Advice please

Youve all been so helpful so heres another question for you.

I got my tank just before Christmas and you all know the problems I have had with it being really stinky and hopefully thats all sorted now. Thing I want to know now is, what do I need to do because I didnt cycle the tank at all - didnt know about all that stuff tbh and didnt really bother with testing the water at all but just changed it every week as recomended by the local fish shop.

Do I need to do anything different now or will the tank be cycled now. I'm just wondering as I have scrubbed everything and changed all the sand for new gravel if I am like starting from scratch again and if so what should I do?

Not sure Ant, as I'm a newbie at all this stuff myself, but I have read on here that the main number one thing in keeping fish well is keeping a check on the water, so I guess that getting yourself a kit and doing water tests might be an idea.

I think thats right - keep the water ok and it will keep problems down. it does no harm to keep a check on the water anyway so hey a kit and test daily for now, itll do no harm

It has probably gone through or is going through a cycle with the fish. You can't really do anything to stop it now. BUT check you water daily and keep up the WCs to keep water lovely. Post stats here if they look a bit weird and ASK QUESTIONS

Thanks Matty. I have read that the API is the best, id that what you would get?

Yes.. the api master kit is a very good one, most commonly used here too i think

It's also a lot cheaper to buy the Master Kit as I discovered after I'd already forked out over €50 for all the individual test kits when the M.K. was about €35...

Yup, go with API. I have nutrafin but dont like it

I started off with the Nutrafin ammonia kit but I think there's too large a measurement differential e.g. it told me my ammonia was zero when the API kit measured it as 0.5.

so should I check the water every day for a while?

i would for a week or so, just to be on the safe side

Thanks everyone, I'll do all that

Yep, test every day for a week and then once a week after that for a couple of months. Then, if any future problems occur, the first thing to do is test the water to rule out any water quality issues.

What mary said! Always give water stats when asking questions!