I Need Help With My New Tank

[Odysseus]

So as you may already know, I got a 55 gallon tank, and it looks beautiful. Maybe just a little bit thin for something so long, but I shouldn't be complaining. Anyway, I have just set up the filter. It is a fluval 305. I finished priming it, because they said it would be done when no more bubbles will come out of the output tube thing. However once in a while the filter seems to make an odd sound, then a bunch of bubbles will come out and then it will resume making its normal sound. Did I do something wrong? It seems to do it a lot less now, I haven't seen it do that in quite a while now.

Here is the next thing. My excellent local lfs supplies mature filter media to people who wish to purchase it. Do I just turn the filter off, put the media in one of the baskets, prime it again and turn it back on? Is there some other way to do it? Also, because they are giving me mature filter media, how long should I wait before adding fish or adding ammonia, or do I even have to? Don't worry about me just putting fish in without measuring ph, ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate, I did a ton of testing before I even thought of putting some snails in my 10 gallon.

My next question is stocking, I still have plenty of thoughts on what to do, but I would love some suggestions. Basically the only idea I gave so far is putting in a few silver dollars. That's basically it other than maybe a Senegal bichir. The problem is that I should have got a 75 gallon for the stuff I really wanted, because the tank isn't wide enough for things like a black ghost knife fish and such. If you have any experience in how to make an aquarium really pleasing to look at, please supply me with some of your advice.


Here is the tank

I'd also like to take time to thank you for all the help you guys have given me so far. Had it not been for this forum my little ten gallon would still be at the pet store. Now please help me into the big leagues of tanks by making this 55 gallon a wonderful aquarium!

 

[FoamLess]

quite an essay.
Gratz on your new tank.

Seems like there is no problem with the filter, its just getting rid of any lasting air inside. Unless theres a leak or something.
If you have the mature filter media, yes you put it in your filter. And starting adding fish immediately. Because if there is no fish, there is no ammonia (assuming your tank is new), the bacteria will die off.

I cant answer your last question, since my tanks are ugly. =]


Regards

-Foameh

 

[Odysseus]

Any other suggestions?

 

[backtotropical]

So as you may already know, I got a 55 gallon tank, and it looks beautiful. Maybe just a little bit thin for something so long, but I shouldn't be complaining. Anyway, I have just set up the filter. It is a fluval 305. I finished priming it, because they said it would be done when no more bubbles will come out of the output tube thing. However once in a while the filter seems to make an odd sound, then a bunch of bubbles will come out and then it will resume making its normal sound. Did I do something wrong? It seems to do it a lot less now, I haven't seen it do that in quite a while now.

Here is the next thing. My excellent local lfs supplies mature filter media to people who wish to purchase it. Do I just turn the filter off, put the media in one of the baskets, prime it again and turn it back on? Is there some other way to do it? Also, because they are giving me mature filter media, how long should I wait before adding fish or adding ammonia, or do I even have to? Don't worry about me just putting fish in without measuring ph, ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate, I did a ton of testing before I even thought of putting some snails in my 10 gallon.

My next question is stocking, I still have plenty of thoughts on what to do, but I would love some suggestions. Basically the only idea I gave so far is putting in a few silver dollars. That's basically it other than maybe a Senegal bichir. The problem is that I should have got a 75 gallon for the stuff I really wanted, because the tank isn't wide enough for things like a black ghost knife fish and such. If you have any experience in how to make an aquarium really pleasing to look at, please supply me with some of your advice.


Here is the tank

I'd also like to take time to thank you for all the help you guys have given me so far. Had it not been for this forum my little ten gallon would still be at the pet store. Now please help me into the big leagues of tanks by making this 55 gallon a wonderful aquarium!

I wouldn't worry about your filter. It's quite common. Air pockets can get stuck and it eventually blows them all out. If it persists, try priming it over again.

To add mature media, just as you said, turn off filter, put media in basket, prime, turn back on. You will have to add fish straight away, as Foamless said.

I'm no expert in aquascaping, but have a look in the Member's Aquarium and Fish Pictures Section. You'll get lots of ideas there.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Well you need to add fish or ammonia...one of the two. Really it all depends on how much you trust the LFS media, and what sized bio-load their filter media is supposed to support. Honestly as long as you stock slowly it should be okay, but if you want to keep a bunch of delicate species that need a really stable tank you could perform the normal steps of fishless cycling to build up the bacterial colony.

 

[GRJ]

Maybe some zebra danios to start with, they are very very hardy and are a delight to watch zipping around your tank, playing. Just make sure you still test your water twice a day after putting your mature media in, as you can still get a spike of nitrite or nitrate as the media starts to work. Add a few fish very slowly. Add a couple, wait for your ammonia and nitrite to drop to zero and then add a few more and so on! HTH.GRJ

 

[Leahzebelle]

I'd just start screaming and threatening it to clear or else id never stock, im serious i could NOT handle a tank that large. Keep up the good work.

 

[loachman]

Mine blew air bubbles out for a day or so after first setting it up.

 

[vinylman]

I'd just start screaming and threatening it to clear or else id never stock, im serious i could NOT handle a tank that large. Keep up the good work.

I bet you could. It really is a truism that larger tanks are more stable and easier to look after, as long as you don't go mad and overstock. I have a 4ft and do a water change/maintenance every ten days and visitors always tell me it must take all my spare time to keep it ''looking so clean''. Go on, try a bigger tank. You know you want to.........

 

[Behold]

Shake the filter a little to dislodge the air still inside.