fish or without fish. (In either case you'll need to put food in the tank.) Don't make the mistake of going out and buying a dozen fish. Buy no more that 2 fish a week. Get test kit, and watch the ammonia, and nitrite levels.
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
2007-02-13 12:09:31 · answer #2 · answered by Sabersquirrel 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It depends how you cycle it; it could take a day or it could take 6 weeks. In the wild, and in established tanks, there are nitrifying bacteria that break down toxic ammonia from fish waste and excess food into less toxic nitrates. In a brand new tank, these bacteria don't exist, so any fish in the tank will produce ammonia, which, not being broken down by bacteria, will kill or weaken the fish.
There are several ways to cycle a tank. The "instaneous" methods take 1-2 days:
- Bio-spira: this is the live bacteria that "eats" the ammonia. They have products like Cycle that are the dead bacteria - those are useless. You need the live stuff. This will cycle your tank within a day.
- Using established filter media / gravel. These bacteria live in gravel and in filter sponges of established tanks. If you can get some of this stuff from another tank (don't let it dry out), you can cycle your tank within a couple days.
The following methods encourage the development of these bacteria by putting a source of ammonia into the tank. It takes 2 to 6 weeks for the bacteria to develop sufficiently. It is adviseable to buy a master testing kit so you can keep an eye on your nitrites and ammonia - which will be ZERO when the tank is safe; and your nitrates which will be around 20-30ppm.
- "Fishless" cycling - ever day, add a teaspoon of pure ammonia, or a pinch of fish food to your tank (with no fish in it - only water and all the decor / filter). Or you can throw in a piece of shrimp and let it rot. This will put ammonia in the tank, and the bacterial populations will respond.
- Fish cycling - I'm not a fan of this method, because it uses a fish to produce ammonia. The fish will have to live through ammonia and a nitrite spike, and many fish do not survive the process. If you do opt for this method, use a hardy fish, like a few danios - and do small daily water changes (10%) to dillute the ammonia.
2007-02-13 11:28:02 · answer #3 · answered by Zoe 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You have to go thru the cycling process. Your new tank is far too new for fish at this point. Read Cycling a tank below.
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/biolog...
About 3-4 weeks. I would have suggested not putting your plants in just yet either. Allow the tank to cycle for atleast two weeks before adding the plants. You will have spikes of various chemicals which could harm your plants.
What is the water quality of your tank? Once the water quality is stable, you can start adding your fish....slowly. (Usually around 4-6 weeks)
Trust me have Patience. It will save you grief in the long run.
Any other questions, feel free to email me and I will try to help.
2007-02-13 11:20:52 · answer #4 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure 4 plants are enough to consider the tank "planted" but since you do have live plants in the tank, check out this article:
http://www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_silent_cycling.php
It recommends a couple of weeks to let the plants get a secure foothold in the tank before you start adding fish, and that you add fish slowly.
You can click on the "Forums" button and post a question either in the Freshwater Basics forum about cycling, or in the Planted Tanks forum. There are lots of very experienced people there with planted tanks who can answer specific questions.
Good luck with it!
2007-02-13 13:08:18 · answer #5 · answered by ceci9293 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i did mine after 24 hours just put 3 or 4 the first time or if u are going to get goldfish try getting feeder fish at first to get everything built up and if any dies (most likely some will) your only have a 1.00 in them them when they do good or looks ok for a couple of days get more. that's what i did always get the start up for a new tank (stress coat chlor out) is what i use for mine and when i add more water. good luck
2007-02-13 13:07:14 · answer #6 · answered by scooby 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It should be all ready to go for your first few fish. It's really important that you add your new fish very slowly though. Get only 2-3 to start with and allow them to be in the tank for 2 weeks at least before adding any more. After that still add slowly, only a few fish every week or so. This gives the tank time to adjust and the cycle time to establish itself and adjust to each new addition with a minimum of stress to the fish.
MM
2007-02-13 11:17:57 · answer #7 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
i agree with magicman , start with only a few fish at a time then add more fish slowly over a period of a couple of weeks
2007-02-13 14:01:01 · answer #8 · answered by Abby G 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
2 weeks for all the levels to get stable
2007-02-14 13:14:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
They actually suggest a week, just so the cycle can get adjusted. I gave mine 4 days and it was fine.
2007-02-13 11:13:42 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