setting up my new tank

[ali000]

Hi
I was hoping for a bit of advice, I haven't yet got an axie but I'm going to start setting my tank up ready this weekend.
We have a 3' tank that we are going to use which currently houses a few left over fish (new homes found for all!)
So question No.1.... do I keep the water that the fish were in (they are all healthy) as it has already got a good bacteria balance, or should I just start again and cycle a new fresh tank?

Question No.2....the substrate we have is a very fine grit (like a coarse, shelly sand) do you think this is o.k or should I go for a finer sand?

Hope someone can help

 

[IanF]

Ok to answer your questions, first, you should probably not use the same water just in case. It will take longer but patience is a virtue and it will pay off in the long run.
To answer your second question, That should be fine, its better than having gravel, and I see no reason not to use it. Just make sure its well cleaned. Anyway good luck with your tank and I hope all goes well.

 

[Lisa]

Hi, I actually put my axie into a tank I'd had goldfish and snails in until about three weeks earlier, and had only given it a "normal " clean and removed the gravel and replaced them with large pebbles (5cm plus in size).
I'd tested the water parameters (ammonia, nitrite and pH) and all came up normal suitable for axies. By using the tank, and filter without thoroughly cleaning everything, I only had a very short cycle when I added my axie, due to the increased bioload he created. Most of the bacteria a cycled tank has are not in the water, but in the substrate, on the sides of the tank and in the filter. Your substrate sounds fine, pH is OK up to 8 for axies and with a shelly substrate it might be close to that, so just check it to be sure.
So I'd advocate using your tank as is, assuming water parameters are OK....

 

[ali000]

Brilliant, thanks for your replies
Can't wait to get started