I'm getting some new fish for christmas (coldwater, maybe goldfish or minnows, guppies?) and i am CLUELESS!!! would like some nice tropical fish, but im not getting a heater. but, yeah, do i need to leave the filter on much before?
2007-11-03 16:17:01 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Don't add fish until your tank is properly cycled. Check yahoo search for "fishless cycling". It doesn't take that long if you do it properly. Running a filter for 2 days is not going to get your tank ready for even one fish. Your fish will either die or have lifelong problems due to ammonia and nitrite poisoning.
Research first, then cycle, then buy your fish.
2007-11-03 16:34:51 · answer #1 · answered by Rachel T 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Gods.gal should learn more before she kills her fish. Cycling a tank takes a long time. And a cold tank takes longer to cycle than a warmer one. Guppies are for warm water. As far as cycling goes the process takes many weeks,and the stuff that pet stores sell to hurry things along don't really work. Here's the reason, cycling is actually growing two colonies of bacteria. These bacteria are present almost everywhere. The time consuming factor is that they can't do their jobs until they have formed colonies on the solid surfaces (porous surfaces support more bacteria) of your tank and gravel. The first colony that grows consumes rotting food and fecal matter in the form of toxic ammonia,they reduce ammonia to Nitrites,which are almost as toxic as ammonia. After the ammonia eaters go to work a second colony starts to grow,again on solid,porous surfaces. When these bacteria are in full bloom your tank is ready for fish,and you can add two or three then wait a couple of weeks and add a couple more. This allows the bacteria to adjust to the amount of food and waste they have to deal with. It's a slow process and not very satisfying when what you really want is a big bunch of fish,and quickly; but it is the only really humane way to start an aquarium.
2007-11-03 17:27:18 · answer #2 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Before you add any fish, you should first think about cycling your tank. The wastes any fish produces are initially toxic to them, and you need to have bacteria in the tank to convert the harmful wastes to something less harmful for your fish. These links will tell you how to do that:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/using_fish_to_cycle_your_tank.html
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/how_to_do_a_fishless_cycle.html
Whichever method you choose, it's important not to add too many fish at one time - only 1-3 per week, depending on the size of the fish and your tank. You need to be sure that there are enough bacteria to handle the wastes of the fish you have before you add more. If not, the fish may be exposed to enough ammonia or nitrite in the water to suffer poisoning, and die: http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/ammoniapoison.htm
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/nitritepoison.htm
NOTE: If you have a small tank, goldfish wouldn't be a good idea. An adult common goldfisj can be 12-18 inches long. Fancy types are smaller, but even these will get several inches long (4+).
2007-11-03 16:30:37 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Yes, make sure to cycle the tank (run everything) for 4-7 days before you actually put fish in the tank. This allows all the stuff to settle, all the water to adjust, and I reccomend getting some water testing strips and making sure everything is at the right level before you put fish in. This is safest for them. You might want to consider a Betta, they're easy to care for, and mine just fine w/o a heater. Also, if you want something fun, a lace catfish is pretty (not very active) but they naturally live in the Nile (a pretty mucky river) and are extremely hartey fish. And beautiful and max out at just about 6"
2007-11-03 17:21:23 · answer #4 · answered by p51mustang1965 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I got my first fish tank, I set up the filter and everything. I left the filter on for about a day or so so that any bad stuff in the water could be trapped and that will help.Good luck ;)
2007-11-03 19:23:38 · answer #5 · answered by Betta92 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea it is best for your new fish tank to be on and running before you put your fish in it. Also when you get your fish put the bag on the water so they can slowly adapt to the temp in the tank. If you are going to get some tropical fish you need to check your ph level and take care of them.
2007-11-03 16:29:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, my tank instructions said to run the tank for 24 hrs before adding fish. and when you do add fish don't add babies make sure your fish are adult and don't add very many it is going to take your tank a good month for it to stabilize. Make sure you have a few plants in there too. Good luck :)
2007-11-03 19:05:15 · answer #7 · answered by Erin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Once you get your filter set up, it has to go on for at least a week until it's ready for any fish to inhabit it.
2007-11-04 06:48:48 · answer #8 · answered by Meg J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no you dont need too. probably like a day. just put in some spring water would do if it's a small tank. that's what i did wen i had my betta. but, if it's a bigger tank you would need to put the tablet thingy for the water with the filter. most have instructions. imo.
2007-11-03 16:27:34 · answer #9 · answered by soul 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, it will be better. Leave your tank running for a while before adding in livestock.
2007-11-03 16:25:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