Cycling With Used Filter

ghent_3rd · Aug 27, 2011

I currently have a little 2 footer up and running with 3 glow lights, 2 black widows, 1 neon tetra, 1 hoplo and 1 clown plec. It is running 2 filters on it at present. 1 is a stingray and the other is a small Rhein. I have just finished aquascaping my new vision 260 which is running a huge external filter, well over filtered. I was hoping to move 1 of the small filters that I have along with all the fish into the vision 260 and then just go about adding 1 or 2 fish at a time. I am going for bigger shoals of tetra, some bronze cories and some angel fish. I am going to start when all small and then grow them on in the vision tank. My assumption, using my common sense, is that although the small tank currently has 2 filters running, the one added not such a large body of water, coupled with the large external already running on the tank, will be enough to keep these fish comfortably for a week or 2. Then once that has happened the increase of a few small fish at a time will be easily looked after by the small internal coupled with the monster external. Any reason this will not work? Will certainly save me a lot of time and a lot of water changes as well! I am thinking of back filling the small tank with a couple of kris, thus keeping the one remaining filter in there running so that when the internal in the main tank can be moved out it can go back into the small tank!

Phew, think that is it! Assuming I get the. Right responses then tomorrow could be the day!!!

Thanks, John.

Hermithall · Aug 27, 2011

Sounds like a plan bro. Stick both your filters in the 260 if possible, just until the external has time to establish it's bacterial colony.

ghent_3rd · Aug 27, 2011

I may as well just do that I suppose and just keep a filter running in the small tank that is not yet running to keep the water moving. Then when I am ready I can just nick one of the internals to put back into the small tank, good plan idea Hermithall

This Old Spouse · Aug 27, 2011

Or you could take some of the mature filter media and put it in the external. *poof* instant cycle.

ghent_3rd · Aug 27, 2011

Hadn't thought of doing that Old Spouse, another good idea!! Think I will put the media from 1 of the filters into the external and run the other internal in the tank to run alongside the external. Going to do that tomorrow and add all of the fish out of the small tank into the large one. Can't wait to get the big tank up and running properly.

ghent_3rd · Aug 29, 2011

Right......added 1 of the filters to the tank and put the other one's media straight into the external filter. I have now added the 2 black widows, 3 glow lights, 1 neon, 1 hoplo and 1 clown plec into the Vision 260! Looks a bit different to them being in a 60 litre together!!!!! :good:

I am now going to test the water over the next 2 weeks and then add to either the glow lights, neons or black widows, then build up every 2-3 weeks with more fish to give me a school each of the black widows, neons and glowlights. Then it will be time for 10 corys of some sort before deciding on the centrepiece fish.

I am leaning towards Bolivian Rams for ease of care but went to a not so local LFS today and seen some Geophagus, what's the deal with these beauties!? Any good for my tank or not