10 Gallon Tank Has Cycled....

[marcybeth0281]

Thanks to everyone who helped me get my 10gallon tank back on track. It has finally cycled, as I've seen 7 full days of 0 NH3 and NO2 readings and a spike in my nitrates. woohoo!

Here's the thing. My platy recently had 30 fry, all which seem to be healthy and eating. She is due to drop again in 3 weeks and the 30 fry are currently in my 5g hospital tank. I'd like to utilize the 10g tank somehow in the process since it is empty and currently cycled. The problem is that I've cycled it with a whisper30 power filter and I'd want to use something less abrasive with the fry (like a few homemade sponge filters). Would I be okay as long as I use some of the mature sponge in the new filters, or will I lose too much bacteria by removing the whisper30 filter?

Should I get this started NOW in case it needs to go through another mini-cycle before the fry get here?

 

[cowboy507]

you should be fine moving that bofilter. Just use an airtube and the sponge, this is probably the best way.

 

[marcybeth0281]

you should be fine moving that bofilter. Just use an airtube and the sponge, this is probably the best way.

i may be dense, but i'm not understanding your reply. lol.

 

[marcybeth0281]

bump

 

[OldMan47]

I think I would start a cycle on that tank right away and seed the new filter by cleaning the old whisper filter right in the tank with the new filter running. Some of the bacteria will be transferred and that should jump start the new filter in a fishless cycle. It should move your new filter far enough along by the time the fry arrive that you could just do a big water change and be ready to put the fry in the tank. Even if not perfectly cycled, you will start at a low enough bioload that the filter bacteria can finish growing while the fish in the tank are growing.

 

[marcybeth0281]

...and definitely use my current sponge in the new sponge filters, correct? i'm going to be bare-bottoming it, so I'll keep a bit and use the current gravel as the gravel in the new filters, as well.

I think I'm gonna attempt the re-vamping tomorrow night. Wish me luck. I've never made my own filters before. I hope they are powerful enough to keep the tank clean and clear....

 

[OldMan47]

If you doing a DIY sponge filter, definitely use any mature sponges that you have on hand.