Local pet stores will often accept your existing fish and give you some sort of store credit for it. As long as it looks healthy. I've done this numerous times. They won't give you "market" value for it obviously, but it's better than having to cull the fish because it's too big. Ask around and see if any of the local stores will accept it. Don't bother with Petsmart or Petco or any chain stores though.

You might be able to sell it or give it away on craigslist...
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R
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:-)


I not type fastest.....
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:-)
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Okay, so I picked up a 30 gallon off of craiglist for $80 with a stand, filter and light (and miscellaneous decorations that I probably won't ever use). This will eventually be my sump tank when I find a good deal on a much larger tank, but this will get me started.

I picked up a retrofit 55w CFL kit from AH supply to replace the 20w fluorescent in my hood. This is purely to keep the costs down. Picking up the substrate for a cichlid tank later this week, if not tomorrow. Also, going to get some rocks (tested with vinegar first) to put in there to give them some hiding places. Going to throw some plants in there along with 1-2 cichlids at first to get the cycle going.

Will update with pics.
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:-) Excellent! Can't wait to see pics! If you want, I can ship you some filter media to help kick-start your cycle. I use Bio-Bags, (no carbon). Just let me know if you want me to send one your way.
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I was under the impression that I wouldn't really need that since the plants will soak up the ammonia and keep it from killing the fish. Am I wrong?
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Need to let your water cycle for at least a week before you put fish in. Or your fish WILL DIE. (duh)
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[QUOTE=Silock;8198808]Okay, so I picked up a 30 gallon off of craiglist for $80 with a stand, filter and light (and miscellaneous decorations that I probably won't ever use). This will eventually be my sump tank when I find a good deal on a much larger tank, but this will get me started.

U got a pretty damn good deal. Considering that a brand new 55 gal retails for about99 bucks retail. Nice
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Plants don't absorb ammonia. Plants absorb nitrates. The bacteria you need convert ammonia to nitrates.

You either need live media, like Lumpy offered to send you, or you need to get something like Fritz Zyme Turbo Start.

If you go the Turbo Start route, it MUST be bought at a local LFS and it MUST be refrigerated. If you buy Bio Spira off the shelf somewhere, chances are it's useless because the bacteria are dead.
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Actually the cycle won't START without ammonia (fish waste), so you need fish to even start the cycle.

For FW, I use mollies because they're very resilient. They'll usually live through the cycling process.

The cycling process often takes MUCH longer than a week. If you don't want the hassle of using a drip reagent test for Ammonia, get the 5-in-1 test strips to test for nitrite and nitrate.

At first, both values will be zero. Over a few days, the bacteria will begin to begin to convert ammonia to nitrite and you will start to see the nitrite pad change color. Eventually, a 2nd strain of the same bacteria will begin to convert nitrite to nitrate.

When the cycle is complete, nitrite should drop to zero and from then on you should only see nitrate on the test.
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I kick off my cycle with a raw, uncooked shrimp from the grocery store. You'll see an ammonia spike in 7-10 days. Cycle usually takes 3-4 weeks to complete in my experience. I wouldn't risk putting in a fish right away. I've never actually done it that way, but can't imagine that it wouldn't be extremely stressful on the fish.
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I made my frist major mistake in reef tanks a few weeks ago, and became the poster boy for QT tanks. I bought a fish that had ich (unbeknownst to me) and put him directly in my tank. Within two weeks all but two fish in my tank were dead. I'm fighting an uphill battle to save the last two I'm afraid. I won't be buying another fish until I get my QT tank setup.
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Fish are a bigger pain in the ass than I anticipated.

I've been changing out a couple of gallons a week and vacuuming the bottom. I'm using the conditioning drops before putting in the new water. No fish have died in the making of this video, however 1 snail apparently did.

So...there has been a clear "slime" dispersed in the water that has plugged the intake of the filter twice. WTF is it and how do I kill it?

I'm starting to hate the plecco. He may find himself on a flathead hook in the spring.
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Raw shrimp is a good way to introduce Saprolegnia unfortunately.

I've cycled with mollies and they get through it pretty well. Yes, it's stressful but it's really the only SURE way to cycle a tank and not end up with problems later.
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