Another Cycling Question (a Bit Different)

[Squid]

I have seen a couple of questions on here about swtiching tanks an cycling, but i am still a little confused as to whether it would be the best thing for me.

The tank ( a useless setup) I have inhertited is a 80-90 litre or so tank with just two pentazona barbs left and a little sucky catfish thing (the lazy bugger if youve read any posts by me before). I have bought myself a 180 litre Juwel rio tank with filter, and a test kit. I have done the test on the inherited old tank where the PH is 7, the amonia and nitrite levels are reading at 0, and the nitrates are far too high.. so im doing water changes daily to bring this level down (i hope thats the right thing to do)

so.. the filter would be in a good state to use along side the new one in the new tank to aid the cycling of the new tank.. (the old filter is a fluval 2 plus)


but..

i have plans to buy plenty new fish (abiding to the stocking rules) for the new tank, so this leaves me a little confused, as im not full understanding mini-cycles and bio-loads. I think there are 2 options..


1. Do a fishless cycle of the new tank separately and leave the fish in the old one for now. then add 90% of my required fish, then the last few later

or

2. Run the old filter in the new tank, with the old fish in it too.. and either add the new fish now or later and probably end up with a mini-cycle which i will have to manage as a newbie, and possibly end up with some dead fishies.. I presume this is to do with the filter not being ready for the increase bio-load of the new fish.. not sure if im using the term correctly...

if i havent given enough information, just shout and I will fill in the gaps..

Cheers
Squid

 

[kris-b-]

On number 2 your are correct! Your filter will only contain enough bacteria that will break down the ammonia produced from the fish you currently have. Therefore by adding any more fish your filter will need more bacteria to break down the increase in ammonia.

When you put new fish in the ammonia will increase with the new bio-load but the bacteria will need to build up to break down this increased amount. So if you do decide to go with this route you will need to add new fish in slowly and not a big load at once otherwise the bacteria will not break down the ammonia quick enough and could cause ammonia poisoning to some fish.

But if you want to put all your fish in at once option 1 would be the best. You could use the old filter in the new tank and this would help break down ammonia whilst your new filter is building up its own bacteria colonies.

 

[modernhamlet]

Obviously 1 is the safer bet.

However, there is no reason you should have mini-cycles and losses using method 2... as long as:

1. You add a relatively low bioload each time you add fish, especially the first couple of additions.
2. You spread out the additions over as long a period as possible.

Or to put it another way, stock very slowly.

If you want to be fully stocked in less than 2-3 months, I'd suggest taking some of the filter media (maybe 1/5 of it), put it in the new filter/tank and fishless cycle it. You'll be able to cycle in just a couple of weeks and then stock fully.

Good luck whichever direction you choose!

 

[Squid]

But if you want to put all your fish in at once option 1 would be the best. You could use the old filter in the new tank and this would help break down ammonia whilst your new filter is building up its own bacteria colonies.

But.. that would leave the old tank without a filter....

so.. does adding 5ppm in a fishless cycle for a new tank prepare the tank for a fully stocked tank, and so expect a high bio-load.. in effect.. does it prepare the tank for the worst, then throttle back the bacteria if the worst does not happen..

Cheers
Suid

If you want to be fully stocked in less than 2-3 months, I'd suggest taking some of the filter media (maybe 1/5 of it), put it in the new filter/tank and fishless cycle it. You'll be able to cycle in just a couple of weeks and then stock fully.

Good luck whichever direction you choose!

in the fulval 2 plus, you have two sponges.. which would are not the same shape as the juwel ones.. so would you just take one of the sponges out and wedge it in amongst the jewel sponges??

Sorry.. thats such a newbie comment..

By the way.. at what point do my questions become not beginner and more tropical chit chat?

Squid

 

[rdd1952]

I would actually do a combination of the 2. Run the new filter in the old tank (along with the filter that is already in it) for about a week. Then move it to the new tank and do a fishless cycle. Since it will have bacteria present from the time it was in the old tank, the cycling will be faster as bacteria multiply exponentially. That way you get a fishless cycle and don't harm any fish.

so.. does adding 5ppm in a fishless cycle for a new tank prepare the tank for a fully stocked tank, and so expect a high bio-load.. in effect.. does it prepare the tank for the worst, then throttle back the bacteria if the worst does not happen..

That is correct. A fishless cycle will prepare a tank for a much heavier fish load than you would normally put in it. Once you add the fish, any bacteria that aren't fed (due to fish not producing enough waste) will simply die off but that isn't a problem.

 

[Squid]

I like the idea rdd.. but the juwel fiters are kinda stuck to the side of the tank.. bah humbug..

its looking like an option 1 for me.. with a bit of a squeeze from the old filter, and and maybe some of the missus tights with some gravel in hanging over the side.. (no gross fishy jokes there please.. )

any comment on the fishless cyling bio load.. ??? - just seen your edit above.. many thanks.. you will all make a fishless cycler out of me yet

Cheers
Squid

 

[rdd1952]

I like the idea rdd.. but the juwel fiters are kinda stuck to the side of the tank.. bah humbug..

You could maybe afix the new filter in the water flow (outlet from the jewel folter) so it picked up some bacteria but that may no be possible either.

 

[modernhamlet]

in the fulval 2 plus, you have two sponges.. which would are not the same shape as the juwel ones.. so would you just take one of the sponges out and wedge it in amongst the jewel sponges??

Pretty much. Filter sponge is filter sponge as far as I'm concerned. The only reason they make it in pretty shapes for specific filters is so they can charge an arm and a leg for it.