Getting back into hobby after long time

UGFs have kind of gone out of style. Not that some folks don't still use them (especially reversed) but I think most folks don't at this point. An Aquaclear should be fine. I know the Mini is rated for a 20g, but I think I'd personally be happier with a bit more. Like the 30 for instance.

All tanks cycle, whether the owner realizes it or not. Cycling can be hard on the fish or it can go fairly smoothly. Testing and water changes can ease the process, temperature and pH make a difference, and incrementally stepping up the bioload (rather than fully stocking all at once)is important in a Fishy Cycle. Putting a bunch of fish in and keeping your fingers cross can and does lead to dead fish.

Fishless Cycling is the safest way to go. Do a search here or Google it, there's plenty out there. I did a fishless on my tank and it took about three weeks.

BioSpira created a big splash last year but the availability has been spotty and I've heard rumors lately that its no longer available. Most of the other Cycle In A Bottle potions have a less than stellar reputation. Popularly referred to around here as Snake Oil. That said, I've always thought of SeaChem as one of the better companies out there and they answer the right question on their product FAQ for Stability. Its new and I haven't heard much about it personally but it might be worth a go. Hopefully someone around here knows more about it and will post a high sign or no.

Ideally the changewater should be close as possible to the tankwater. Regular changes (say 25-50% a week) will prevent the tank from wandering too far away from source and is good for long term stability. I don't fret too much about the temperature, although I think it should be close. The alkalinty/pH should be similar. Most pHs are OK for most fish most of the time and shouldn't need too much tampering with. If you're not tampering and you're doing regular changes, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Hope that helps…

EDIT:

Here's a link to a recent thread on Stability. And it seems that BioSpira is still out there, just some production bumps.

I think most of your questions have been answered above, accept that, no you don't NEED an airstone. It is there to add oxygen to the water, but this is also achieved by your filter. Unless you are WAY overstocked, it is there for "The Look". You will learn a lot here, and may teach us something as well. Welcome to your new home!

What you might want to do is get yourself some test kits. You can go for either a master kit (ph, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates) or get the individual kits. At the least you'll want ammonia and nitrite kits. That way you can monitor your water quality during the breaking in period which can last up to a month. They are also handy to have if you get problems later on.

Stay away from the products that tell you they help shorten the cycle time, they are almost all useless.

If you do your water changes on a regular basis, as opposed to when you feel like it, you do not need to worry about matching the waters parameters. Don't worry to much about the temp either. If you only change 25% of the volume, even water that varies by as much as 10 degrees is only going to change the overall temp a couple of degrees.

You don't need a UG filter.

Welcome back to the hobby. I got back bout 3yrs myself from 20 now to 46gal with more $$ fish. For some reason, it seemed alot more easier before. Never worried about parameters and never had any problems w/diseases. Now it's test this and that, use salt,stress coat,periodically change h2o and etc. Before it was change the filter floss and carbon which were separate entities.

Well it's the same with any hobby. As it grows and people learn more and become more educated, things change.

All I gotta say is since I joined AC and learned the "right way" to do things, I haven't lost a single fish, except for a school of neons that died of NTD right after i brought them home. Nothing I really could've done there.