I just set up my new 20 gallon tank on monday and I've been letting it run for a few days before adding a couple fish. Is there anything I should do before adding fish, such as adding that conditioner stuff (Start Right, i think) or anything else to prep the tank? I've heard that just letting the tank run for a few days has worked fine, and others suggest adding starting liquids....what should i do?
New 20gal Tank - Start up tips?
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1) Letting the tank run a few days will age the water, but it will not in anyway establish the bacteria needed to process the wastes from fish.
2) Very few of the bottled products are effective. If you can find Bio-Spira, it is effective, but the rest should just be avoided. Look here and in the Freshwater Archives for information on cycling. You can use fish, but the fish will likley be harmed by the exposure to ammonia and nitrite livels. Fishless cycling is less work, IMO, but requires much more patience.
2) Very few of the bottled products are effective. If you can find Bio-Spira, it is effective, but the rest should just be avoided. Look here and in the Freshwater Archives for information on cycling. You can use fish, but the fish will likley be harmed by the exposure to ammonia and nitrite livels. Fishless cycling is less work, IMO, but requires much more patience.
I just want to say, start off by fishless cycling for sure. I have never heard of more people who leave a hobby like I do the fish-keeping hobby. Would you guess why that is? Because people miss a very simple, yet crucial step in the success of keeping the given animal (fish)... they do not cycle the tank properly.
There is nothing worse than starting an aquarium and having your first fish die within a day or two.
There is nothing worse than starting an aquarium and having your first fish die within a day or two.
Swimfins
This is as good as it gets.
I started my tank on a Thursday night Sept. 16, finishing at 5:30 a.m on Friday morning. I added 2 caps of I added 2 caps of cycle to my 25 gallon tank. On Saturday 18th., I added 4 red wag platies. Today Sept. 29th., I still have the four fat red pooping machines.... I had an amonia problem by Monday, but I added amonia chips to the filter and continued with the cycle a capful weekly, and its al good. 
Swimfins
This is as good as it gets.
But they're always following me around begging me thru the glass.....geeezzzzzzzzzzzzz How can I say no? 
Ok, one hour later or so... I just vacuumed and partial water change.
I siphoned a bit to deep and some laterite is no scattered on top of the sand. Is this harmful? Thanks.
Ok, one hour later or so... I just vacuumed and partial water change.
I siphoned a bit to deep and some laterite is no scattered on top of the sand. Is this harmful? Thanks.
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the more you reward begging, the more they'll do it- and the unhealthier your fish will be... If you're more sparing with feeding, you'll have far less problems. Overfeeding the tank will cause trouble with your tank's health and water quality.
One daily feeding is plenty- unless you have day and night feeders. Less ammonia problems... Removing ammonia-tainted water is much more effective than adding anything to the water.
One daily feeding is plenty- unless you have day and night feeders. Less ammonia problems... Removing ammonia-tainted water is much more effective than adding anything to the water.
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Swimfins said:But they're always following me around begging me thru the glass.....geeezzzzzzzzzzzzz How can I say no?
My goldfish did that until I moved them near (6 feet or so) my TV. Then they spent their day begging from the TV while I was in college! My FW fish alway beg when I go by, but I stick to feeding a little bit 2X a day!
Swimfins
This is as good as it gets.
I didn't give them much today and when I came home tonight they just about went bezerk when I broke down and threw in a pinch of flakes, and a tab for my 2 corys. The four platies were chasing each other for any little bits that the corys sent their way, too funny. Fish are pigs. :laugh: Thanks for the tip.
Another tip for feeding corydora catfish flake foods: when they start spitting them out via their gills, you are feeding them too much. They do not know when to stop eating, so they just release the flakes out their gills when they are "filled up". 