I've Bought A Small Tank

[DAL]

I bought a small 15 litre tank today from Aldi's as a breeding tank or somehwre to keep the babies.It's only a coldwater so i've got to get a heater but what i need to know is if i use water from our main 60l tank and only water from there then would the small tank be cycled and could i then transfer some baby mollies we have into it?

Thanks

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Generally, the bacteria is in the filter media, so it might help, though not as much as a media transfer would.

Also, is there a filter? I take it there is, so I would suggest stuffing some filter fiber (far cheaper than normal cartidges used in filters) and after a day or two, transfer it over to the new filter. Of course, to keep the bacteria alive, you'd need a source of ammonia, but your baby mollies and all the feedings should help with that.

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

Does the tank have a filter? It's really the filter that you cycle which holds the bacteria. If it has one, run it in your main tank for a couple of weeks. If it doesn't have one, an air pump on a sponge filter will work just fine for fry. Again i would add the small filter to the main tank for a couple of weeks. Since the tank is only about 3.5 gallons you could use water from your main tank as it will be less stressful for the fry.

Emma

 

[DAL]

Thanks for the quick replies

It has got a filter but i'm a bit confused with it.Basically it's only a cheapo tank that cost £20 as i aid from Aldi's but it came with a under gravel filter which is basically a really thin piece of sponge that sits under a piece of plastic.It also came with an air pump which i believe has to be used to work the filter?
Shame if that's the case as we wanted one for the main tank.

It's on the Aldi's site.You have to click on click here for further offers(under the trimmer) and then scroll down a bit

http/uk.aldi.com/

I can't use the filter in the main tank as that's a different filter altogether.The main tank has a rena filster i2 which is a circular sponge.

 

[DAL]

Oops sorry i didn't realise that Aldi have put next weeks offers on their website now so you can't view it

 

[DAL]

Just looking about i find they are called filter mats so that's what it's come with so as i said that sits under the filter(plastic thing) and it's got the air pump which i suppose runs the filter somehow?

 

[basia]

You can use the air pump to run a sponge filter or a box filter, they cost less than £5. I have one of those tanks but I don't use the undergravel filter, just a sponge filter.

 

[DAL]

Can i ask how i change the mat and how often it has to be changed?
I mean it will be hard won't it if there's gravel on top or is it just a case of moving that aside and getting it out?

Also the filter and the sponge don't cover the whole base if you know what i mean so does that sound right?