New filter question. TopFin 20. Should be easy to answer for anyone with a filter :)

Your tank is probably ready in the sense that everything has ran for more than 48 hours or so and should be working. But in terms of Cycling it hasn't even started, did you even read the articles?
Anyway though it doesn't matter because I guess you are doing a cycle with fish and I guess that is the traditional way. It's too late now to take them back but oh well, I think all people with new tanks really really want to see fish in them as soon as possible.
 
I told the guy at the LFS about my black + white filter issue, and he said it doesnt matter where I put it and that the biological filter will work in front or back.

I also brought him a sample of my water and he said everything was perfect.

Trust me, if he said I wasnt ready to handle fish, I wouldn't have bought a few.

Four small fish for a new 20 gal isnt so bad, is it?
 
You are going to wish you did a fishless cycle for a month, like I wish I did.

All I can say is save the receipts and don't get attached to the fish. (I know that sounds harsh, but most people will probably agree now that you already got the fish)
 
Yes, water sitting for 1 day, 2 days or 2 weeks would test perfect, but that does not mean it was ready to safely house your fish. Your water AGED, it did not cyle. There is a difference. Please read the information on cycling that people have been linking to.
 
I will ditto what the previous posts said. Your tank is in now way cycled. A tank cannot cycle with just water and a filter. Your biological (black and white thingie) on your filter does not come preinstalled with biologicals on it. These take time and nutrients to grow.

And also, do a little skimming around this site about advice given at LFS's. You will soon discover that your most reliable advice will come from people HERE.

Whatever you do, do NOT buy anymore fish for about a month. Buy a test kit http://petsolutions.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_46716629_A_Deluxe+Tetra+Test+Kit_E_ and do 25% water changes every other day.
 
I see what you guys are saying.

I dont want to loose these fish!

Aisde from that test kit, what other items should I purchase from that site to help move the process along more smoothly? (ie - to save my fish)

As always, any help you guys can spare would be highly appreciated.
 
Well, if your LPS carries a product called BIO-Spira, I would certainly pick it up as well. It has the right bacteria in it that cycling grows. It has gotten some great reviews across the internet, but experiences vary and most of the bad experiences seem to be due to slow mail order letting the bacteria expire before they reach their destination.

A test kit is a must now that you are fishy-cycling. Did the LPS employee that helped you understand that this tank had only been set up a few days? If so, do save that receipt and be sure to raise a big stink if you lose a fish. What sort of tetras did you get? Anyway, good luck. 25% water changes every other day may work for you. Be sure to treat the water before it goes back in the tank. If Philly uses chloramines in its water supply, definitely buy a water conditioner like Amquel or Prime. I would test my water every day, and if it gets bad, you are safe doing back to back 50% water changes and also doing water changes daily.

PS: Sorry you got hoodwinked by the LPS. I always hate it when that happens.
 
Yup you got tricked into buying fishes, cause at the fishstore it's always alright to buy as many fish as you want. :)
 
sponge goes in FRONT of the filter.
 
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