Fish tank? Help!?

Question

I was just wondering.. If i put water conditioner in the fish water.. do i stil need to cycle it? or will it be ok to put a few fish straight in? .. This is the first time i will be setting up a tank properly..

Answer 1

You can't prevent a tank from cycling unless you change 100% of the water each week. A healthy tank must establish a biological filter. Water "conditioner" only neutralizes the chlorine and chloramine in tap water.

You will be most successful to cycle your tank before adding fish. There is far too much information to provide in this forum, so here are some links to explain this process:

Tank set-up and general care
http://www.firsttankguide.net/
The Nitrogen Cycle
http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html
Fishless Cycling
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/what_is_fishless_cycling.html
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/how_to_do_a_fishless_cycle.html

If your going to keep tropical fish, make sure you have a tank heater. If you're planning on keeping goldfish, you'll need a minimum 20 gallon tank for a single fancy goldfish. Don't keep the single tailed "feeder" type. They're best for ponds.

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Yes you still need to cycle it.

You use water conditioner to get rid of chlorine. Put that in, set the aquarium up, leave it a few days to check everything is working.

Now put a pinch of fish food in and leave it for 4 weeks, while checking the parameters with a test kit.

If you don't have the patience to wait 4 weeks, don't get fish. If you put fish in while cycling, it's cruel and very harmful and most likely fatal to the fish.

Answer 3

Cycle for 2-3 weeks.Water conditioner eliminates chlorine which if not removed will kill the good bacterias that consume the ammonia from the tank.
To start the cycle put some fish food(not too much) and you can add one or 2 hardy/cheap fish to accelerate the cycle.
Good luck and be patient.
Patience its a virtue!
The more you wait the grater the reward!

Answer 4

OK truthfully this whole "cycling" thing is totally new in the past few years. besides you can't "cycle" a tank without new fish. do it the old fashioned way it worked 99% of the time. when you get your new fish home put the bag in the water and roll the top liker a pair of socks this will allow the bag to float open. this will not only allow your fish to get used to the temp. but add a lil water at a time to the bag from the tank to get the fish used to the water condition. this process takes about an hour. the fish will experiance no stress and after you have a few fish in the tank you can "cycle" it properly.
PS the water conditioner was not needed yet, but save the rest for major water changes in the future.

Answer 5

Call me weird, but I always cycle my new tanks for at least a month before adding fish. This will help the beneficial bacteria to become established.

I would also recommend getting a water testing kit (available at any pet store) to make sure your water maintains the proper balances.

Answer 6

hmmm, i'm kinda wondering how finatic got 2 thumbs down, since she provided the correct info

The only way to skip the cycling process is by using water, gravel and filter media from already an established tank

If you don't have that available your tank needs to go through the cycling process, that healthy bacteria can grow in your filter, which is where the main bacteria will grow
some of it will establish in your gravel

It takes anywhere from 6-8 weeks when you do a regular cycle




Hope that helps
good luck



EB



Feel free to email me for further help

Answer 7

No!
water conditioner does just what it says, conditions the water. You have to add bacteria replacement to start to cycle, wait until the cloudiness clears up anywhere from 24 hours to a week. Every tank is different. After that put in a cheap fish, the actual cycle doesnt start until you add your first fish.

Biggest mistake of beginners, they get excited and want to buy the fish the same day and add them right away. Nature doesnt allow it to happen that way. You cant rush the process or you are setting yourself up for dissapointment and costly expspenses down the road.
Good luck!

Answer 8

Ok. Uh. water conditioner takes out chlorine and chloramines. it does nothing in terms of cycling your tank (you need ammonia, created by fish, or artificially put into your tank to cycle it).
Set up the tank, let it run for 1-3 days to filter the water and make sure everything is working right, then get a few fish as well as some bottled bacteria (I would suggest bio-spira or TLC brand. ask the people at your local fish store) these products help speed the cycle along, some instantly, others taking only a few days.

Answer 9

If it is the first time you are setting up the tank, cycling it for at least 2-3 days is definitely advisable. It will allow the good, nitrogen consuming bacteria to set up shop in your tank. So when you put your new fish into it they will be happy and less stressed. Having alantoin in your conditioner would certainly help them build their slime coat sooner.

Answer 10

you always want to stablize your water when setting up a new tank before you put any fish in for at least 24-48 hours as it takes some time to get the temperature, ph balanced.

but if your inclined to toss some fish in, throw in some goldfish. goldfish are pretty tough and if they die cause the waters not right, then you arent out much.