Ok, I purchased a 100gal tank from CL... the tank had gorgeous healthy fish in it..... I emptied the tank, sold the fish, stripped the substrate.... Added some NEW sand substrate, put corals from my existing tanks in there, used a Sump that came with the tank, but did wash it, did not wash the filter pads inside.... The overflow had two sponges, after filling the tank back up with fresh water, I then rung out the sponges in the water... and put them back in the overflow. I added a HOB from an existing tank with 2 month old media.
So, after doin all this I waited 2 hours then did a test with a test strip.... came back PERFECT! PH 8.6, Very hard water, 0 Clhorine, 0ppm nitrite, 5ppm nitrate, and 0 ammonia. I couldnt ask for anything better!
Now, I did something similiar to this a few months back.... except put in new filter media, and did not change the substrate.... test came back great after 24 hours, but then ammonia spike killed all my fish (expensive RARE fish) 48 hours later. the water was not good until 1 full week. I assumed it was because of the NEW filter media. So I did not make this mistake this time, but still worried.... So what do ya'll think???
So, after doin all this I waited 2 hours then did a test with a test strip.... came back PERFECT! PH 8.6, Very hard water, 0 Clhorine, 0ppm nitrite, 5ppm nitrate, and 0 ammonia. I couldnt ask for anything better!
Now, I did something similiar to this a few months back.... except put in new filter media, and did not change the substrate.... test came back great after 24 hours, but then ammonia spike killed all my fish (expensive RARE fish) 48 hours later. the water was not good until 1 full week. I assumed it was because of the NEW filter media. So I did not make this mistake this time, but still worried.... So what do ya'll think???