Beginner fish tanks(Communinty) Rules? I keep hearing different things?

Question

How exactly should I do this, I keep hearing run the water for a week, or 24 hours, Ive looked in the petshop at fish I want already and I want a underwater frog and some other community fish, and ive spoken to the shop own but what should i do, get the tank and keep it for a week with the water or 24 hours?

Answer 1

Books and books have been written on this subject, so I'm sure you'll understand why no one can cover it properly in a single answers! post. Here's a couple of links that will really help uyou get to the better answers on how to start a tank.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Fishlesscycle.htm
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/startover/fishless.shtml

Hope that helps get you started and welcome to the hobby!

MM

Answer 2

Get all the water and cleaned decorations (plants, rocks, gravel, caves) in the tank and add the water treatment. Buy a small bottle of "Cycle" and follow the instructions for that. Run the tank for at least 2 days depending on the size. If you are going to get a frog, you should probably get 2. Don't listen to the rule "1 inch of fish per gallon of water", that is total crap! It really depends on how responsible you are of a fish owner. In a 10 gallon with 2 frogs and 20% weekly water changes(which is what you will need to do), you might want a school of Phantom Tetras (3+), they are pretty cool fish. Also, a Dwarf Gourami would look nice. If you can get a hold of real plants like aquatic mosses, that would be a great addition, but many plants sold by pet stores are not true aquatic plants, do some research online and write down some names. Kuhli Loaches are also a fun fish to own. They are active as long as you keep them in a small group (3 maximum for a 10 gallon tank, the more the better). Good luck! Email me if you have any questions at "[e-mail]"

Nosoop4u

Answer 3

In order to properly care for your fish, you will have to let the tank cycle through first which builds up the good bacteria in the filter. This bacteria is needed for when ammonia builds up in the tank from fish waste and leftover food, it can be broken down into nitrates which are not as harmful as ammonia or nitrites. There are ways to do this without fish, but if you wanted to get some really hearty fish that can live through just about anything, you can do that to help promote the cycling. It will take 4-6 weeks to finish and its not a good idea to fill the tank up with fish until the tank has finished cycling.
Be sure to buy a test kit to test regularly so you know what stages the cycle is in. You could also take some water into the fish store, but its much easier and quicker to do it at home. Hope this helps some, but for more information, do a search online for tank cycling and read all about it.

Answer 4

I recommend that you let the tank run at least 24 hours before putting fish into your tank. After at least 24 hours get some water out of your tank and take it to your local fish store they will have a test kit that they can use to test your water to see if your ready to start purchasing your fish. If not they will tell you what to do usually let the tank set and cycle for a few more days or do a partial water change.

Answer 5

Let me second the post that said you should do a fishless cycle first before adding fish. That means that your tank will actually run without fish for several WEEKS. The alternative, if you want to add fish right away, would be to add a LOTLOTLOT of plants, which will "silent" cycle the tank, processing fish wastes and byproducts, and keeping the water sweet for the fish.

Answer 6

You need to cycle the tank before putting fish in. You can do a fishy cycle, but its not recommended. It stress and may even kill the fish.
What size tank are you getting?
What type of fish?

Answer 7

It's 24 hours, to get rid of the chlorine.

Answer 8

i used bottled water, plain drinking water not spring it is too alkaline