Kat's 29g Adventure!

[kattiq]

You do not have to do a water change very time you add new fish kattiq.

What I meant was that when you add new stock it adds more waste and your BB might need some time to catch up so checking your water parameters every other day will let you know if you need to do a water change because a reading is going up.

And doing a 20% water change weekly is the best preventative maintenance program one can do for their fish! Great strategy.

Phew okay! I was about to say. It didn't really make sense to me why you'd need to do it every time you add new fish, but I figured I'd play safe and ask anyways.
Thanks! I'll probably follow your lead and check every other day since it works well for you.

[Goes to 11!]

I like the way both of those look. I do want something that grows fast, so cabomba might be great addition!

I was planning on adding a few at a time as I had read somewhere you can't overload your tank all at once. Thanks for that tip. :)
So do I need to do a water change every time I add in new fish? I know I'll need to do at least a 20% each week right? Water changes is something I have yet to research extensively.

Okay, my bad it's actually a Top Fin 30-- I did have a Top Fin 3000 air pump, I must have gotten the numbers confused.
Rated Tank Size: up to 30g
GPH: 150
So I guess I need a new filter?

TY

Numbers confusion is nbd lol. Eventually you will need to upgrade yeah, It's about half the filter that tank requires. I would continue your cycle as normal and stock minimally until the upgrade.

What you could do is get the same filter again and run both [BONUS: If you alternate cleaning them every other week you will never lose your BB colony]

Or you could just get a bigger one.

RE: stock, Adding a few at a time is THE way to go yes. WRT water changes, Many around here do 40 or 50% weekly. I do 40% myself.

There is no need to do WC when adding fish although I would strongly suggest that you look into a QT tank to prevent introducing diseases into your main tank from new acquisitions.

Good luck.

[Strider199]

Plus 1 to 850R post!

I prefer to have two separate filter on my large tank. Reason; exactly what 850R said. Clean them at different intervals so if something happens to one BB colony, your not left out in the cold.
On my 29 gallon I had a Penguin 150 bio-wheel HOB and a Fluval 205 cannister.
It was over kill but man it kept the water clear.

[kattiq]

Numbers confusion is nbd lol. Eventually you will need to upgrade yeah, It's about half the filter that tank requires. I would continue your cycle as normal and stock minimally until the upgrade.

What you could do is get the same filter again and run both [BONUS: If you alternate cleaning them every other week you will never lose your BB colony]

Or you could just get a bigger one.

RE: stock, Adding a few at a time is THE way to go yes. WRT water changes, Many around here do 40 or 50% weekly. I do 40% myself.

There is no need to do WC when adding fish although I would strongly suggest that you look into a QT tank to prevent introducing diseases into your main tank from new acquisitions.

Good luck.

Geez, I bought a starter kit so I wouldn't have to buy a filter! Oh well, when I do upgrade I should get a filter that's good for 60g then? I'd rather just upgrade because I don't really want two filters on the sides of my tank.

I've got to get a water changer syphon thing soon too! (I'm thinking Aqueon WC) I'm just holding out till my next paycheck, which I get tomorrow!! And I also need to make sure it will fit on my bathroom sink faucet.
I don't really have room for a QT, so I guess I'll have to add fish and hope for the best that they don't have any diseases!
Thanks for your help :)

EDIT:

Plus 1 to 850R post!

I prefer to have two separate filter on my large tank. Reason; exactly what 850R said. Clean them at different intervals so if something happens to one BB colony, your not left out in the cold.
On my 29 gallon I had a Penguin 150 bio-wheel HOB and a Fluval 205 cannister.
It was over kill but man it kept the water clear.

Oops sorry didn't see this post before I posted mine!
What do cannisters do differently? I've seem them mentioned around the forum but clearly I am still in the dark. How large is the tank you have both filters on?

[Goes to 11!]

Geez, I bought a starter kit so I wouldn't have to buy a filter! Oh well, when I do upgrade I should get a filter that's good for 60g then? I'd rather just upgrade because I don't really want two filters on the sides of my tank.

I've got to get a water changer syphon thing soon too! (I'm thinking Aqueon WC) I'm just holding out till my next paycheck, which I get tomorrow!! And I also need to make sure it will fit on my bathroom sink faucet.
I don't really have room for a QT, so I guess I'll have to add fish and hope for the best that they don't have any diseases!
Thanks for your help :)

Yeah, The starter kits are kinda notorious for not having the most stellar equipment, One for a 60 would be fine yes.

QT need not be set up all the time - only when you need it.

Think outside of the glass box - Anything big enough that's uncontaminated and can hold water can be a qt provided you can heat it & filter it. [Check out sponge filters for QT]

Small plastic trash cans or rubbermaid tubs are not pretty but they work fine. [Use caution with the heater in these] Just some ideas to consider to save your tanks stock.

[kurly]

I see you're on a budget and trying to get your main tank together but just wanted to say that you could get a 5 gallon for a QT and put it away when it's not in use.

It's always good to have a QT because you never know when you'll need to remove a fish from your main tank for one reason or another Or treat newly acquired fish before putting them in the main tank. I'm sure you already know this. I just felt the need to mention it because I actually have two sick fish in my QT and am so glad that I don't have to treat the main tank just to get them better.

Anyway...Have fun shopping tomorrow

[kattiq]

Yeah, The starter kits are kinda notorious for not having the most stellar equipment, One for a 60 would be fine yes.

QT need not be set up all the time - only when you need it.

Think outside of the glass box - Anything big enough that's uncontaminated and can hold water can be a qt provided you can heat it & filter it. [Check out sponge filters for QT]

Small plastic trash cans or rubbermaid tubs are not pretty but they work fine. [Use caution with the heater in these] Just some ideas to consider to save your tanks stock.

Now I'm kicking myself for not researching things sooner. Haha
So if I upgraded to another filter I could always just use the old filter in the QT? What if the fish needed to be in there for a couple days, what about the stress level of it not being cycled?

I see you're on a budget and trying to get your main tank together but just wanted to say that you could get a 5 gallon for a QT and put it away when it's not in use.

It's always good to have a QT because you never know when you'll need to remove a fish from your main tank for one reason or another Or treat newly acquired fish before putting them in the main tank.

Have fun shopping tomorrow

Yes, I am on a budget! I am a college student working in retail and I've already dropped a pretty large amount of $ on the tank and getting it all set up! I'm sure a 5g would be pretty good, I could probably find a cheap one on craigslist or something. What sorts of treatment would you do to the fish you are about to put in your tank?

[Strider199]

Your on the right track. The old filter will have some BB in it as long as it stays wet and if you have a fish or a few fish in quarantine, it will only be there for a short time (if new) or in for a couple of weeks if treating for a bacterial or viral disease. Water changes in a quarantine tank are also necessary. But if medicating, read the direction on the medicine.

[kattiq]

Your on the right track. The old filter will have some BB in it as long as it stays wet and if you have a fish or a few fish in quarantine, it will only be there for a short time (if new) or in for a couple of weeks if treating for a bacterial or viral disease..

I'll make sure to do that! Thanks Strider :)

[Goes to 11!]

Now I'm kicking myself for not researching things sooner. Haha
So if I upgraded to another filter I could always just use the old filter in the QT? What if the fish needed to be in there for a couple days, what about the stress level of it not being cycled?

That is an insightful question and I am glad you asked it. i

It's not quite how it works though-> Check out post #8 here.
Just ask if you need clarification.