Hi, so I have a few quick questions.

1) I just set up my tank on Friday and have had everything running for a few days, and now the water seems to have turned cloudy (can hardly see other side of tank look horizontally). I did a 30% water change, but it has not done much.

2) I also purchased a Tetra whisper air pump, and it is fairly loud (louder than my fluval 405 filter) and I was wondering if it would be okay to set the pump the same timer as the lights so I can sleep better at night. Also I am open to putting the air pump in my kitchen which is in the room below my tank (has anyone ever done this?)

3) And finally tomorrow i would like to pickup some fish to start the cycling, what is best. I heard that tetras or barbs are the best is this true?

Thank you in advance for your help!

Thanks

its bacteria bloom. its normal. it will settle out in some time, it will take 40-45 days to properly cycle your tank.

the air pump downstairs in the kitchen... i would definatly invest in an anti-siphon valve for that airline up near the tank... that could make a nasty mess having the hose going so far down below the waterlevel if you didnt have it.

ive always used goldfish for cycling. like a dozen feeder goldfish or ruby reds... observe them closely... then when you put in your O he has snacks waiting on him.

As long as your oxygen levels are okay then an air pump isn't a necessity. Just make sure that your filter is causing surface agitation. If so, you can turn your pump off at night.

As for the cloudiness, have you any fish in the tank? If not, have you recently put new substrate into your tank?

yes, tetra and barbs will be okay to cycle your tank , guppies are also good. Just don't be surprised if you lose a few fish during the cycle, remember the ammonia will get quite high.

throw some cheep gold fish in they will do the trick as for your pump i dont see any probs with a timer just make sure the inlet pipe is breaking the surface of the water to create bubbles this might be as anoying as the pump though if your only running an air stone or bubble pad down size the pump to a wisper 100 they make no noise at all hope this helps dude

Thank you for the quick replies. I ll just wait it out. Hopefully by mid-November my tank will be cycled and i can get some Oscars. I would like to get a bottom feeder like a pelco or a catfish, what do you guys think about them?

plecos are evil biting poo factories. get a synodontis or other smaller catfish instead.


plecos have a nasty habit once they get bigger of biting your fish in the night.

not to mention they make shits longer than they are. they are more hassle than they are worth IMO.

you can fast track the cycle with chemicals plec have mixed revews i got one in with my oscar but some dont recomend them trial and ereor im afraid!

I'm not a great lover of nocturnal species as they can cause a disturbance at night when the fish are sleeping. Also, a lot of plecs that are sold in the shops are the type that get very big. You have also got to be careful with catfish as well, a lot of people choose ones that get ridiculously big, others don't get very big and can become Oscar food at some stage.

what the fxxx love the hair ofl just noticed LOL smoooooooooooooooth!!!

Dont worry about the cloudiness, its normal and will soon go

Dont put the air pump too far away or it might not be able to pump the air,the longer the tube the harder it is to pump air. Put the pump in a cupboard (usually under the tank) and rest in on some bubble wrap or a cloth. If you havent got a cupboard under the tank them make some covering for it to reduce noise
As long as the surface of your tank is rippled then you dont need an air pump. You can still have one if you like the look (i do). So if the surface is being rippled by the filter outlet you can put the air pump on a timer