"Tanks" for the advice...

[rgG]

As per the advice I got here, I just finished cleaning my 55 gallon fish tank, in anticipation of getting some new fish. It was a 2-day, 2-person job, and we didn't even drain it completely.

My husband and I vacuumed and drained about half or a little more of the water yesterday. That was a chore, but all the house plants and a few outside loved it when I watered them with the "mulmy" water we removed. I then removed the 7 big decorative algae covered rocks from the tank, but left the pea gravel that covers the bottom. We then refilled it about 90% of the way and let the filter work to clear the water. I let the rocks dry out in the sun yesterday and then scrubbed most of the algae off this morning, before putting them back in the tank and topping it off.

I have cleaned the filter and will let it go for another day or two before cleaning it again. Then I will change the pads and the medium, let it go a day or two more and then probably get a couple or three goldfish to introduce.

Thanks for all the advice. Siphoning and schlepping all that water gave me a real work out. My husband hurt his back last week, so I had to do all the heavy lifting, and those water buckets were really heavy. I used a large empty kitty litter bucket, about 4-5 gallons, as the container. Refilling with the two gallon watering can took some time, too.

Edit: This tank is built into a wall in our breakfast room, and is accessed through the pantry, so it made the whole process just that much more "fun" doing all this on a small step ladder while basically in a closet.

[blooz]

Each gallon of water weighs 8.3 or .4 pounds. So every bucketful was 32–40 pounds depending on how full you had it. That's a good workout.

I'll eschew the "something is fishy here" jokes.

[sekker]

The most important next step is getting the 'flora and fauna' up and running in the tank. Basically all the microbes and other critters that turn it into a full ecosystem.

There are some commercial products to help start the process, and they can really help.

I also recommend only adding a few fish at a time - but you probably know that already.

It can take up to 6 months for a tank to stabilize. Once it does, tho, it can be very low maintenance.

Oh - if you have a fluorescent lamp as a light, it might be worth considering replacing it with an LED model. Fluorescents give off light in the ideal color range for algae to grow, especially as they yellow.

[Acer]

Don't clean that filter medium too aggressively...that's where a lot of your beneficial biologicals are living. Just rinsing it should be fine for now. Replace it later, after the the fish have been in for a while. All the other cleaning should be sufficient to prepare it for its new residents.

I only replace my filter pads when they physically begin to wear out. I rinse them in tank water during water changes. Replacing them more often than that is lining the pocket of the filter maker.

[Kate]

I'd love to see pictures when you get it up and running with the fish

Kate

[rgG]

My filter has those little 'Bio Wheels" on the front that are supposed to help with the bacteria and stuff. I did just rinse off the pads this morning, and since you guys recommend not changing, I will just rinse them off tomorrow or the next day, instead of changing.

The medium I was talking about replacing was the charcoal/ammonia remover stuff that is in the baskets in the back of the filter. I will replace that, as it has probably lost its effectiveness.

I looked at the pet store today to see what they had in goldfish, while I was picking up some kitteh treats, but they didn't have a lot to choose from. There is a better store further up the street that I need to check out before I buy anything.

I will start with maybe three fish, and see how it goes, before going for any more, and I will try to post a pic or two, once the fish are in.

Thanks for the tip about the LED light. I had not even thought about that. Since I don't have any live plants, the fish always ate them, that might help with the algae growth.

[Ombligo]

If you ever have to do it again, get a long garden hose and just run it outside from the tank. Ground is generally lower than your tank and the siphon will do the rest (or hook a powerhead/pump to the end in the tank and get it done even faster.

Sorry, wish I had mentioned this before to save you the work.

[rgG]

Ombligo wrote:
If you ever have to do it again, get a long garden hose and just run it outside from the tank. Ground is generally lower than your tank and the siphon will do the rest (or hook a powerhead/pump to the end in the tank and get it done even faster.

Sorry, wish I had mentioned this before to save you the work.

It's OK. I wanted to use my little vacuum thing to try and get some of the crud out of the rocks, and I wanted recycle some of the water, plus I probably needed the exercise anyway.

[Acer]

These are awesome...clean, drain and fill! I've got 50 feet of tubing reaching all the way to the laundry sink in the basement: Aqueon Aquarium Water Changer

[Racer X]

I bet you looked awesome in a white semi sheer blouse soaked with water...


Just let me have my fantasy, m'kay?