In preparation to start cycling the "new" tank, I was soaking my sponge filter sponges and extra bio wheels, along with drawstring bags of media in my 55g. to jumpstart my cycle. Over the weekend, we filled the tank and got all the filters going, and added all of the prepared media. I know it's still going to take a month or so to completely cycle (I may even try some of the Biospira...we'll see) - but how much water should I change out when I start getting ammonia spikes? I've got my 4 goldies in it right now, as I have 2 new fish coming tomorrow and needed the other tank for QT'ing. I was going to get my rubbermaid going for that, but never got around to it.

Usually you would change out 50% on a smaller tank, but I am putting in bottled water, which I'm paying for, from 5 gallon jugs...so 50% more than once a week is a lot of water.

Also, I am not sure what kind of mineral loss I have on the bottled water - what is the best supplement to use?

I figured it out. 30-40% seems to do the trick to keep ammonia at .25 or under.

is there a reason you are using bottled water as there are not alot of minerals in there and lolafish believe i know what your going through cycling that tank of yours i am currently cycling my 60g but it is not taking to long as used some seeded material.

Yep...posted in about 50 different place already,

Our tap water has 1-2 ppm ammonia.

Lola,
Are those two black orandas in your signature? They are beautiful!

Hey Lola - you can use crushed coral to buffer up your water. You can have it as a substrate or cram it into the cannister filters, too. Have you tested the GH/KH of the bottled water? That is almost more important to know than the PH as it will tell you much more about any mineral content it may/not have.
Try talking to Trinket as she has practically no alkalinity in her water - she has had to develop strategies to get around that.

BTW - I am going to have to stop answering in your threads as the sight of all your beautiful fish is making me too envious I love the new black fish - ooooooooo!

Hey Lola,
Might this device save you some cash?
http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem-idprod...4111-tab-1.html
It's 38.00 and the filters are 18.00. Each filter makes up to 150 gallons of water. Question is do you pay more than say 20$ for 150 gallons of whatever water you are buying. The pur water filter removes the 2ppm ammonia, which is in my tap water from the chloramines my city puts in there.

The thing about the pur water system is i don't know if it also removes some thins that the fish might need.

I think if you go in the saltwater section of your fish petstore they have mineral supplements for tanks. I'm pretty sure they're safe to use for freshwater tanks too.

Anybody know about using a water purifier? Daryl? Eric?

There are soooooo many types of water purifiers - it all depends on what you are trying to "purify".....

Standard filtration that you can build into a house with little problem will remove the ammonia and other "additives" that come in the water. The more "metal" and other things that you are dealing with - the more "heavy weight" filtration system you will need.

I use RO water to dilute my well water down to a useable product. I have loads of heavy minerals, etc in that water. It is run through 3 carbon filters, 2 string filters, standard ion-exchange and then RO filter before use. This is mixed with just a small portion of the original well water (for various desired, measured nutrients) and added RO Right - a powdered additive put out by Kent..... which will add back in gH and kH in the proportions you choose.

RO water should not be used exclusively. It has no buffers or needed minerals. (DI and distilled are even more devoid)

Simple filtration - such as the cartridge you place on the faucet in your sink will typically remove particulate and some ammonia and other additives. It is basically a simple carbon filter. If you do not wish to use such a device, it is an easy thing to make a drip percelator of carbon for your fish water. Punch small holes in the bottom of a bucket and then fill the bucket with a layer of floss and then activated carbon. Pour your replacement water into the bucket and let it drain through the carbon into the bottom bucket. This will filter your water for most "common" simple inclusions.

Thanks Daryl! I knew you would know.

I already bought one, several days ago. But I have bigger problems than water right now. The center brace broke on my big tank, so as we speak, I am in the process of moving all the fish together in the 55 gallon while we do repairs.

1 oranda and one ranchu

they are my sweethearts!!!

Oh that's terrible. Can you fit all the filters from the 125 on to the 55 to keep your cycle going? So much work to empty and fill.
It could be worse. You could have had a 125 gallon flood. I had a 29 gallon flood once, it wasnt pretty. I want a 55 or a 75. That's
all I have room for. My house is small. My boyfriend said he would buy it for me for xmas, as long as I guarantee there will be no flood.
I learned my lesson with cats and bubble wands.