Newbie Needs Help

First of all, let me say that I'm new to this site so please be patient with me until I become more familiar with it. I'm hoping to be able to get some advice and learn as much as possible about keeping tropical fish. I have a 26 gallon tank which I've begun to cycle. How long do I need to wait until introducing starter fish? Also, what is available on the market for a hardwater problem?

Personally I wouldn't use any chemicals etc to make your water soft unless you use a RO unit.

IMHO get the fish which would best suit your water.

You will need a test kit to test your water parameters...see the fishless cycle guide and using pure ammonia. Also if any friends/family hav a tank as if they can squeeze some "gunk" from their filters into yours it will always help kick start the growth of the bacteria needed to convert Ammonia>NItrite>Nitrates

and welcome

When you say you have started to cycle the tank...what method are you using?
Hardwater... do you know the pH? Chances are all LFS (local fish shops) in your area will have the same water. Once you start trying to alter water chemistry, you will create problems in trying to keep it stable.

Perhaps you can give us a bit of information, and then we can help you?

Firstly - are you doing the fishless cycle - in other words adding ammonia into yor tank to build up the bacteria in your filter? If that all sounds double Dutch to you, have a read of the information on Fishless Cycling here -
https://tropicalfishfanatics.forumotion.com/cycling-and-water-chemistry-f70/fishless-cycle-t227.htm.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you need to about it - we have all been through it and know what it's like!

You mention you have hardwater - have you done any tests to give you an idea just how hard? If so let us know. It can be a pain trying to constantly alter your aquariums water parameters, and as mentioned it is much easier to find fish that will be happy in whatever water you have. If you could let us know your tapwater ph (leave to stand for 24hrs before testing it) then we can advise you on what fish will be happy with that.

Dont worry if this all sounds a bit daunting - it's not really, and there are plenty of people here who can help you with it

Hiya scorpiogirl, I am in the middle of doing the fishless cycle, and it's not that bad a deal - just slows down the rush to the shops to get the fish, but at least you know the tank is properly set up for them when you do get them.

Hi Scorpiogirl. Well I can't add much to what's been said above except to have patience and establish your tank using the fishless cycling method with ammonia. There's a lot of info under Aquarium Articles.

It's by far the best - and safest - method of setting up a new tank. Take it from someone who cycled with fish and had to endure the heartache of watching several fish die both during and after....

What size is your tank scorpiogirl?

Youve frightened the poor girl away already with all of the questions