This is an easy question. It is too bad so many sources give bad info. Many sites tell you to wait 3 weeks until you have cycled your tank. THAT is not true. You cannot cycle a tank without fish if you are using biological filtration. There are some exceptions with reef-only systems. The easy answer is: add a very small amount of expendable fish 1 or 2 days after you set up the tank. You can add more fish, and sensitive fish after the 3 week cycle.

Often 1" per gallon is quoted, but this is only a rule of thumb. Many variables come into play here, including the size and dimensions of your tank, whether it has live plants, and what kind of fish you're stocking. 1 inch of kuhli loach is going to be much less on the bioload than 1 inch of goldfish. Larger fish make more waste than small fish, and generally, you can overstock when you're keeping small schooling fish like tetras. See similar questions...

The number offish that you can fit in your tank is determined by the size, temperament, and eating habits of your fish. The larger the tank, the more fish it will hold proportionally. A one inch fish will require three gallons of water. After one inch, allow approximately two and one half gallons per inch of fish. Remember this is a rough guideline, not a rule. For instance a 30-inch ribbon eel will take up about 20 gallons of tank space, a 30-inch shark would require about 100 gallons. See similar questions...

Quarantining new fish is a good habit for all aquaria, but is not absolutely necessary for success. Quarantining is simply keeping a fish in a separate tank for long enough to be certain that it is disease free. Many beginners do fine without a quarantine tank, and object to the cost of another setup. See similar questions...

Specifically, not an easy question to answer because it really depends on the species and the environment you are putting them in. But as a general rule, for the average filtration system to date, I recommend 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon of tank water for freshwater tanks, and 3 inches of fish per 1 gallon of tank water for saltwater aquariums. Again, as a general rule of thumb. Consult us or your local fish shop for what's recommended for your tank. See similar questions...

The filter within the quarantine system should be fully mature before fish are added. If you have the space it is ideal to run the system continually with just a couple of goldfish and within 4 - 6 weeks the filter should be mature. This process can be speeded up by using a filter primer. The fastest way to get the system up and running is to use some of the mature bio-media from your pond filter. See similar questions...

I have a 10 gallon and a 55 gallon tank and they seem to be getting Calcium build up on te sides and inside. What can i used to take the calcium off the tanks and that it wont harm the fish A good quality nonsoap plastic scrubby and elbow grease. Without the fish, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and salt mixes sometimes help. <>>>< Also, if I do a complete water change.. See similar questions...

Reef tanks should be devoid of most butterflies, angels, triggers, parrot fish and other coral eaters. Sand sifters such as watchman gobies, invertebrates which stir the sand are helpful. See similar questions...

This is largely dependant on how long you intend to keep the fish in the system. For a short quarantine of 24 hours you are only limited by the oxygen in the system and this should be carefully monitored. The addition of an air pump is recommended for particularly heavy short term stocking. See similar questions...

Again this will depend on whether the system is a commercial or backyard system, with the commercial systems requiring the correct amount of fish and plants for optimum production. The more fish there are in a system, the more nutrients there are for the plants to consume, but if there are not enough plants to consume these nutrients, the excess build up in the water can cause the plants and the fish to suffer. See similar questions...

I've always had tropical aquariums and now I think I'm ready to 'graduate' to a salt water tank. Both my wife and I are avid scuba divers and I'd LOVE to be able to recreate a little bit of a coral reef in my living room.Understanding that the cost and maintenance needs are both high, I wanted to ask for advice, recommendations, dos and don'ts, any experiences worth sharing? Equipment recommendations, tank specifications, filtering systems, best fish etc. Thank you! Itay. See similar questions...

Fish has a shelf life of 10 to 12 days. At Island Seafare we recommend that upon receipt of our products they are kept for a maximum of 2-3 days in the refrigerator (between 0 and 5 degrees C). Our white fish and smoked fish can be frozen for up to six months, our cooked fish and oil rich fish can be frozen for up to three months and shellfish is only to be kept in the freezer for up to one month. See similar questions...

Talk to your service company and see if they could add some carbon to your existing filter system. This should cut down or eliminate your odor problem. Make sure to tell your service company that the carbon MUST be replaced every 3 to 4 weeks or it may begin releasing these contaminants back in a more toxic form. Could you answer a question for me? I purchased a phosphate test kit from you to test levels in both my salt and freshwater aquariums. The results are similar, .05 for salt and . See similar questions...

Put it near an air conditioner? Ice cubes? What is causing it to be too hot? Move the location, turn off the heater. <>>>< I have two problems I hope someone can help me with. First, I live in a second floor apt and it gets pretty warm in my apt. I have shut the heater off in my tank and when I came home from work the other day the tank temp was up to 86 degrees. Is that temp ok for tropical fish? I am afraid that when it gets warmer this summer the temp will go up even more. See similar questions...