Cycling crisis over!

[fatguppy]

I started a tank a couple of weeks ago and had never heard of fishless recycling until I came on here in crisis!

We were doing water tests but were so niaive that we didn't even understand the results! )

THis site helped us to understand what we were doing (and more importantly not doing) and we finally have a cycled tank!

The joy of finding zero nitrite readings can only be fully appreciated on here! My mother (for example) was distinctly unimpressed! WE have lost far too many fish and for that I feel appropriately humble

How wonderful to now have a tank that is happy! My next worry is the cleaning of the filter which I understand needs to be cleaned in water taken from the tank at the next water change. How often does it need doing? (the filter cleaning not the water change) I am so frightened of upetting the balance that has been achieved by bood sweat and tears ( not to mention the arguments!! I thought fish were supposed to be calming!)

Thanks peeps

 

[GSD]

congrats

 

[Raechal]

I clean my filter sponge whenever if seems clogged. I usually check it every 2 weeks or so to see how it is coming along. If it has a lot of gunk in it I pour some of my tank water in a bucket and scrub it in there, then replace it back into the filter. I think you should do this atleast once every 2 months but I do it around every month.