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I set up my aquarium for the past 3 weeks, but I haven't buy fish yet. Do I still need to do water change every 2 weeks if I don't have the fish?

No, you shouldn't be doing any water changes, because the tank is still cycling, also since you seeded your tank with already aged tank water, it might not matter as much but it won't help to do water changes yet. The purpose of a water change is to reduce nitrates, but since you do not have any fish yet, there are no nitrates to get rid of.

-Vincent

Thank you very much for the advice, budzilla (who ever you are)

When did you set it up? several weeks ago? What did you put in it? What was your water source? Do you know about the cycle yet? what are your parameters? OK sounds like alot of questions but these things we need to know to help. The cycle is the process of converting ammonia to nitrite and in turn to nitrate. With the introduction of ammonia (fish poo, decaying organic matter etc) a bacteria grows and consumes the ammonia and converts it to nitrite. Then more bacteria grows and consumes nitrite converting it to nitrate. With no fish are you doing a fishless cycle? I would assume thet since the cycle process IS a lengthy one (probably 5-6 weeks) that an ammonia source shoud be added to feed the bacteria. seeding with water from an established tank will shorten the time it takes, adding some gravel from the same tank will speed it up a lot more. But to answer your question, you should not water change till the process is complete and you are reading nitrates present. water changes will only prolong the process.

Yeah I'm his friend and I seeded his tank with water from mine about 2 gallons. He does not have a test kit, and it has been running for 3 weeks, tomorrow I am going with him to get a few hardy fish to speed the cycle up.

-Vincent

Hi,
Guys, putting old tank water into a new tank is going to
do next to squat for starting and maintaining the
Nitrogen Cycle.

The bulk of the bacteria that is responsible for the cycle
lives on all the surfaces of each grain of gravel in the
tank. Next to that, the bacteria lives in the filter
medium, and then on the sides of the tank and surfaces of
any ornaments in the tank. Essentially, when you put 2
gallons of old tank water into a new tank you transfered
water with no ammonia, no nitrite, and only nitrate - the
end product of the cycle.

If you are going to "jump start" a tank you need to
transfer some of the mulm (dirt) from within the gravel
of the old tank, and sprinkle it around in the new tank.
(That's the easiest way). Another is to swap filters or
some filter medium. But the gravel is the fastest.

Even so, if you do not add ammonia to the new tank, there
will be nothing for the bacteria colonies to live on and
they will rapidly die off leaving you with a tank that
takes forever to cycle. You must provide ammonia to feed
the bacteria. You can do it "fish less" by using regular
unscented ammonia from the grocery store, or you can toss
a few hardy fish into the tank, and feed them. Either way
you, or the fish are furnishing the ammonia necessary to
feed the bacteria.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Frank,

I plan to set up a breeding tank for my 2 Angelfish which spawn regularly in my 75G community tank - but never manage to keep the eggs for more than 2 days. There will be no gravel in the breeding tank. Is it ok that I just run the sponge filter in my 75G for a few weeks, and switch to the new tank together with the breeding pair?

museua, sorry for borrowing your thread for this question

Hi
Yes, running a sponge filter would be great in the
spawning tank. We have another FP member who has a pair
of spawning Angels that I have been corresponding with
and she has done the same thing with good success.

Something like this:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3953&N=2004+113424 would be ideal.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

If it is me you are talking about it has been good thank's to you helping me Frank. Frank is right RickyM
you need a spong filter but not much good if it isn't cycled I put a nylion sock full of gravel from my 55 gal tank in the tank were the pair are now.All so if you can trade the top filter if you have one your not useing or can trade to put in the new tank leave both for a week or so and and there you go a tank just for mom and dad.If it weren't for frank helping me and talking me threw it I wouldn't have my baby.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o28/Edith_085/IMG_0064.jpg
And I sure wouldn't have this seen
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o28/Edith_085/IMG_0068.jpg
Yea I am happy

edith