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starting up a 10 gallon tank

2K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  scouseROB 
#1 ·
HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THIS UP AS A HOBBIE AND REALLY NEEDED A FEW IDEAS BEFORE I ADD ANY FISH TO MY TANK. I BOUGHT A 10 GALLON TANK YESTERDAY PUT MY GRAVEL IN THEN MY INTERNAL FILTER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TANK AND MY HEATER ON THE RIGHT WITH A FEW ORNAMENTS INSIDE. FILLED THE TANK WITH WATER THEN ADDED A CAPFUL AND A HALF OF KING BRITISH SAFE GUARD TO GET RID OF THE CHLORINE AND NEEDED HELF WITH WHAT TO DO NEXT TO GET THE CYCLE GOING
 
#3 ·
DO NOT KNOW HOW TO POST PICTURE SORRY. COULD TRY AND DESCRIBE IT TO U. IT DOSENT HAVE A MODEL NAME ONLY A MODEL NUMBER ON THE FILTER ITSELF WHICH IS HJ732 ITS LONG BLACK SPLITS INTO TWO SECTIONS WHEN YOU TAKE IT APART THE BOTTOM PART HAVING A TOUGH SPONGE CARTRIGE WITH A HOLE GOING RIGHT DOWN THE CENTRE IN ITAND THE TOP PART HAS A LITTLE FAN LIKE UNDENEATH THAT SITS ON TOP OFF THE HOLE IN THE SPONGE ALSO ON THE UPPER PART WHERE THE FILTERED WATER COMES OUT IT HAS A LONG CLEAR CYLINDER HAS A CLEAR TUBE RUNNING FROM IT WHICH I WAS TOLD TO LET IT HANG OUT OFF THE TANK. SORRY REALLY NOT GOOD AT DISCRIBING THINGS
 
#5 ·
hi
API test kit is the one that i use and do some other members here.
you need a sorce of Amonia to get the cycle going,
some people use fish,howver this is cruel and there is another way.
hardward stores sell pure amonia.there is a thread on it here
somewhere,i'll try and find it for you,unless you have seen it already.
 
#7 ·
I found your filter online. You can use this filter as a biological filter, which is good. To accomplish this, you will need to allow the sponge to grow bacteria, which means that you should never rinse the sponge under tap water. Bacteria are the key to successful fishkeeping, and the sponge is very capable of providing a permanent place for these bacteria to grow.

My suggestion is this. Every month or so, when doing your weekly water changes, use this opportunity to clean the sponge. Just squeeze the sponge out in the bucket of dirty aquarium water. Don't do any elaborate cleaning, just gently clean the sponge with water from the aquarium. This should keep the sponge from clogging and allow water to flow freely threw the sponge, allowing the bacteria to break down ammonia and nitrite.

You should probably wait at least 2 or 3 months prior to the first cleaning of the sponge. Also, with the limited capacity of this type biological filter, you need to be very careful not to overstock your aquariums fish load. I would suggest no more than 5 or 6 small fish, along with a pair of Cory Cats for cleanup.
 
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