How Much Water ?

[sheffieldlad]

Howdy.

90l tank.
Cycled with a filter from another tank.
90l = roughly 22 gal
I'm changing 2 gal a day with fresh declorimated tap water.
That's about 11% last time I went to school.
No idea what my levels are Im regards to amonia etc but have no signs that I recognise of poorly fish.
Tank has 10 neon tettras and 4 platties in it. Platties have been there a day. 2 are real shy, 2 love swimming against the flow of the filter.

Am I changing enough water?
The filter I used to cycle the tank is way too small to clean a 90l tank so I bought one rated up to 110 ltr and I'm running them both together.
I plan to dp this for at least a month then remove the small filte and use it to cycle a 19ltr tank which will have guppies in it for m daughter.
Does this sound ok?

Many thanks,

-Paul.

P. S. I know, buy a water testing kit. I will at the weekend. I promise.

 

[minnnt]

I would be tempted to do a 20% water change each day until you get a testing kit.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I'd change even more until you can see what your levels are, say 50%. Won't take you very long with a small tank, and best for your fish!

 

[Zikofski]

i would say no but then you have used mature filter but i usually do 25 to 50% water changed every week once a week i would stick the mature filter from the old filter into the new 110 filter and then you can get rid of the other one strait away someone will correct me if i am wrong but that what i would do if the test kit shows any ammonia then do water changes to bring that down somethinng between 50 to 90% water changes may be required but i wouldn't recommend doing small amounts daily hope this helps

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

I would also be tempted to put 2/3 of filter media from the smaller filter into the bigger one. Otherwise when you remove the smaller filter you will take most if not all the good bacteria with you.

If you move the media now, it shouldn't cause any problems when you move the filters later.

And 20% daily just until you can confirm your test results. Better to be safe than putting your fish through unneeded pain.

 

[sheffieldlad]

Kk thanks.

50 to 90 seems high to me but you people seem to know what you're talking about.

This is the first time I've really cycled a tank. I just used to change the water like I have been doing and I've never knowingly had stressed or poorly fish.

No flicking or other signs they are off colour.

I'll do 50% changes till I can test my water at the weekend.

Thanks,

-Paul

 

[Zikofski]

ye i only suggested 50 to 90 if once you get your test results back and you have ammonia reading more than 0ppm do you know what test kit your going to get as the API master test kit you need to shake the bottles allot more than you think then need shaking and i seem to be getting 0.25ppm ammonia all the time but thats because of the light that i view it under

other than that is is a great test kit i would recommend it

 

[sheffieldlad]

I can't really put 2/3 of the media in my new filter. The plastic cartons holding the media in the new one are really tightly packed.
It's a fluval u2.
Are they any good?

-Paul

 

[sheffieldlad]

ye i only suggested 50 to 90 if once you get your test results back and you have ammonia reading more than 0ppm do you know what test kit your going to get as the API master test kit you need to shake the bottles allot more than you think then need shaking and i seem to be getting 0.25ppm ammonia all the time but thats because of the light that i view it under

other than that is is a great test kit i would recommend it

thanks ziko, I appreciate the advice.

I'm going to get the api. Most seem to reccomend it.

-Paul

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

I can't really put 2/3 of the media in my new filter. The plastic cartons holding the media in the new one are really tightly packed.
It's a fluval u2.
Are they any good?

-Paul

I have U4 and really like it. If you take out the sponge and replace it with sponge from the smaller one. Cut it up if you have to. As long as its in there it doesn't matter how.

Hope that makes sense lol

 

[sheffieldlad]

I can't really put 2/3 of the media in my new filter. The plastic cartons holding the media in the new one are really tightly packed.
It's a fluval u2.
Are they any good?

-Paul

I have U4 and really like it. If you take out the sponge and replace it with sponge from the smaller one. Cut it up if you have to. As long as its in there it doesn't matter how.

Hope that makes sense lol

thanks fishy.

What your saying makes sense but I would rather leave the medi where it is. That way I can use the filter to cycle another tank.
Do you think 1 month will be enough time for the fluval to develope some bacteria of it's own or should I leave it longer?

-Paul

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Well other than trial and error you don't really know, as the Fluval may not even culture any, as the smaller one has enough to get rid of all the ammonia and nititres. However if you move 2/3 over you can remove the smaller one after a week of double 0's of ammonia and nitrites. IMO that would be the way I would do it.

1/3 of media is more than enough to instantly cycle a new tank with 2-3 guppies in

 

[sheffieldlad]

Well other than trial and error you don't really know, as the Fluval may not even culture any, as the smaller one has enough to get rid of all the ammonia and nititres. However if you move 2/3 over you can remove the smaller one after a week of double 0's of ammonia and nitrites. IMO that would be the way I would do it.

1/3 of media is more than enough to instantly cycle a new tank with 2-3 guppies in

the smalle one lacks the flow. I doubt It would pull all 90l through I'm 1 hour.
Ah #41####. I just realised. I'm putting obsticles in the way in a weak effort to delay the inevitable.
I'll get the scissors out tomorrow.

On the plus side, I can start cycling the other tank right away rather than waitin a month
that'll please mrs sheffieldlad

thanks

-Paul

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Indeed. I would suggest just checking that your tank has fully cycled before you remove the smaller filter. But other than that, you can have fish in the second tank next Saturday as long as you don't have any ammonia or nitrites in your tank when you test it.

Sorry if I talked you into something you didn't want to do, it's just that is what I have done in the past.