New aquarium? Any tips?

[Warborg]

To get around the cycle thing, I'd advice water changes every other day and test your water daily.

 

[Aweshade9]

To get around the cycle thing, I'd advice water changes every other day and test your water daily.

The constant water changes will slow down the cycling wouldn't it.

 

[LivingForTheFuture]

Love the cascade line of canisters. I run 500s and one 700.

Cool

 

[Warborg]

The constant water changes will slow down the cycling wouldn't it.

Not if he leaves the gravel and filter alone...plus hopefully he doesn't do 100%, which is bad. 20% is fine depending on the test readings.

 

[Aweshade9]

Okay

 

[LivingForTheFuture]

A guy I know on craigslist brought over some fish and some of his tank water, so I think it is good, I also have been doing water changes.

 

[Gill Blue]

some of his tank water, so I think it is good.

there's nothing good about that. better if he had brought a few pieces of gravel or some of sand.

 

[justarn]

+1 good bacteria is in the filter and smeared over every surface water touches and very little is in the water column. angel fish are fragile aswell, be lucky if they make it, hope they do though. good luck pal.

 

[xraycer]

A tank should be cycled before any fish goes into it. But, it looks like your stock is very light for the volume of water, so you can get away with it if you do about 40% water changes every day or two for the next 2-3 wks. The only way to know for sure if the tank is cycled is to get a test kit. You are cycled when ammonia and nitrite are at zero and nitrates shows up. The beneficial bacteria once established will break down ammonia and nitrite which are very toxic to fish. Nitrite is broken down to nitrate by these bacterias. Nitrate is no where near as toxic but can render health issue with prolong high level exposure. The simpliest way to get rid of nitrate is water changes and plants.

 

[LivingForTheFuture]

I have now had the water going for two weeks, and the angels are living.