Fish question

My wife bought a smallish tropical fish tank with all the bits and bobs. It's sat there now with water, bubbles etc but no fish. She's done the chemical thing that she was told to do and everything else. The bloke in the shop said you have to let it stand for 7 days before putting any fish in it. Is this true?
To me that doesn't make sence. For instance when you come to clean it and replace the water, you're not going to keep the fish in a bucket for 7 days then whilst the tank stands are you. Surely you are going to get them back in to their clean tank within a short period of time. So if that's true then why wait 7 days now?

If anyone in the know would like to explain that one then please do.

My wife bought a smallish tropical fish tank with all the bits and bobs. It's sat there now with water, bubbles etc but no fish. She's done the chemical thing that she was told to do and everything else. The bloke in the shop said you have to let it stand for 7 days before putting any fish in it. Is this true?
To me that doesn't make sence. For instance when you come to clean it and replace the water, you're not going to keep the fish in a bucket for 7 days then whilst the tank stands are you. Surely you are going to get them back in to their clean tank within a short period of time. So if that's true then why wait 7 days now?

If anyone in the know would like to explain that one then please do.

Here you go Berwyn>>>> http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Why+do+I+have+to+l ... ng+fish%3F

My wife bought a smallish tropical fish tank with all the bits and bobs. It's sat there now with water, bubbles etc but no fish. She's done the chemical thing that she was told to do and everything else. The bloke in the shop said you have to let it stand for 7 days before putting any fish in it. Is this true?
To me that doesn't make sence. For instance when you come to clean it and replace the water, you're not going to keep the fish in a bucket for 7 days then whilst the tank stands are you. Surely you are going to get them back in to their clean tank within a short period of time. So if that's true then why wait 7 days now?

If anyone in the know would like to explain that one then please do.

Here you go Berwyn>>>> http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Why+do+I+have+to+l ... ng+fish%3F

All right then clever dick. What Google tells me is why I should wait 7 days or whatever. What it doesn't tell me is what happens then when you come to clean the f*cking thing sometime down the road. You are not going to leave them in a bucket for 7 days.... (I'm repeating myself now...)

When you clean it you'll only need to change 15/20% of the water mate.

My wife bought a smallish tropical fish tank with all the bits and bobs. It's sat there now with water, bubbles etc but no fish. She's done the chemical thing that she was told to do and everything else. The bloke in the shop said you have to let it stand for 7 days before putting any fish in it. Is this true?
To me that doesn't make sence. For instance when you come to clean it and replace the water, you're not going to keep the fish in a bucket for 7 days then whilst the tank stands are you. Surely you are going to get them back in to their clean tank within a short period of time. So if that's true then why wait 7 days now?

If anyone in the know would like to explain that one then please do.

Here you go Berwyn>>>> http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Why+do+I+have+to+l ... ng+fish%3F

All right then clever dick. What Google tells me is why I should wait 7 days or whatever. What it doesn't tell me is what happens then when you come to clean the f*cking thing sometime down the road. You are not going to leave them in a bucket for 7 days.... (I'm repeating myself now...)

Sorry, could not resist.

I would have thought that filters etc need changing and not the water once up and running.(well not all of it) Getting the right fish and plants will help too. I do believe a partial clean of gravel on a regular basis will also help keep the water clean.

When you clean it you'll only need to change 15/20% of the water mate.

So once it's set up you'll never need to fully empty the tank? How often do you reckon you should replace 20% ? And when you do this do you have to treat that water before adding it?

I used to keep fish a long time ago but I don't remember it ever being this complicated.

When you clean it you'll only need to change 15/20% of the water mate.

as sheep said... you dont completely empty the tank you leave a certain amount of the old water in there.. My old mans had tropical fish all my life..

When you clean it you'll only need to change 15/20% of the water mate.

So once it's set up you'll never need to fully empty the tank? How often do you reckon you should replace 20% ? And when you do this do you have to treat that water before adding it?

I used to keep fish a long time ago but I don't remember it ever being this complicated.

Once a week is fine, use Clor out, which I think you can get from tesco's. It removes the chlorine from the tap-water, or ask in a pet shop for other products similar. You'll need a gravel filter to suck all the shit out of the gravel.

