How long does a filter have to run for a small fish tank? [ about 2 gallons ]?

Question

I just set up a new small fish tank~
I want to know how long the filter has to run before I can start
adding fish into it.
<3

Answer 1

Really just long enough to be sure it's working. After that you can add one small fish until the tank cycles which can take 3-4 weeks. In case you don't know about cycling here's a link for you. If you do know, then nevermind :)

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

MM

Answer 2

Just letting the filter run doesn't do anything to prepare things for your fish. It won't make any difference whether you run it for 2 hours or 2 weeks.

If you want to avoid having sick and dying fish in a few weeks, read up on the nitrogen cycle and fishless cycling. A colony of live bacteria is the only thing that will keep your fish from swimming in their own waste until they die of it.

If that's too much for you, Bio-Spira is the only product available that works. It has to be kept refrigerated until you add it to the tank, since it's live bacteria, and you have to add fish at the same time so the bacteria don't starve. It's expensive but if you want healthy fish without having to work and wait, it's well worth it.

PLEASE consider fishless cycling... it's faster, more predictable, and doesn't involve torturing fish.

Here are some reference articles:

Answer 3

You have to understand what a filter is.
A filter is meant to clean up the waste in your tank and nothing else, it does not remove amonia, nitrite, nitrate, chlorine, or any other heavy metals.
To start putting fish in yor tank, youll need to add either pure amonia and wait about 1 week, or the faster and cheaper way, add some small cheap 12 cent goldfish to start the fish tank cycle. With the goldfish it will take about 4 days

Answer 4

frequently i might say get a betta seeing as you have already got the tank, yet they do like very sluggish moving water modern-day and could be under pressure. additionally you extremely shouldn't feed your fish bread crums, Theres no nutritional fee to them and that they maximum possibly will pollute your water extremely seeing as its basically a 2 gallon. the suited suggestion i might desire to furnish you is to get a betta fish that are colourful and are a excitement to observe, yet i might recommend you alter your clear out possibly to a small sponge clear out which will shrink the water modern-day and keep it chuffed and wholesome. you in addition to might might desire a fifteen to 20watt heater with a thermometer to alter the temp using fact they do desire the water to be only above or precisely room temp, until the tank is a few the place heat the place the temp does not shift. additionally as they're labyrinth fish you do no longer want an air pump using fact they are able to breath from the outdoors. desire it helps

Answer 5

24 hours

Answer 6

Your best bet is to wait 24 hours, and just let the filter filter itself a little bit. But if you have the fish already, you are fine to add them, it won't do any damage.

Answer 7

About 10 minutes.

Answer 8

about 2hrs