Tropical fish novice seeking water advice!

[TheNoseyProject]

I have a 60 litre tank and in the end I plan to keep neon tetra, mollys and guppies in it.

The tank now has its substrate, gravel, ornaments and water in it. At the local aquarium shop I asked about the stuff I need to make the water safe for fish. He sold me 'bio mature' which says it needs adding to the water until a nitrate reading of 10ppm is achieved. Should I also be cleaning the water in this pre-fish stage? If so does 20% change every fortnight sounds right? Can I just do that with tap water or do I need to be treated the tap water going in with bio mature first?

Is there anything else I need to do or once the water is 10ppm nitrate is it ready for fish?

How long each day should the light be on?

Thanks!

I don't think you need to change the water while you are cycling prior to fish. All tap water going into the tank needs to be treated with de-chlorinator. I've not used biomature but I'm assuming it's to start the ecosystem I have used bio balls to do this and only added them once, you can set a tank up without either of these just takes a bit longer.

The light question is up to you, the fish don't need it, normally we have ours timed so that it's on when we are home to see it. If you have the light on a lot or if the tank gets a lot of sun you will get more algae

Thanks that's helpful, so do I need something to take the chlorine out as well as the biomaterial?

Will put light on timer - thanks!

Yes I'm surprised you were sold bio material but not de-chlorinator.