Checklist for new aquarium.

[Michael[91]]

So basically after going over things i need to do and buy tomorrow, since im getting my new aquarium then, i just wanted to write my checklist here and my steps, so you(experts) can advise me and tell me what im doing wrong, and what i need to fix.
btw i am eventually planning on getting a F8 and maybe a molly.

this is what i am buying tomorrow
20 Gallon Deluxe Aquarium Kit by Aqueon(Filter,Heater,Conditioner,Hood,Light, etc.)
Gravel Vacuum
Gravel
Decor
Hydrometer
Marine Salt
5 in 1 Test kit
Ammonia Test Kit
Bio-Spira
Air Control Valve
and a 5G bucket.

So im going to petco to buy everything, and then going to my LFS to buy the Bio-Spira, and then going straight home, im going to put the bio-spira in the fridge while i set up my tank, condition the water, add the marine salt until the salinity is 1.005, and then add the bio-spira(by the instructions) then after ill just let my tank cycle until the ammonia and nitrite levels are at 0, then ill order the figure 8 from my lfs and since they'll probably keep him in fw ill just drop acclimate him by putting him in the bucket(should i clean it with conditioned tap water first?) with the water he came in and then set the air control valve at 1 drop per second. and then after about 5gallons ill be able to put the F8 into the tank.

[Pufferpunk]

You need to add Bio-Spira directly before the fish. It can't live without the ammonia/waste of the fish. Add it to the filter.

[Michael[91]]

yea, i was planning on adding the bio-spira to cycle the tank, right? and then after its cycled then i was going to add the fish.
how long do you think the cycle will take, the way im planning to do it.

brackish water,fishless, bio-spira, 80 degrees.

[Pufferpunk]

B-S instantly cycles the tank. I believe at this point, the product Bio-Spira is now only aailable for SW but Dr Tim's or Safestart is for FW. All are instant cycling products.

[LilGreenPuffer]

This is gonna sounds weird, but... a box of toothpicks has always been an essential for me. I use them to clear out the filter intake, to dish out worms, and for all sorts of other things.

A couple of 5g buckets is a good idea. Get at least as much bucket as water that will be changed (if you plan to change 10 at a time, two 5g buckets, etc.).

Don't forget the dechlorinator! Prime or Amquel is best, since it neutralizes ammonia, which might show up in your tap water without warning or in a mini-cycle. And always have an extra bottle on hand. You never know when you'll, oh, drop the open bottle or forget to restock...

...Not that I would *ever* drop the bottle or forget to restock... Nope, not me...

[Michael[91]]

thanks, for all the advice, by instant cycle, do you mean it'll be done in a few days or right away?

[LilGreenPuffer]

Right away.

[bigfatpuffer]

U don't need to add the bio-spira or safestart when u set up the tank as it's a instant cycle. Just add it in the water right before u add the fish into the tank. Otherwise, without ammonia the bacteria from the biospira r just gonna die and u'll be wasting $$

[LilGreenPuffer]

Yep! Although some people like to feed ammonia and moniter their parameters for a few days after adding the instant cycling product, if you don't plan to do that, definitely don't add the stuff until you've got the fish in the house.

[Michael[91]]

Thank you i set up my tank today, and basically all ive done so far was fill it up, condition the water, set up the filter and heater, but im holding off on adding the salt and bio-spira because the water temperature right now is 88+, but after doing my first test i got that i have a hardness of 300, and i was wondering what i need to do to lower the hardness, and i was also wondering if its okay to add bio-spira cause right now its in my fridge and just keep feeding it with like gold fish flakes that came with the aquarium.

[Pufferpunk]

By tossing in flakes, you really aren't replicating the amount of bioload your puffer will produce & some of the $$$ bacteria you tossed in will die. Either add ammonia up to 5ppm/day or don't add the product until you add the fish.

[bigfatpuffer]

I think u can start adding the salt in. The higher temp will actual help dissolving the salt a bit.

[bazil323]

I would hold off on adding the BioSpira until you actually have the fish. I've done it that way a few times, and I never had any problems. I would think that adding it before you have the fish would just cause unneccesary work and headache.

What is your tap water's pH? You should test it right out of the tap and also let a container of it (enough for testing, doesn't need to be much) sit out overnight to see if the pH drops at all. If it is less than 8, I would go ahead and get crushed coral or aragonite for the substrate instead of or in combination with regular gravel. The crushed coral/aragonite will naturally raise the pH into the 8 range which is what F8s like.

Also, if you can afford a 25g or even 30g kit, I would spring for that since you will probably wish you had done it as soon as you get home with a 20g, lol. It seems no matter what, everyone wishes they had gone for the larger tank. Also, even those 5 extra gallons will help with bioload and allow you to have more fish (mollies or bbgs are good tankmates, usually).

Oh, and since you didn't put what kind of kit you were getting, a liquid kit is preferred. They are more accurate than the test strips and don't expire as quickly. API and Red Sea are both good kits.