Tropical fish do ya f*cking head in, I had more chemicals than fish food in the cupboard underneath the tank. Always something f*cking wrong with them. Cold water fish are much easier to keep, goldfish for instance.

When you clean it you'll only need to change 15/20% of the water mate.

So once it's set up you'll never need to fully empty the tank? How often do you reckon you should replace 20% ? And when you do this do you have to treat that water before adding it?

I used to keep fish a long time ago but I don't remember it ever being this complicated.

Once a week is fine, use Clor out, which I think you can get from tesco's. It removes the chlorine from the tap-water, or ask in a pet shop for other products similar. You'll need a gravel filter to suck all the shit out of the gravel.

Tropical fish do ya f*cking head in, I had more chemicals than fish food in the cupboard underneath the tank. Always something f*cking wrong with them. Cold water fish are much easier to keep, goldfish for instance.

I know what you mean. I've not got a sinlge fish yet and I've got more chemicals than an Iranian arms dealer. It was never this complicated before. I had a very large tank with lots of fish. Back then I'd just scoop them out, completely empty the tank and wash it all. Then I'd fill it back up with clean water. Get the temp correct and exactly the same as the water in their bucket. Then just put them straight back in. No chemicals whatsoever. They never died or anything. When did they get so fussy all of a sudden.
And I only cleaned it twice a year.

Just get a few goldfish mate

I have a 90 gallon tank, with Silver dollar fish, Angel fish, Tetra, Catfish and Guppies, nothing out of the ordinary but all classed as community fish.
The tank was filled and left for 4 days with chemicals added and pump running, then the fish, which were already in a previous tank together, were added, 18 months later changed 50% of water and cleaned half of gravel.

I have lost a few fish along the way but this actually helps the cycle of the tank.

The immediate thing is the cleaning the pump filters every two to three weeks, replace every 6 months. and of course feed them!!!

good luck,

When you clean it you'll only need to change 15/20% of the water mate.

So once it's set up you'll never need to fully empty the tank? How often do you reckon you should replace 20% ? And when you do this do you have to treat that water before adding it?

I used to keep fish a long time ago but I don't remember it ever being this complicated.

Once a week is fine, use Clor out, which I think you can get from tesco's. It removes the chlorine from the tap-water, or ask in a pet shop for other products similar. You'll need a gravel filter to suck all the shit out of the gravel.

Tropical fish do ya f*cking head in, I had more chemicals than fish food in the cupboard underneath the tank. Always something f*cking wrong with them. Cold water fish are much easier to keep, goldfish for instance.

I know what you mean. I've not got a sinlge fish yet and I've got more chemicals than an Iranian arms dealer. It was never this complicated before. I had a very large tank with lots of fish. Back then I'd just scoop them out, completely empty the tank and wash it all. Then I'd fill it back up with clean water. Get the temp correct and exactly the same as the water in their bucket. Then just put them straight back in. No chemicals whatsoever. They never died or anything. When did they get so fussy all of a sudden.
And I only cleaned it twice a year.

Its all about the bacteria and ph. Its a nightmare I knocked it on the head a year ago. Fungus then it was parasites in their stomach then white spot then they started dying for no reason. I must have thrown out about 80 quids worth of chemicals. IF were to get fish now they'd be cold-water.

I have a 90 gallon tank, with Silver dollar fish, Angel fish, Tetra, Catfish and Guppies, nothing out of the ordinary but all classed as community fish.
The tank was filled and left for 4 days with chemicals added and pump running, then the fish, which were already in a previous tank together, were added, 18 months later changed 50% of water and cleaned half of gravel.

I have lost a few fish along the way but this actually helps the cycle of the tank.

The immediate thing is the cleaning the pump filters every two to three weeks, replace every 6 months. and of course feed them!!!

good luck,

These filters thing. It says on the carbon one to change it "every two to four weeks" and then there's a bag of white things, which says has to be changed every 3 months but not at exactly the same time as a carbon one. Are you saying that you can just wash them? I don't mind changing things but only if I need to do it rather than just change it because the manufacturer want to sell more.

I have a fluvil underwater filter, there is no carbon aspect to this filter, only the sponge pads/inserts, these are designed to be washed out 4-5 times before being replaced.