SignalSoldier
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2015
- Messages
- 41
Hello everybody, I've been doing lots of research the past few days from google to today reading all the stickies for newbies to the hobby.
Earlier this week I bought a small 5.5 gal aquarium, 10 gal power filter, and the conditioner and liquid test kit and everything else, except heater since I'm not housing tropical fish. Right now there's no fish in it, it's just been sitting running so for about 5 days now, growing some bulbs I bought.
I'm waiting until I get home to start the actual cycle process as I'm about to move.
Once the aquarium is properly cycled and stable, what type of fish would you recommend? I really like Neon Tetras, or maybe 2-3 larger fish. I want to be able to have quite a few live plants, like a mini ecosystem sort of with plants and fish instead of artificial plants. But I have no clue what types of plants would be good in a moderate to low light aquarium system.
And finally, one of my biggest questions is the filter media. I have read that replacing the filter media/cartridge is completely unnecessary at all, aside from a good rinse in removed tank water just to get rid of built up debris. The power filter that I have uses cartridges with carbon in them, and infront of that filter is a foam mesh. But I've also read that keeping a carbon based filter media and not replacing it can be dangerous as everything the carbon has captured can be released back into the water again? I've also read that the majority of the bacteria lives IN the carbon and on the filter media itself, and thus replacing it would rid the tank of most of its bacteria. What do you guys recommend as the correct way to filter the water while providing a medium for the bacteria to thrive on? Would the foam insert pre filter be enough?
I appreciate your help! Thank you!
-Jaime
Earlier this week I bought a small 5.5 gal aquarium, 10 gal power filter, and the conditioner and liquid test kit and everything else, except heater since I'm not housing tropical fish. Right now there's no fish in it, it's just been sitting running so for about 5 days now, growing some bulbs I bought.
I'm waiting until I get home to start the actual cycle process as I'm about to move.
Once the aquarium is properly cycled and stable, what type of fish would you recommend? I really like Neon Tetras, or maybe 2-3 larger fish. I want to be able to have quite a few live plants, like a mini ecosystem sort of with plants and fish instead of artificial plants. But I have no clue what types of plants would be good in a moderate to low light aquarium system.
And finally, one of my biggest questions is the filter media. I have read that replacing the filter media/cartridge is completely unnecessary at all, aside from a good rinse in removed tank water just to get rid of built up debris. The power filter that I have uses cartridges with carbon in them, and infront of that filter is a foam mesh. But I've also read that keeping a carbon based filter media and not replacing it can be dangerous as everything the carbon has captured can be released back into the water again? I've also read that the majority of the bacteria lives IN the carbon and on the filter media itself, and thus replacing it would rid the tank of most of its bacteria. What do you guys recommend as the correct way to filter the water while providing a medium for the bacteria to thrive on? Would the foam insert pre filter be enough?
I appreciate your help! Thank you!
-Jaime