this is my first tank, and i need to know how long to let the fish water sit before i put the fish in.
Answers:
Everyone so far is answering in terms of tank cycling - and it is less stressful to your fish if you cycle the tank completely before you add them. However if you've already bought the fish and just set up the tank, the drops used to remove chlorine/chloramine work in seconds, so as long as the temperature of the water in the tank is the same as that in the bag, it's safe to add them. Do this by acclimating them slowly to your tank's chemistry. Float them for about 15 minutes so the water temperature equalizes, open their bag and pour out (down the drain, not in your tank) about 1/4 of the water and refill with the same amount of water from your tank and wait about 5 minutes. Do this three more times, then net your fish and add them to the tank. If you don't have a net, pour out as much of the water from the bag as you can, them release them in the water.
This is a personal question. The tank won't cycle without adding something to it, be it fish, raw shrimp, fish food, or ammonia.
If your tank water is warm enough (you don't mention if you're putting in goldfish or tropical fish) and its been treated..you can start adding fish. Remember: your tank needs to cycle in order to be a healthy environment for your fish. Cycling with fish can take up to 6 weeks to complete. You start very slowly and add as the tank adjusts.
Uneaten fish food, urine, feces and just exhalations through the gills add ammonia to the water. Ammonia is toxic to fish. It burns their eyes, fins and gills. After the ammonia reaches its peak, the nitrite bacteria forms and eats the ammonia. This can take several weeks to peak. It is also toxic. Nitrites affect the fish's ability to transform oxygen and they can asphyxiate. The next bacteria is nitrate. At levels of 20 ppm, you're cycled. It will eat the nitrites as they form. The more fish you add at once, the more ammonia you create. So its best to add the least bioload at first.
If you're doing a fishy cycle, the best ones to go with are danios. They do not put a huge bioload out and they're one of the hardier breeds. A lot of fish die during the cycling of a tank. The ones that make it have weaker immune systems.
For freshwater fish, an hour is best, but anything less then forty-five minutes is iffy.
The longer you can wait the better. It is a common misconception that a tank wont "cycle" without a fish in it.
The point behind "cycling" a tank is allowing time for beneficial bacteria to get established. You can add a product called CYCLE it will add that bacteria to get ya jump started. The biggest mistake with new fish owners is rushing things. Be patient. If you add cycle you would be safe to add a fish or two but I would NOT add more than that at first. Then add two fish per week until your tank is stocked. Remember this guideline
Tank Size Maximum Fish Capacity based on a large guppy or a platy sized fish
10 gal. 8-12
20 gal. 12-15
30 gal. 15-20
55 gal. 20-30
Over crowding and lack of regular partial water changes (25-30% on a weekly basis) are number one reasons for failure for the new hobbyist. Disease and fish fatalities.
I would recommend a weekly partial water change of 25% rather than every other week as you stay on top of things better and the fish are more familiar with your intrusion and there for less stressed by the water changes.
Best of luck to you.
Your tank won't cycle unless there is something in it.
You should get sine cheap fish
Turn on the filter first to filter out the chemicals. You should let it sit for about 5-7 days before you add any fish.
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