hi. im a newbie to the fish keeping hobby. i always wanted one of my own. recently my friend has given me his 10 gallon fish tank, filter (im not sure what brand but will post here later), bubble wall, and hand siphon.
i wanted to start cycling my tank asap so i set everything up and filled it with tap water. last night i went to walmart and bought a brand called cycle to start the cycling process. the instructions are to put two capfulls once a week for three weeks to complete the cycle process, it then instructs to use one capfull a week thereafter to maintian the water.
i recently read somewhere that any brand except bio-spira is useless. i also read that it must be kept refrigerated or else it will also be useless.
i plan on using black sand as the floor, plastic plants, and a cave. as far as how the tank will look, i am skeptical it will be attractive with green plastic plants and black sand. what do you think of this? im sure the type of fish i would like to keep will be a factor in how my tank setup will be. i plan on keeping one green spotted puffer. i have read online and done my research. i understand they are a brakish water fish and that they need a 30 gallon tank to thrive (i plan to get one soon after christmas). all that set aside, i would like to focus on the beginning stages of my tank, decorations and the cycling process. i would also like to know if i need a specific filter or bubble wall (im not sure what you call the thing that blows bubbles). i also would like to know if a heater would be optimal for my tank (keep in mind i will be keeping one GSP).
if anyone can guide me in this process that would be helpful.
i wanted to start cycling my tank asap so i set everything up and filled it with tap water. last night i went to walmart and bought a brand called cycle to start the cycling process. the instructions are to put two capfulls once a week for three weeks to complete the cycle process, it then instructs to use one capfull a week thereafter to maintian the water.
i recently read somewhere that any brand except bio-spira is useless. i also read that it must be kept refrigerated or else it will also be useless.
i plan on using black sand as the floor, plastic plants, and a cave. as far as how the tank will look, i am skeptical it will be attractive with green plastic plants and black sand. what do you think of this? im sure the type of fish i would like to keep will be a factor in how my tank setup will be. i plan on keeping one green spotted puffer. i have read online and done my research. i understand they are a brakish water fish and that they need a 30 gallon tank to thrive (i plan to get one soon after christmas). all that set aside, i would like to focus on the beginning stages of my tank, decorations and the cycling process. i would also like to know if i need a specific filter or bubble wall (im not sure what you call the thing that blows bubbles). i also would like to know if a heater would be optimal for my tank (keep in mind i will be keeping one GSP).
if anyone can guide me in this process that would be helpful.
