I don't know what to do.
I have a tank that must be about 30 gallons.
It's been about 14 years since I had a nice setup and I've forgotten almost everything!
My tank currently looks like this:
Terrible, right?
About a year ago I bought a parrot fish, but unfortunantly between work and school I was unable to properly take care of it, and before long the fish died.
The tank is now in my computer room, and I'm dedicated to making it a success.
My 30th birthday is next week, so I'm gifting myself this task.
I already have big rocks in the tank. I want to replace them. I bought this morning, several bags of turquoise and purple rocks.
I also bought a new background, a few fake coral-ish pieces and some live plant bulbs.
On my drive home from work I decided to stop by Wal Mart, not planning AT ALL to do this, but the clearance aisles are right by the fish tanks and supplies...
Anyhow, I have a working over-the-back filter system, but I don't know what brand it is, and I'll most likely be replacing it.
I'm supposing before I do, I'll change out the rocks.
Here are my questions. Any comments would be appreciated!
The walls of the tank have some green algae on them. It's a nice covering, but not horrible. Should I leave it there, scrape it off, or completely empty the tank and totally disenfect it? It's been sitting with active (filter and air) water for well over a year.
If I should NOT completely empty the tank and disenfect it - how much old water should I leave in there, or should I take all of the rock and water out, leave the algae and refill it with the gravel and all new water?
How do I prepare the new gravel? Rinse and soak it? Why soak it? How do you know it's rinsed well enough? Should I use any sort of cleaner on it before I put it in the tank?
How much gravel does a tank need? I bought seven 5lb bags of the gravel I liked.
Same questions as above for the two little figures I picked up at the store - they're fake stone coral - small pieces.
My filter works fine. It has the charcoal filled green mesh squares the water runs through.
Should I completely clean out the filter (Im undecided as to whether or not I should buy a new system) and put a new 'coal pad in there, or leave the black hanging tank "dirty" and just put in a new filter?
Now, once I've done whatever I need with all of the above, I wonder when I should put the plant bulbs in? Before I get fish? After? Does it matter?
I did forget to mention, I do have a heater and thermometer also. Both are fine and shouldn't need to be replaced.
I want to do this right - can anyone give me tips? I cant wait to see the transformation in the tank. Thats one of the reasons I posted the picture I have today. It was taken yesterday, so it's very current.
Thanks!
Jessica
I have a tank that must be about 30 gallons.
It's been about 14 years since I had a nice setup and I've forgotten almost everything!
My tank currently looks like this:
Terrible, right?
About a year ago I bought a parrot fish, but unfortunantly between work and school I was unable to properly take care of it, and before long the fish died.
The tank is now in my computer room, and I'm dedicated to making it a success.
My 30th birthday is next week, so I'm gifting myself this task.
I already have big rocks in the tank. I want to replace them. I bought this morning, several bags of turquoise and purple rocks.
I also bought a new background, a few fake coral-ish pieces and some live plant bulbs.
On my drive home from work I decided to stop by Wal Mart, not planning AT ALL to do this, but the clearance aisles are right by the fish tanks and supplies...
Anyhow, I have a working over-the-back filter system, but I don't know what brand it is, and I'll most likely be replacing it.
I'm supposing before I do, I'll change out the rocks.
Here are my questions. Any comments would be appreciated!
The walls of the tank have some green algae on them. It's a nice covering, but not horrible. Should I leave it there, scrape it off, or completely empty the tank and totally disenfect it? It's been sitting with active (filter and air) water for well over a year.
If I should NOT completely empty the tank and disenfect it - how much old water should I leave in there, or should I take all of the rock and water out, leave the algae and refill it with the gravel and all new water?
How do I prepare the new gravel? Rinse and soak it? Why soak it? How do you know it's rinsed well enough? Should I use any sort of cleaner on it before I put it in the tank?
How much gravel does a tank need? I bought seven 5lb bags of the gravel I liked.
Same questions as above for the two little figures I picked up at the store - they're fake stone coral - small pieces.
My filter works fine. It has the charcoal filled green mesh squares the water runs through.
Should I completely clean out the filter (Im undecided as to whether or not I should buy a new system) and put a new 'coal pad in there, or leave the black hanging tank "dirty" and just put in a new filter?
Now, once I've done whatever I need with all of the above, I wonder when I should put the plant bulbs in? Before I get fish? After? Does it matter?
I did forget to mention, I do have a heater and thermometer also. Both are fine and shouldn't need to be replaced.
I want to do this right - can anyone give me tips? I cant wait to see the transformation in the tank. Thats one of the reasons I posted the picture I have today. It was taken yesterday, so it's very current.
Thanks!
Jessica