sure. flake food breaks down better, but what is the ammonia like? when
Hikari is
used there is ammonia in the water right away.


I put in some goldfish pellets, raised the temp and 3 days later they are
covered in a white hairy cocoonlike cocoon. Looks like a fungus more than
normal decomposition. Is this OK?


My test kit does not check ammonia. Nitrites and nitrates have not gone on
scale yet.

I was just going to wait until I see the nitrite peak and a nitrate surge
before getting fish.
It should have plenty of ammonia from "natural" source.

Test kit also says water is very hard, ~280, KH = 50, pH = 7.3

I added a lump of dead coral to get some calcium carbonate in there.

Was getting worried that the malachite green treatment had sterilized the
tank. The deceased goldfish's turds are still sitting on top of the gravel.
They should be munched up by now.