How long before i can introduce fish

[FURNI]

Help needed again sorry to trouble you all but i want to do this right. This is my new tank which is 30x15x12 so isnt a massive tank, im wanting to keep tiger barbs which i know are quite aggressive but will be putting 6 in the tank. Ive used tap water conditioner and have also used a biological aquarium supplement, ive been told a week before putting fish in is this correct thanks in advance for any help

[staffordjonny]

two weeks is best to be honest mate, what kind of filter aid have you used? when my tank broke i got some Bactria that you could put straight into the filter and add the fish the same day! i only lost about two witch is a minor loss to be honest!

[aiming430]

no your tank will not be cycled and ready for fish in a week.... not even 2 weeks
for the tank to go through the complete nitrogen cycle and be safe and stable for the fish can take up to and over a month

if you leave the tank with nothing in it then all your doing is wasting your time
because the "good" bacteria that you need established in the filters wont be there.

the tank needs an ammonia source to start the nitrogen cycle in your tank,
seeding the filter with bacteria in a bottle will only kick start the cycle,
if you dont have any other ammonia source in your tank ,that bacteria you added will just slowly die off


and here's an article my friend wrote, worth a read

A new tank goes through a dangerous cycle of Ammonia and Nitrite buildup which can kill your fish in just the first few days. In order to combat this cycle first you'll need to understand it.

The Nitrogen Cycle is the most important process at work within your aquarium. It is essential for your tank to go through this cycle in order to build the beneficial bacteria necessary to remove excess ammonia from the tank ecosystem. The most lethal compound produced in the aquarium is ammonia. Fish produce this compound through respiration, and solid waste. Other materials such as decaying leaves from decorative plants in your tank and excess food, also create ammonia. While there are chemicals which can control ammonia buildup, nothing is more efficient than nature itself. Once your tank completes the Nitrogen cycle demonstrated below, beneficial bacteria which feed on ammonia in the water will continually clean your water unless the balance is interrupted through use of medications (antibiotics).

If this is your first tank, obviously you do not want to introduce expensive or fragile fish to the punishment of a new tank start-up. Many experts will advise you to purchase "suicide fish" for this purpose. Go to your local store and purchase inexpensive, hardy fish like the Danio, plattys, convict to start your cycle. Another controversial method is the "empty tank" cycling, which involves "feeding" the empty tank (which just leaves food to decay on the bottom of your tank), or adding household ammonia to the tank). Once again, nothing is more efficient than nature, so we prefer to use live fish and keep the tank clean of excess food and artificial chemicals.

I recommend investing in a testing kit to monitor your pH (high and/or low range), Ammonia, Nitrite, and also Hardness.

If you're lucky enough, you'll be able to use gravel from an established tank, or possibly even a bio-wheel, or a filter foam from a working setup. all of these hold the beneficial bacterial which can can reduce not only the length of the cycle, but the severity of it.

[Callum91]

id leave it about 6 weeks mate, start introducing a small amount of fish food aswell to kickstart the nitrogen cycle after a few weeks aswell

[DELVO]

Originally Posted by aiming430

no your tank will not be cycled and ready for fish in a week.... not even 2 weeks
for the tank to go through the complete nitrogen cycle and be safe and stable for the fish can take up to and over a month

if you leave the tank with nothing in it then all your doing is wasting your time
because the "good" bacteria that you need established in the filters wont be there.

the tank needs an ammonia source to start the nitrogen cycle in your tank,
seeding the filter with bacteria in a bottle will only kick start the cycle,
if you dont have any other ammonia source in your tank ,that bacteria you added will just slowly die off


and here's an article my friend wrote, worth a read

A new tank goes through a dangerous cycle of Ammonia and Nitrite buildup which can kill your fish in just the first few days. In order to combat this cycle first you'll need to understand it.

The Nitrogen Cycle is the most important process at work within your aquarium. It is essential for your tank to go through this cycle in order to build the beneficial bacteria necessary to remove excess ammonia from the tank ecosystem. The most lethal compound produced in the aquarium is ammonia. Fish produce this compound through respiration, and solid waste. Other materials such as decaying leaves from decorative plants in your tank and excess food, also create ammonia. While there are chemicals which can control ammonia buildup, nothing is more efficient than nature itself. Once your tank completes the Nitrogen cycle demonstrated below, beneficial bacteria which feed on ammonia in the water will continually clean your water unless the balance is interrupted through use of medications (antibiotics).

