How To Set Up 2nd Tank

[silver tipped]

HI,

I already have a 15g tank with a nice little community of platies, silver tipped tetras and shrimp. The only thing that would make it complete for me is a bn but that will be added when there is more room for it.

When i set up my first tank I was told to wait a week then add hardy community fish (tetras) and then the platies a week after. (I now know about fishless cycles and adding fish more slowly)

I now feel ready to have a 2nd tank, maybe a 20/30G. What is the best way to set this up? (Do I use water from 1st tank to help things along and how long should I wait to add first fish?)

Also I want to have something different in this tank. Any suggestions gratefully received.

 

[FBF]

fill new tank with water add new filter and heater. let it get up to temp.

now add fish. say 4-6. then on the second day add a sock or stocking with gravel from your old tank (you could add half of your old filters media to the new media as well if youd prefer)

this will be enough to get the tank started. it should be ok to then carry on with your normal weekly water changes. if you are worried then maybe do a twice weekly water change, but my test results have never called for it.


then add fish weekly say one or two at a time, you'll be fine (i always keep a sack of media in a few tanks for this very reason.)

 

[Nina]

We have done a similar thing on all of our tanks. Every new one has been cloned from another tank.

If you do this ensure that the media is kept moist and you do not allow it to dry out. You must make sure you add the fish at the same time or the baterica etc on the media in the new tank will die off.

Good Luck

 

[Jules H-T]

Get the filter for the new tank, and put it in the old one along with the original filter (turned down if the flow is too much). Leave them both running for two weeks.

Set up the second tank, fill it with new water, leave it to stand for a day, then add the new filter and new fish to it at the same time (don't wait to stock as you'll starve the bacteria as nina says, but equally don't be shy of only half stocking the new tank, then adding the final fish over the next few weeks). The bacteria in both filters should then grow to compensate for the added load.

Don't feed either tank for a day after the split to reduce bioload.

 

[silver tipped]

Great that gives me a good start but what to put in it. It will probably be a 30g and would like may 3/4 different species.

 

[Jules H-T]

Have you thought about rams or kribensis?

 

[silver tipped]

I've heard of both but know nothing about them. I've not been keeping fish all that long and although I know lots about the fish I have (thanks mainly to this site). i want to expand on that knowledge.

I would like something colourful but easy to look after. I don't mind livebearers as had some experience/sucess with the platies. Would also like to layer tank ie bottom dwellers and mid tank fish.

 

[bogwood]

fill new tank with water add new filter and heater. let it get up to temp.

now add fish. say 4-6.

This is not a 'fishless' cycle...

 

[FBF]

fill new tank with water add new filter and heater. let it get up to temp.

now add fish. say 4-6.

This is not a 'fishless' cycle...

is it just me or is this thread not related to the fishless cycle? i dont believe anyone has mentioned it? this is about tank seeding

 

[silver tipped]

Hi,

Thanks for the help. I must admit I did wonder if I had read right when you all said add the fish and the media at the same time but I now understand the principle behind it and I will give it a go.

Still not sure as to what to put in the tank though. Like the look of rainbows or gouramis