So I'll be picking up a 10 gallon sometime either today or tomorrow. For now, I'll be using the filter it comes with. I have a 100 watt heater to put in it, and enough gravel, I believe. I'm going to try to make a divider myself, which I'll be picking up the supplies for when I go out to buy the tank. I have two thermometers, one for each side, and I have some silk plants as decoration for now until I can get live plants.
I had a few questions though, that I didn't find on the cycling sticky.
First of all, which cycling method do you recommend? I can't afford to get plants yet. I have $50 to spend. The tank is $30, so I have $20 to spend on additional stuff. The bulbs I would need to get are $5 each at Walmart, and I need to be able to afford the divider supplies. That leaves me with about $5 left over, which I might use in combination with my $11 store credit at my LFS to get Seachem Flourish in preparation for when I can afford to get plants... I'm not sure yet.
Anyway. I don't know when I can get plants. Assuming I can't get them soon, I won't be able to do a planted cycle. I would rather have my fish already in the tank.
Do you think it would be alright to just do frequent water changes until I can get the plants and properly cycle the tank?
Would I ever change out the filter media?
Also, once the tank is cycled, who do I clean it? Simply consistent water changes and gravel vacuum?
I had a few questions though, that I didn't find on the cycling sticky.
First of all, which cycling method do you recommend? I can't afford to get plants yet. I have $50 to spend. The tank is $30, so I have $20 to spend on additional stuff. The bulbs I would need to get are $5 each at Walmart, and I need to be able to afford the divider supplies. That leaves me with about $5 left over, which I might use in combination with my $11 store credit at my LFS to get Seachem Flourish in preparation for when I can afford to get plants... I'm not sure yet.
Anyway. I don't know when I can get plants. Assuming I can't get them soon, I won't be able to do a planted cycle. I would rather have my fish already in the tank.
Do you think it would be alright to just do frequent water changes until I can get the plants and properly cycle the tank?
Would I ever change out the filter media?
Also, once the tank is cycled, who do I clean it? Simply consistent water changes and gravel vacuum?