BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
- 63,428
- 11,758
- 136
Do yourself a HUGE favor...IF you're serious about starting a fishtank...find one of the aquarium-related forums and hang out there, and ask all the usual newbie questions. Most have a good FAQ section, and/or a newbie section with lots of tips and tricks on starting a tank from scratch.
Having been in the hobby in one way or another for over 30 years, (I go back to slate bottoms and putty seals instead of silicone!) I see lots of well-meaning but incorrect answers above.
Once you cycle a tank, you don't take out the gravel. That's where a significant part of your biological filter lives...yes, lives, as the biological filtration is bacteria...one breaks down ammonia (fish waste and uneaten foods) into nitrite, which is still toxic, just less so, then a different bacteria breaks the nitrite down into nitrate, which is non-toxic to most fish, and is controlled by doing water changes. Snails are the bane of most aquarium keepers. Get one, and usually it's not long before you have hundreds...
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/ is a good place to start. More for freshwater than salt, (but some salties there too) you should find lots of good people who will help you succeed...Beware the LFS (local fish store) most are only there to sell you SOMETHING, even when it doesn't fit your needs or help your problem. Many LFS have good people, but they're the exception rather than the rule.
Having been in the hobby in one way or another for over 30 years, (I go back to slate bottoms and putty seals instead of silicone!) I see lots of well-meaning but incorrect answers above.
Once you cycle a tank, you don't take out the gravel. That's where a significant part of your biological filter lives...yes, lives, as the biological filtration is bacteria...one breaks down ammonia (fish waste and uneaten foods) into nitrite, which is still toxic, just less so, then a different bacteria breaks the nitrite down into nitrate, which is non-toxic to most fish, and is controlled by doing water changes. Snails are the bane of most aquarium keepers. Get one, and usually it's not long before you have hundreds...
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/ is a good place to start. More for freshwater than salt, (but some salties there too) you should find lots of good people who will help you succeed...Beware the LFS (local fish store) most are only there to sell you SOMETHING, even when it doesn't fit your needs or help your problem. Many LFS have good people, but they're the exception rather than the rule.