So here in Iowa we have some pretty hard water. i just bought a 10 gal tank for a whopping $20 (including hood light and filter) I've only bought new before... so now i am a little perplexed...

But there are evident hard water trails where the poor previous inhabitants lived... What can i do to spark up the sides and hood? vinegar? CLR is out of the question by far. but what else will work to get that scale off...?


Also has any one experimented with cycling using existing tank water? (my 20 gal is going through a mini cycle, and i am pulling 10% off every other day) could that 10% be used to start or accelerate the cycling process non fish sacrificially?
( I do know about fishless cycling with ammonia and what not, just wondering if any one has tried to implement an established tanks water/bacteria)

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When you pay that cash or swipe that card you are making a bond with that animal that you will treat it with love and respect, and its needs will be met, first and foremost (unless you have kids...) I don't care if you have to eat ramen noodles or nothing at all to feed your cat dog fish rat whatever. That's the bond you made! Life is precious!

Hi,

The vinegar idea might work; I'd try it first, but it'll need a thorough rinsing afterwards. Two ways of accelerating the cycling of the new tank that you might be able to use. First, you can run the filter for the new tank in the old tank for a few weeks before moving it to the new one. Second, move some of the substrate from the cycled tank to the new one. Or both. There isn't that much bacteria in the water ifself; most of the good stuff is in the filter and on the substrate.

I hope this helps.

Hot water and vinegar should get rid of the old water stains. Rinse well afterwards.

Cycling with 'cycled' water doesn't work, as there are very little beneficial bacteria in the water column. It's best to use some substrate, ornaments and/or filter media that has been kept wet and has been through the cycling process.

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
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a point and another Q.

When i said water, i meant the vacuum suck off from cleaning the tank. so a handful of sand and the good poo water from the bottom, i figured it would be a little richer in sustenance than the column water.

I am actually cycling the new filter in with the old one for a filter change in the bigger tank so i will have one ready in a good weeks time. and would 'hot swapping' my Betta into the new tank ( i use the same RO water for both tanks and they are close to an exact match. the water in the main tank is a little softer, i am guessing from wood leaching the ph isnt noticeable on a strip but a water test will show a slight difference, both are right in the 7.5-7.8 ball park) so i would imagine he will be alright. He is probably looking for a break, from the public life.

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When you pay that cash or swipe that card you are making a bond with that animal that you will treat it with love and respect, and its needs will be met, first and foremost (unless you have kids...) I don't care if you have to eat ramen noodles or nothing at all to feed your cat dog fish rat whatever. That's the bond you made! Life is precious!

7.5 - 7.8 ph is fine

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