Im restarting my aquarium?

Question

Hi!

so here i have my 10 g one that im going to set up again after a time of not using it because having turtles in it is absolutely tiring, i plan on setting it up to have 2 or 3 goldfish, since they are cold water fish and hence that i dont think a heater is critical for them, but im no expert

i know that i have to wash in hot water the gravel, rocks and stuff that was as decoration (well im planning on buying more gravel), but im also planning that instead of using tap water i use normal drinking water

since using tapwater lead to the water gradually decreasing and leaving back a grayish stain
i just need some tips
(oh btw, i use one of those Aqua Tech 5-15 g. filter)

How do I remove those grayish stains off the acrylic?
(they seem to disappear with water, but they come back)
How do I remove some stains that appear in the filter cover thingy that i suspect are a kind of fungus?
R there any benefits in using normal drinking water instead of tap water?

thx every1!

Answer 1

The stains are not fungus, they are mineral deposits from the evaporated water. Just wipe them off with a wet paper towel. You should not get Goldfish because they get about 8 inches, try some smaller coldwater fish like Minnows (White Cloud Minnows are cool). You could get about 10 Minnows for your tank and you would be fine, they will be more fun than the Goldfish anyway... Just use the tapwater. Everytime you do a water change, just take the 20 seconds to wipe off the minerals, it isn't a big deal, and it is a lot cheaper than bottled water. In case you don't have to do this for turtles (I have no experience with turtles), add some water dechlorinater to the water before adding fish, this will prevent the chemicals in the water from killing the fish. Good luck!

Nosoop4u

Answer 2

On the filter use diluted bleach and scrub scrub scrub rinse rinse rinse and rinse some more. For the stains, scrub them with a little vinegar. they will come right off. Rinse it really well.

I actually prefer using tap water. There may be chlorine and it might stain, but there are still things in it that are beneficial. Like calcium, iron and stuff. You don't really know if the bottled water is filtered right, if they removed the chlorine right ETC. For tap all you have to use is a dechlorinator. I use API tap water conditioner. It takes out heavy metal and toxins as well. But if you find a good bottled water that works for you, that's good too.

As for the gravel, if you are buying gravel that is meant for fish you don't have to worry about boiling it. Just rinse it really well. You will need to clean the old decor really well.

If you only have a ten gallon don't get goldfish they will need 30 gallon for two. They grow to be huge and are very messy. Instead, get 2 platys (both male or both female) and get a heater. The heaters are $10, which is a lot cheaper than buying a 40 gallon tank a year from now for your goldfish :)

Answer 3

Ok wash your gravel out with salt and water to remove scum and stuff like that. Also use an abrasive cleaner like bleach to clean out the hole tank and let it sit over night and then use a cloth to wipe it down and then give it a cold water rinse. Also wash the filter out with salt and water as well maybe even some bleach but make sure while using all these you wash them out well after to prevent from harming new fish.

You are right, you don't need a heater but if they are to cold because of normal room temperature you may need a heater to keep the temp. stable.

Goldfish are pretty easy to keep care of but when adding the new water let the tank sit for 2-4 weeks before you add any fish. The first fishes you should add are cheap feeder goldfish
to get the algae worked up in the tank and also at the same time add 1 or 2 plecos to feed off of the algae and then continue to keep the tank clean. Get some algae tabs to keep them very happy and alive. After maybe a month or so you can take out the feeder fish and add normal good looking goldfish.

In all stages pf the process above you should have the filter running as well and the feeder fish NEED to be fed regular fish food. Also get some stabilizing chemicals to keep the PH levels in the water stable.

Good luck, email me if you have anymore questions.

Answer 4

its just normal having a grayish color or stain in your aquarium after a while. its not the water, its the fecal of fishes inside it, undigested feeds and others. u should have a regular cleaning using a siphon, and water change (50-50. or 40-60) u take out 50% of water in the aquarium, then add fresh water.

algae tends to grow in water so, you can't stop them from growing, just minimize it by having a regular cleaning and water exchange.. hope it could help..

Answer 5

Don't do all that! Just get a UV sterilizer.