New 70 Gallon, anxious for fish!

T

Tedzbug

AC Members
Aug 16, 2008
79
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0
Warren, Michigan
I got a 70 Gallon tank and 100# of Pool Filter Sand, Just filled the tank and only have a couple bubblers for looks for now. And then i read the cycling a tank thread....... Holy wow, 15 years ago with my 30 i just filtered and ran with it, never had much problems. I am going to follow the cycle and "do it right" I need to get media in my Fluval 404 that came with the tank before i can start though. Should i talk to my LFS and see if they can give me a little gravel, etc. when i am ready to start the fishless cycle?
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Make sure their tanks are not infested with diseases. Ask for an established filter media like sponges. What do you plan to put in the tank? Loaches are on the list I hope?:headbang2:

:welcome: to AC!
 
You can use gravel from the LFS, but I personally don't trust any of their tank/filter stuff. Or, go ahead and use it, but make sure you know their tanks are clean and disease free. Nothing against Petsmart or Petco, but I wouldn't use their gravel. All those tanks are medicated up the ______, and the water is shared between dozens of species including those infamous, disease carrying goldfish.

If you simply wait, the nitrifying bacteria will take hold in the tank on their own. Read the sticky in this forum about starting the nitrifying cycle and pay close attention to the "fishless" cycle if you go this route.

Make sure you buy a good test kit (API is always recommended) to test your pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate regularly. Those values will tell you where you are in the cycle and when you can add stock (loaches, corys, or whatever LOL).
 
I am going to get the API master test kit so i can do this right. I have one LFS that i do trust, but i think i am going to do it on my own and start a fishless cycle in a week or two from now. I am not in a hurry and last time i did an aquarium it was the 'fill up that filter with charcoal and off you go' method. Now that i have spent a few days on AC...... i have learned much and have a ways to go. This will be fun.

I am thinking of some natural rocks for in the tank, i have tons of rock in my yard. I saw about white vinegar for testing the rocks (no fizz=safe?), is that all i really need to do and then boil to kill anything and clean them?
 
Boil, and scrub just be careful as some rocks may explode during the heating and/or the cooling process. DO NOT TRY THIS but all I do is wash the rocks that I have in my tanks with tap and in they go, no problems and they have been several tanks for some time. Once again I must say DO NOT ATTEMPT!!!!!! Scrub them, then you CAN pour viegar over them to see if it foams if it does no good if it doesn't good to go then boil them for about 45 minutes cool and insert.
 
Buy plants.

I set up my 20 gallon 2 weeks ago with 4 or 5 plants that I bought from a LFS and they brought bacteria into the tank and kick started the cycle. Today my nitrites hit an all-time low and my nitrates went up, so I am almost done! (I added a few fish about halfway into the cycle, so technically im doing a fish-in cycle).

anyway, plants look great, and will help the cycle!

Since you have sand, you may want to get some Kuhli Loaches!!
 
He doesn't want Kuhlis this early in the game.
Plants are a perfect idea. Do you have any previously cycled tanks? Insert old filter media into the filter, and the tank cycles with record speed.

And....rocks explode? Oh god.
 
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