Backup Tank

[L_Plates]

I am currently cycling my new 240l tank and when ready i will be moving the fish from my 60l into the 240l.

Now i was thinking it could be wise to keep the 60l as a backup tank for any emergencies such as babies, disease etc etc.

My question is, would you recommend to keep the tank in an active cycle or would i be able to empty the tank and only fill it back up when needed ?

I know the ammonia etc would play a part but i thought that unless i had to move LOTS of fish into the 60l i would be ok to handle with water changes.

Thanks
LP

 

[Tizer]

you could keep your filter material in the 240 litre tank filter then remove in if you needed to use the old tank, instant cycle i would imagine. boom!

 

[This Old Spouse]

Which begs another question from me ... can you just suspend filter media in an active tank or does it need to be in the filter with water going over it constantly? I have a "hospital" tank that I just keep active all the time, but it's such a waste of energy when nobody is in it.

 

[micko]

I would keep the two tanks running and run one as a quarantine tank. Keep any new fish you get in the 60ltr for a month, its easier and cheaper to treat any diseased fish in a smaller tank. Just my opinion.

 

[fluttermoth]

The media does need to be in a filter. You can either put the media from your hospital tank's filter in the larger tank's filter, or you can run the whole filter in your large tank, whichever's easiest/works best for your circumstances.

 

[lilfishie]

i have 2 spare filters running in 2 different tanks for this reason

 

[micko]

Are you adding bottled ammonia when there are no fish in it this old spouse?

 

[This Old Spouse]

No, I'm just adding flakes every other day or so, just a bit. Right now I have a few guppy fry in there, waiting to see what sex they are before I move them to their respective tanks.

 

[L_Plates]

Thanks for the replies, looks like the sensible option is to run the filter in the big tank along side the main filter.

Only other option would be to place the tank outside in the garage topping up with ammonia but would be a pain.

LP