Cycling My Tank

[Bex]

Hi

I currently have a Juwel Rekord 120 set up, but have just bought a Rena Aqualife Classic 150x50. It has 2 Rena Filstar xP3 external filters.

What's the best way to get the new one cycled by cloning? Do I put half my filter sponges from the old filter in each of the 2 new filters and put all my current fish in the new tank and then leave it for a few weeks before adding any more fish?

At the moment, all that is in there is new gravel, wood and of course water. I am hanging some of my old gravel in there at the moment too. New plants are going in this weekend.

Please let me know if the above is likely to kill all my fish!

Cheers!

*EDIT: Oh, if I do this, I have to do it all at the same time right? Once tank temp is right, all plants, wood etc in, then put old filter media in and fish?*

 

[Bex]

*bump*

 

[Daveptkd]

*bump*

are you planning on using the old one still? or is this a swap? if your're swapping could you move all your filter media over?

Dave

 

[Bex]

*bump*

are you planning on using the old one still? or is this a swap? if your're swapping could you move all your filter media over?

Dave

Hi Dave

No, not going to be using both as the Jewel tank is an internal filter which is secured to the tank, and I have 2 big externals for the new tank. If I move all my old filter media over, the old tank will have no filter media so will have to move fish at the same time - but seeing as they already cope with the current stocking, I'm thinking it will be ok to move fish and filter media at the same time?

The new filters are pretty full with new media so I was thinking of taking some of it out for now. The old filter has 4 sponges, so I was gonna put 2 sponges in each filter?

 

[JaminRat]

I'm no expert but would of thought your best method would be to run the new filters in conjunction with the Juwel internal in the mature tank which should start the bacteria cultures. Only downside with this is you would have to leave it a good few weeks to allow the bacteria to develop.

 

[Bex]

well, we did that with one of the filters when we had 2 plecs, but 1 died quite suddenly. We took it out because to use it on the mature tank we had to pull tje tank forward from the wall a couple inches. It's on polystyrene but we weren't very confident about the overhang. Thought it better to not risk a tank breakage!

 

[JaminRat]

Can you not fit the pipe work on the sides of the tank to save pulling it forward. The hood will not fit as well but as it will only be short term.....


Or set up the new tank and do a fishless cycle. You could do this in a different location then carefully move the tank to it's new location while doing your 90% change at the end of the cycle.