Yes when I got started over a month ago he gave me water, his preestablished media and sponge, my water gets changed every Saturday morning with half RO and half conditioned, on my 55g, I do 12 gallons all together at a time, half and halfas an FYI old fish water is just that, old fish water, it has no benefits, the good bacteria lives on surfaces, mainly your filter sponges and bio media, not in the water itself. if your freind can supply some filter medea, that would be a plus for your fish.