I'm sorry, I really don't like picking through peoples posts and suggestions,
But so that there is no confusion, I feel a few things need to be clarified.
Originally Posted by
nanajo1
bacterial blooms are not healthy for a tank
Bacterial blooms pose no harm to fish.
It's the possible pollutants that can cause the bacterial bloom that cause the harm.
Bacterial blooms can happen for several reasons and not all of them are harmful reasons.
when you clean a tank always make sure that you cut off a small piece of the old insert and place it within the new one
Ls1Andrew, your filter does not use cartridge inserts, this does not apply to your filter.
And your aquarium has already established the nitrogen cycle.
the long the tank cycles without the fish the better
You need a form of ammonia to start the cycling process (the nitrogen cycle). Fish offer this.
If suggesting a fishless cycle, you don't just put water in a tank and wait.
Other steps and care must be taken to ensure that the nitrogen cycle has established itself to a point where it can convert ALL the harmful toxins fish waste produces before adding the fish.
That's the whole point of a fishless cycle - having a well developed nitrogen cycle so that fish do not have to undergo the process.
If care is not taken to build the cycle strong enough to convert waste,
Ammonia and nitrite levels will rise when the fish are added creating harmful toxins in the water defeating the whole purpose of a fishless cycle.