[creame172]

i have looked around for a while now trying to figure out what i should be looking for in a filter, and have not been able to find the information i need. i know i need to be using a certain type of filter for my tanks when i breed, but am a little confused about what i need to be looking for. I have heard bio and sponge. are these the same? i have also read about cycling the tanks. is this in addition to a bio/sponge filter? do i need to add the bacteria or will the bio filter come with what i need?
so i am wondering what brand some of you use.

 

[Roemgie]

Sponge filters are wonderful! The way they work is that as the bubbles come out is slowly 'pulls' water and so it filters that way, it is great because it doesn't cause a current to hurt the bacteria or stress your fish!

Cycling a tank is when you have a filter (sponge filters are hands down the best filters every! Mine is from Mel-Co) and a tank set up, gravel, fake or live plants, and best to be without fish. You add PURE ammonia (when you shake it, it does NOT form bubbles) and usually 1-2 drops per gallon. Do that for several days while testing the water with FreshWater master kit (really good water tester) you want the ammonia at 4 ppm and make sure to test for Nitrites. Once your Nitrates show up stop with the ammonia and let that go up and don't let ammonia go down bellow .50-1 ppm and then when Nitrates poop up you stop all together and you want Nitrates around 20 ppm so do water changes when needed. And once ammonia is 0, Nitrites are 0 and Nitrates are close to 0 you're all good

Now if you want to breed i do suggest doing a LOT of research before doing anything


ALSO the bacteria will develop from the cycling, you don't put bacteria in

 

[creame172]

Sponge filters are wonderful! The way they work is that as the bubbles come out is slowly 'pulls' water and so it filters that way, it is great because it doesn't cause a current to hurt the bacteria or stress your fish!

Cycling a tank is when you have a filter (sponge filters are hands down the best filters every! Mine is from Mel-Co) and a tank set up, gravel, fake or live plants, and best to be without fish. You add PURE ammonia (when you shake it, it does NOT form bubbles) and usually 1-2 drops per gallon. Do that for several days while testing the water with FreshWater master kit (really good water tester) you want the ammonia at 4 ppm and make sure to test for Nitrites. Once your Nitrates show up stop with the ammonia and let that go up and don't let ammonia go down bellow .50-1 ppm and then when Nitrates poop up you stop all together and you want Nitrates around 20 ppm so do water changes when needed. And once ammonia is 0, Nitrites are 0 and Nitrates are close to 0 you're all good

Now if you want to breed i do suggest doing a LOT of research before doing anything


ALSO the bacteria will develop from the cycling, you don't put bacteria in

thank you that helps so much!
i will go with a sponge filter then. and yeah i am doing a lot of research before i start. i have been researching for about a year now without acting on it. i didnt realize it had been that long until just now. O.O but anyways, i plan on breeding my pair in a month, and am getting my last ducks in a row, so to speak. i just purchased most of the medications i could possibly need tonight. i estimate i have about $200 or more left until im ready. I'm keeping a journal of info, including genetic info of my pair. i will be adding your information to it.
i just could not seem to find an explanation of bio filters/cycling that i could understand.