New Member

Posts: 4
From:California
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-19-2003 08:43 PM         

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Hi everyone, i don't know much about Fish and aquarium and I'm hoping that you guyz won't mind giving me advice or ideas and experience you guyz had have in the pass. I am setting up a 55 gallon Fish Tank, wanting it to be saltwater. I've been reading posts and topic about what the thing i need, but just wasn't sure about it, so that's why i'm asking everyone here for there help.

1. Can anyone tell me what they use for filtering their tank and what kind or brand is best?

2. I'm just confuse about Tank Cycle. Can you put the fish in your tank when you just finish setting up with nice and clean saltwater or do you need to cycle it with something until 6 to 8 weeks?

3. Is there any kind of fish or creature i will need to put in my tank to cycle the tank and will kill and eat any bacteria or bad stuff that will cause fish death.

4. Is water from your sank okay with the fish?

5. What brand or kind of water tempeture measurement devices do you guys use?

6. Can I use the sands from lakes and rivers as sand bed and is it good for the fishs?

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Member

Posts: 40
From:Surrey, B.C., Canada
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-19-2003 10:51 PM         

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IMO, if you are new to the aquarium hobby, you should probably start with a freshwater tank because its easier and cheaper. When starting out, you really need to be patient and put the time and money into getting a good start.

For filters, fluval are great. As far as cycling goes, you dont need to cycle a 55g for 5-6, more like 3-4. The purpose of cycling is to create good bacteria to reduce fish loss. There is a product called "cycle" that you put in your tank once a week for 3 weeks that helps cycle your tank. You may want to put a few goldfish or something in there to help the cycle. Water from your sink that has not been declorinated is not good for your fish. If you fill your tank with water from your tap and cycle it and treat it, it is okay. You're best off buying substrate (gravel, sand etc.). Hope this helps you out.

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New Member

Posts: 8
From:Arizona
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-19-2003 11:07 PM         

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My suggestion is to start with a 10 gallon fresh water tank first or you are going to kill a lot of fish and spend a lot of money for nothing. It is good that you are asking before jumping in feet first! Check out this site on cycling first. http://fish.orbust.net/cycling.html. It's one of many on the internet. You need to cycle the tank as long as it takes to get ammonia and nitrites to zero after initial innoculation of ammonia or bacteria to the tank. If you start with some good bacteria from an established tank it usually doesn't take as long, but in my experience, it usually takes between 3-8 weeks. Do the fresh water first, get the hang of 'fish'care and maintenance, THEN start checking out salt water fish keeping. I don't do salt water simply because It is so expensive and time consuming. You'll want a tank to put sick and quarrantine fish in any way and you can use the 10 gallon tank for that later.

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