Finally got it started!!!

[nursie]

I finally got my 55 gallon tank started back up!! :dance
I was going to try to retrofit my old lights...went to Petsmart and they has the 48" 2 bulb light on sale, so I bought it and the glass tops. Any of the retrofit stuff Ilooked at seemed expensive, so just bit the bullet and got it. Got a 50 lb bag of pool sand to put over the fluorite, saving some of both for a 10 gal I want to set up. Cleaned up the old python,,filled the tank and figured out how to put the filstar I got off ebay together and turned it on...OMG...it all works!!! And I am so thrilled with the Filstar..it's so quiet! I got up from the 'puter desk and went over to check a while ago to see if it was still running because it was so quiet. I have a friend with multiple tanks, she says I can have some of her gravel to seed the tank.

Now off to the fish club auction tomorrow for plants..driftwood...maybe I can find a new test kit, who knows. Also hope to find plants, and maybe if I find some fish my friend can "board" them for me until my tank is cycled.

[toked]

sounds like you are all set and on your way. keep us updated.

which filstar model btw and how much was the auction for it if you dont mind?

[nursie]

It is an XP2, and was $75, new in box. I love my Ebay!!
I was suprised by the variety of "parts" to fix up the water intake and return. Wasn't sure quite how to do the return, there was a spray bar option and a power nozzle option, and some other little do-hickey that you can either use or not, according to the pics. So I didn't use the power nozzle, and did use the do-hickey, which according to the booklet is an outflow regulator. Anyone out there that has one...did I do the right thing?
And what's the scoop with the funnel you use to prime it? It looks like it is supposed to screw in, but doesn't.

[tcas]

Using an XP-1 here with spray bar and flow regulator. Sounds like you have it all correct. We thought the same thing with the funnel.

Our problem is the lack of understanding on cycling. Now after finding this forum and reading the posts of good folks here and "Freshwater Aquariums" by David Boruchowitz, we're headed in the right direction.

Question: Should we use "ceramic rings" rather than charcol to establish the bacteria needed?

Presently using a Penguin 125 but it has a new bio-wheel, so we have no effective bacteria and the tank is not cycled. Hope the Black Skirt Tetras can hang on through the water changes and get us going.

[nursie]

From what I understand, and other here will probably tell you , the charcol doesn't after the first couple of weeks. You'd be better off to use the ceramic rings for a base for your bacterial colonization. I don't have any yet, I just fired up the filter with the floss and sponges, but will get some.

[tcas]

I didn't ask that question very well...

"Freshwater Aquariums" says the same thing...charcol only lasts a few days..

BUT goes on to say that charcol then becomes a great bio-media filter because of the many pieces/edges.

I wonder if the "rings" would be better or just save our money and use the "old" charcol media which given time would become a bio-filter.