need some Freshwater info guys and gals!!

my grandma wants to set up a freshwater tank. a ten gallon. she thinks i have all the answers since i can take care of a saltwater tank. so i want to help her as much as possible. so what do i need to know. are the cycles any different? water params any different? whats different from saltwater with fresh? im just a little confused now. any info would help me a lot! thanks!

my list to get now is:

gravel
tank
light
algae scrubber
thermometer
heater
filter
water
medicines
test kits
food

do we need power heads? if so how many maxi jets should we get?

 

Your list sounds good, but I don't think you need to go with a powerhead.

I've always run air stones connected to a pump in my freshwater tanks, just to make sure the oxygen level is good, and to help with circulation.

I tested for ammonia, and nitrate initially to make sure the tanks had cycled. I was good with water changes after that, so I fell out of the habit of testing unless something was wrong. Even if you want to be super cautious, you won't be testing anywhere as close to as much as you would for a reef tank.

My might want to test your grandmother's tap water. If it is high in nitrates or phosphates, that could cause algae issues down the road. You could maybe get her a container of RO/DI water to do changes.

 

ok should i need to know anything different than what i do with my reef tank? what type of substrate?

 

undergravel filter is good on a freshy.. test for ph and nitrates..that's all I do. easy. 4 week to cycle, but some people just use alot of water conditioner and add fish within a week or 2.

gravel or sand.

 

Stay as far away from undergravel as possible. Unless you run it in reverse so that water gets pushed up from the bottom keeping the waste from settling, you will have problems.

 

Plain old gravel. What kind of fresh water fish are you planing on keeping?

 

idk what my grandma wants to keep. its gonna be her tank at her house, she just thinks im really good at keeping fish. so im gonna help her as much as i can.

 

what about rock? should we do the same thing as live rock with it? let it sit, dont scrub, how about driftwood? i want her to do a freshwater planted but i may not be able to convence her.

 

A week or two? I've set up tanks one night, added conditioner, and added fish the next day without any livestock losses. ;-) That's not to say that it's the best way to do it. LOL

 

bump, anyone know about the rock situation? or the driftwood?