running in time for aquariums...6 weeks?!?

Question

Okay done alot fo reading I know all about the water cycle but is there no way of speeding up the running in time? I want to get my fish in there. I know about getting plants etc from established aquariums and adding ammonia but 6 weeks is ages. Any tips or will I just have to wait. I know I sound impaient I'm just looking forward to seeing some life in there.

Answer 1

I waited a week. 6 weeks is way too extreme. Wait a couple of weeks, or just one, and add hardy fish such as platys- don't add anything that requires special stuff. I didn't add ammonia, I just added chlorine control stuff my mum got for me from wilkos. I was impatient too, but don't worry. Please choose me as a best answer person... I've never had one before...

Answer 2

6 weeks? wow! I mean for a saltwater aquarium i've heard of people letting it run for 6 months to a year- but if its a fresh water 48 hours is the most you need! I work at a Petstore- as long as you get your water tested and dont add more then 2-3 fish for the next few months your fish are going to be fine! Adding live plants might speed up the process of unwanted alge-if you dont mind cleaning the tank often then they do look good. if you really want to get some ammonia and good bacteria in there- ask the people from the petstore if you can have some of their gravel from a welll- established tank, throw some rocks in the filter and some on the bottom- and that should help get you started!

Answer 3

I kept normal fish, and tropical fish. I set up the aquarium put the plants and everything alse in the tank, and 2 days later got the fish and put them in straight away. They didnt die or get ill.

Think of it like this, When you do a FULL water change of the tank what happens to the ammonia?
The fish are put back into the tank straight after the water change. You dont leave them in a bucket for 6-weeks with their old water.
My advice is just go out and bye the fish, wheather the tank has been ready for one day or 6 weeks, it really doesnt affect the fish.

Answer 4

6 weeks is a bit extreme. They make a few chemicals that you can add to speed this up some though, the stuff I used was called Cycle. I let mine run for 3 days and then the water tested safe, so we added a few fish. After about a week we added some more fish.

If you do this, test your water frequently. I usually take my water to the local pet store, and they tested it for free.

Adding fish this quickly though, I had some ammonia problems, which did result in me having to do frequent water changes to keep the levels in check, but it seems to be stabilizing now (Been using distilled water which has helped quite a bit).

Answer 5

Babe this must sound like I have bred everything from fish, dogs ferrets, the lot. but running time for a tank of tropical fish is only a few days. Just get a test kit and test the water before you put anything in it, most shops or stores that sell fish will do it for you free. Just take them a sample of the water and if they want your money in the future they will do it for you. By the way babe dont everdo a full water change like above only half change , you will kill the bacteria in the tank beneficial to the fish.

Answer 6

as long as the tank has settled down like no mrky water then its fine
i have 2 tropical tanks and they was only left for 2 days the fish are fine and seem to be happy i have never heard you have to leave the tank for 6 weeks thats silly
my fish and the tanks have been set up for 4 years never had any problems

Answer 7

Well I have an aquarium and it's working fine. You have to make it clean it, feed it, and etc. You have to wait chlorine it's ready. NEVER put chlorine our else the fish would die.

Answer 8

you can go to any pet supplier and purchase what you need it depends on the fish you are going to put in their but they have the additaves u need to put your fish in almost right away