Changing Tanks

[Joe_Shafe]

Okay so I'm planning on changing to from a 6 gallon tank to a 10 gallon tank. Currently in the 6 gallon tank are two Platys and a Ghost Shrimp. I want to cycle the new tank before stocking it obviously. So I was wondering how I should cycle the new tank, should I do a fishless cycle or use the Platys and the shrimp to cycle the new tank.

Also once I have it cycled I need help with stocking the tank. At the moment I want to put in Celestial Pearl Danios, the Platies, Amano or Cherry Shrimp, Dwarf Guoramis, and any other suggestions are appreciated. I know the Danios school so I want about 5 of those. They also are quite small so they won't take up space, but I'm not sure on the number for the other fish. Once again this stocking list is certainly not final and any other suggestions are appreciated

So thanks, and to recap I want to know how I should change tanks and cycle the new one, and what to stock the new 10 gallon with.

Thanks,
-Joe

 

[BFM]

Use your old filter and water, should be fine?

If you are keeping both tanks and setting up a new filter, take a piece of you old filter sponge and that will help cycle quicker.

 

[slimeneo]

I would suggest just putting your old filter media into the new filter, and it'll be cycled a lot quicker I would never suggest doing a fish-in cycle (I've done it ._.) because your fish suffer and it's a LOT of water changes.

General rule is 1" of fish per 1gal. So 10 gal -> 10" fish total. Platies can grow up to 2.5". Not sure about the other fish you're thinking about, but just keep in mind that rule

 

[Joe_Shafe]

If I use the old filter or filter media what should I do with my two Platys while I wait to put them in the new tank.

 

[slimeneo]

I would just put them in the new tank, but I would feed them a little less and test the water frequently and make sure there is no ammonia.

or you could just use a part of the filter media (old one) and put it in the new one and do a fishless cycle while you still have the fish in the old tank.

 

[Joe_Shafe]

Would taking out the filter media in the old filter and adding new filter media to the filter in the old tank affect the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels in my old tank?

Sorry for all the questions btw just don't want to kill off my fishies

 

[fluttermoth]

You move the filter media with the fish; all at the same time.

Tanks don't cycle, filter media does, so if you move that, your new tank is cycled, for the amount of fish you have now.

 

[Joe_Shafe]

Alright thanks Fluttermoth I'll do that sounds like a plan.

Now to the stocking if anyone is willing to help

 

[fluttermoth]

As for stocking; a 10g tank is still quite small, so I would do 8 or 10 CPDs, added in two lots (they're very shy, so the more you have the better) and some shrimps (whichever kind you like, except bamboo shrimps, they're quite hard to keep) and call that fully stocked,with the platies you already have.

 

[Joe_Shafe]

Would this be okay to stock with 1x Honey Guorami, 2-3x Platies, 5 CPDs, 4 Pygmy Corys, 3 Amano Shrimp. I'll be running two filters btw with plenty of plants.