Re: Best Filter for 3 Orandas in a 215l tank?
#4
Yes, ammonia needs to be added, to replicate the fish poop to get all the bacteria in the filter you need, before you add the fish. Otherwise they swim around for 4 weeks in a toxic soup.
See link to fishless cycling here:
http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles ... hless-cycling-article.htmHomebase sell liquid ammonia in the cleaning section, add enough to read 2ppm to kick start. If it drops to less than this each day when you test, top it back up to the same level. Some days you add none, some days more, the whole process takes about 4-6 weeks. Keep a water reading diary, it helps to check the progress of the cycle
You'll need to test the tank water each day of course (API Freshwater Master Test Kit - about ?15 on Ebay, double in the shops but it lasts for over a year
)
If the fluval had already undergone this process, you could have just simply moved the existing media into the new filter - just squidged it in. No loss of existing bacteria, just new room to colonise.
The cycle will commence as soon as you start to add the ammonia. As for the external, gosh, there is so much choice out there. Eheim are great, they get fab reviews here and I only have experience of these. A version, whichever one you choose eventually, given suited for 400 litres I would say, should be fine. Flow can be disrupted with spray bars etc if needs be
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