If this is your first tank, obviously you do not want to introduce expensive or fragile fish to the punishment of a new tank start-up. Many experts will advise you to purchase "suicide fish" for this purpose. Go to your local store and purchase inexpensive, hardy fish like the Danio, plattys, convict to start your cycle. Another controversial method is the "empty tank" cycling, which involves "feeding" the empty tank (which just leaves food to decay on the bottom of your tank), or adding household ammonia to the tank). Once again, nothing is more efficient than nature, so we prefer to use live fish and keep the tank clean of excess food and artificial chemicals.

I recommend investing in a testing kit to monitor your pH (high and/or low range), Ammonia, Nitrite, and also Hardness.

If you're lucky enough, you'll be able to use gravel from an established tank, or possibly even a bio-wheel, or a filter foam from a working setup. all of these hold the beneficial bacterial which can can reduce not only the length of the cycle, but the severity of it.

Spot on advice aiming
but furni may find it a little confusing,in laymans terms furni,add the filter start(JBL,s is one i would recommend),and a couple or four "suicide fish" untill your cycles have peaked and returned to normal parameters(via test kitswhich will have colour charts to tell you the acceptable levels)and dont worry about the kamakazi danio,s etc,they will probably see it thru,dont forget regular water changes,then you can gradually add the numbers or kind of fish you want,,gradually mind not all at once,it gives the filter bacteria time to build up to suit the numbers present

[andrewdone66]

hi there nice looking tank your setting up. what other fish if any will you be adding to the barbs?? they do fin nip especially long finned fish like angels an siamese fighters, even more so if get bored. Good Luck

[FURNI]

Originally Posted by andrewdone66

hi there nice looking tank your setting up. what other fish if any will you be adding to the barbs?? they do fin nip especially long finned fish like angels an siamese fighters, even more so if get bored. Good Luck

Im hoping to putting a few gouramis and a few clown loaches in time

[Grim REAPER]

Originally Posted by FURNI

This is my new tank which is 30x15x12 so isnt a massive tank, im wanting to keep tiger barbs which i know are quite aggressive but will be putting 6 in the tank.

I would,nt advise mixing the two furni m8,the barbs will nip/chase the gouramis many say atleast 8/10 tiger barbs to stop them harassing the longer finned fish(they,re to busy chasing each other sorting the pecking order out

[FURNI]

Originally Posted by Grim REAPER

I would,nt advise mixing the two furni m8,the barbs will nip/chase the gouramis many say atleast 8/10 tiger barbs to stop them harassing the longer finned fish(they,re to busy chasing each other sorting the pecking order out

What fish would you put with the tiger barbs only want to put these fish in because they are hardy fish and really want to do it right and not for any fish to be stressed or hurt

[shadyady]

nice tank furni BLING BLING!!!!!!!!!!

[Grim REAPER]

Originally Posted by FURNI

What fish would you put with the tiger barbs only want to put these fish in because they are hardy fish and really want to do it right and not for any fish to be stressed or hurt

Ohter barbs would be ok and maybe some of the larger tetra,s, the smaller cats (corydora,s)will keep the bottom free from food particles the others missthe clown loach will be fine,but there again loach are a gregarious fish (as are the cory,s),so i would say a minimum of four,be aware loach can grow quite large(had some go to 6") so stock your tank accordingly,a dwarf plec will keep your tank relatively free from the inevitable algae you will get,but make sure it is a dwarf

Originally Posted by FURNI

a few clown loaches in time

Make sure the water is spot on before putting clowns in. They really do like the water perfect and get very stressed if it isnt.
Theres been a few clown loaches took their final journey down my bog unfortunately....I like clowns, theyve got character

[Grim REAPER]

Originally Posted by Finbar

Make sure the water is spot on before putting clowns in. They really do like the water perfect and get very stressed if it isnt.
Theres been a few clown loaches took their final journey down my bog unfortunately....I like clowns, theyve got character

Correct fin old chap,also avoid any treatments containing copper they will deffo not thank you for usin them

[sc100]

My father tends to leave it about 3 - 4 weeks then puts some small fish in then see how they get on then introduce his better fish after the fist lot have shown signs of being healthy.

But then again he has only been fish keeping for about 50 years now and has 40 + tanks, now just breads fish for the majority of the big fish keeping shops

[Dj13]

Stick some parahnahs in there and be done with it.lol. I had mine for years there an exerllant starter fish get a plec to do the hovering and you're away.
Just don't put your fingers in.
I suppose iits each to there own though ,

Good luck fella.