AusBloke

Well I ended up getting a Fluval 305, unfortunately today I found out I got ripped off in price (found it for $70 cheaper at a shop just down the road from where I bought it). Anyway this is what happens to newbies when they rush out and impulse buy :P

So I started cycling today, I first off washed all my gravel, then added the tap water and about 4ml of Prime to the tank (is this enough prime for a 3 foot tank?) I also washed and added some fake plants and some scrubbed rock from the garden.

Now the filter is running, the heater (fluval 300w) is heating, and am not sure what to do next? do i do water changes when cycling? do I need to add more prime, or do i add fish food... so confused now :P

Lucy

Are you cycling with fish or without?

This is explain it better than I could:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Good luck.

jdhef

First, if you still have your reciept you could buy the $70 cheaper one and just return it to the store where you bought it for $70 more (depending on their return policy of course).

I don't use Prime, but I'm sure you are supposed to put a certain amount per gallon of water. So if you don't know how many gallons your tank holds, you can measure the inside dimensions and calculate the volume in gallons. (If you can't do this, post the dimensions and I'll do it for you, but you may have the calculator at the very bottom of this page depending on how you set up your options when joining).

Lastly, take Lucy's suggestion and read up on the Nitrogen Cycle. It is preferable to go fishless and use ammonia for a cycling agent, but of course the choice will be yours.

Good luck

Lucy

If you didn't chose it an option, the calculator can also be found at the top of the page under Aquarium Articles, it's under Tools.

pepetj

AusBloke: Don't worry too much about prices now. The thing is you got your fishtank up and running. Read Sticky on fishless-cycling in the Beginners forum. I followed this instructions and cycled in less than two weeks.

Get a liquid reagent based freshwater test kit. Get Ammonia solution without surfactants. This may look complicated, but it is not at all.

Take your time, research the fish you would like to keep. And go for it.

Patient pays well in fishkeeping.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

AusBloke

Ok thanks for the advice. I am going to try the add and wait ammonia method, as it seems it will be the most efficient way.

Should I do water change now then to take out the Prime I added? or is prime still needed to dechlorinate the tap water with this method.

Thanks.

Devon

Hehe, funny, I just posted a really long-winded reply that answers lots of this and more here:
http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/fr...your-tank.html

Good luck with your fishless cycle! That is the only way.

AusBloke

Yep just read your post Devon

But as to my other question.. will I need to do a massive water change now, as I have already added Prime (yesterday). Or will prime and the ammonia method work together?

COBettaCouple

You need to treat the water with Prime so the chloramines, etc don't kill the good bacteria that's developing.

jdhef

I think the answer to your question is no, you do not need to do a water change because you used Prime. I believe Prime only locks the ammonia for 24 hours.