Hi everyone,

I have a question that so far, no fish store has been able to answer for me. Up for the challenge? Okay actually it's not that big a deal...

I have a small 10 gallon tank and my son wants a fish, but my family is way too busy and I've owned one too many aquariums that I haven't had the time to maintain properly (even just plant ones) which got sort of nasty, etc.

So instead, I filled the clean tank with nice gravel, put in some pretty fake coral and a bubbling treasure chest (you know the ones that are attached to an air tube & pump). I filled the tank with distilled water (so that i don't have to clean hard water scum later on). To make the toys 'glow' I was told to put a blue light in the tank. There are no filters. The tank is not anywhere near direct sunlight.

So my question is: How do I keep the water clear?

As a side note, the first time I did this, I added a teaspoon of chorine bleach in the tank. First, it bleached a lot of the decor, and second, it made my son's room stink. So I started all over again, new toys and all (oh, the things we do for our kids...)

So now the water is a teeny bit foggy. Just a teeny bit. What should I do? Any help would be great!

Thanks!!

First not NOT use bleach in an aquarium (long story about that really...) if will kill off anything beneficial or living at all in the tank, including fish and bacteria. Rinse everything in the tank out extremely well with plain water. Distilled water doesn't contain the minerals that plants and fish both need, spring water works better.

As for the fogginess, that's to be expected. Give it a few weeks, get a filter on that thing, unless you're doing a beaslbob tank and know what you're doing, you need one.

However, if you don't have the time to maintain a tank, even once a week (aside from feedings) then simply don't get a tank.

__________________


Lead me not to temptation...I can make it there myself just fine, thank you

Am I understanding correctly, you do NOT want fish in it, you just want the tank full of water and to look nice?

__________________
"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

I dont understand this post completely, are you saying there are no living creatures in the tank and you dont plan on adding any, you just want a tank with no fish or plants just clear water? any stagnant water with a light will grow algae, and the only way to keep the water clean would be to do water changes.

Without any water movement you are going to have stagnent water.....you are still going to have to change the water up pretty often to keep it from getting nasty and a breeding ground for bacteria

__________________
"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

i must agree with kehy on this one.DO NOT use bleach it will kill everything and stain your decor.also mix the distilled with regular city water with a dechlorinator to remove any chlorine from the water.also you do need a filter and if you can get live plants all you would really have to do is use iron AND get root tabs.

A tank requires at least some maintaince and depending on the tank require either a once every 2 week water change over 25 percent or more once again depending on your water and how dirty it gets. also you need a liquid test kit.To test your ammonia,nitrite,and nirtate levels.

As for the cloudyness thats normal it means your tank is starting to cycle which is want you want.if your planning on getting a tropical tank your gonna need a heater.As a side note here is a thread on cycling : The Fishless Cycle

Also like kehy said if you don't have time for a tank don't get one,its in the benefit of the fish,Fish tanks require a lot of time and attention more then people think.if your sons not going to help with the maintain and you can't do it,please don't get fish.

Also don't get mad at us if we give you advice.we've had so many people do this it's rather annoying.please keep an open mind and ACCEPT THE ADVICE THATS GIVEN. thanks

Jen her tank is not going to cycle there is nothing living in it..

__________________
"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

buy one of the little fake tanks with a fake fish and light from cracker barrel lol. you press a button on the top and the fake fish swims around the tank

yea bleach was bad.. and im with everyone else as i dont really understand what youre going to do with your tank..

__________________
10g- 2 hi-fin fm platys, 3 koi & red wag sword fry
40g Breeder- 6 danios, 4 female swords, 1 male swords
"I was born with nothin and I still got most of it left."- Seasick Steve

http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Lamp-...4504576&sr=8-2 check this out

__________________
"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

Select a new hobby.... Unless one of your hobbies is throwing away money!... (I'm over here,, over here!~) Bill in Va.

__________________
12 Tanks, 900 gallons. Discus/Angels/Malawi/Lake Victorias. Just added a 135 & 2 - 29's..

What's the point of an aquarium with no fish?

Hey I have one of these!
I never have to worry about cycling it and no water changes! woot woot!

__________________
36 Gallon Saltwater reef tank
Ocellaris Clown, Scooter Dragonet, sandsifter star, Decorator crab, emerald crab, coralline snails, blue leg hermit crab, and horseshoe crab.
Zooad's and shrooms
40 pounds of Live sand, 20 pounds of LR

+1 with the plants. However i'm not sure about aluminum. I still think theres going to be a need for water changes on a semi regular basis.

__________________
"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

I have to agree. A tank with only decorations in it is a waste of money. At the very least get a powerhead to circulate the water. That will help it from going stagnant.

__________________
75 Gallon Planted

I agree with most, but if the person wants the tank to look at without having to worry about caring for fish or plants, why not? Not hurting anything. Especially if you already have everything you need. Not sure many can give you advice on how to keep it looking super clean for very long without doing any cleaning.

I guess I wasn't clear that there are no living things in the tank at all. Also I know how to maintain a live aquarium, thank you, but that is not what I'm asking here. Quite simply I had most of the stuff and decided to set up a decoration tank for my 2 year old son to enjoy. All I wanted to know was how to keep the water clear.

The unrelated comments (i.e. waste of money; change your hobby, etc.) are not appreciated. :(

Okay, here is the deal... Your water will go stagnate, I would assume that what ever is in your tank water will eventually settle to the bottom since there is no water flow at all, and you came to an aquarium forum not Marthastewartliving.com. We are telling you what needs to be done in order to have a successful tank and if you don't want to take the advice then I suggest you find what you want to hear from someone on Yahooanswers. I hear thay are pretty knowledgeable there (that was sarcasm BTW).

__________________
75 Gallon Planted

The advice I have received is how to cycle a tank, and maintain a live tank, both of which is not what I have been asking. While I certainly don't think I deserved some of the unnecessary comments, I am grateful for the help and encouragement offered by some of the people on this thread.

But go ahead, dish out your frustrations to a complete stranger behind the protection of your computer. Your lack of common respect and your quick negative presumptions are unfortunate.

It sounds to me like you are the frustrated one. Your lack of common knowledge is unfortunate. If you like I will PM you my address and we can have a discussion that is not impeded by the "protection of my computer screen".
I am a pretty easy going guy, but if you get snotty with me all bets are off.
My apologies to the rest of the community.

__________________
75 Gallon Planted