ideas/input for my tank

[attiladahun]

i just bought the ammonia fighting crystals because the blend of them with carbon was the cheapest. this stuff was meant to be used as a filter media, and says on the ad's and label that the stuff was "ideal for beginning tanks" though, that probably means in a fishy cycle. i wouldn't put the stuff in the filter until the fishless cycle was done and i had fish in the tank.

i just got the electronic equipment in the 20-gal working today, all i need to do is cycle and add decor.

 

[Holly9937]

That stuff would probably screw up a fishless cycle. If you were to use it and do a fishy cycle, it might help keep the amonia down, but it will still not eliminate it, and it would do nothing to eliminate the nitrite, which is also very toxic to the fish. Just a tip, since I know you are trying to save money and are limited on cash, carbon is not really necessary in your filter unless you are trying to clean out medications or something. All I use in most of mine are sponges, and I know alot of people use filter floss (stringy, pillow stuffing like stuff, I've seen it at the bigger chain stores). You hardly ever have to replace the stuff, all you do is get a pitcher of tank water (tap water would kill the bacteria you have living in your media) and swish them around in it and put them back in the filter.