Just set up new tank

[Barday]

Hi all,

I just set up my new 2ft cube tank and I had a few questions about cycling it.......

I was gonna put the one of my filter sponges from my established fluval 2 in the middle of the sponges of my new fluval 4 so I dont have to cycle..........I was also gonna put in all the ornaments from my old tank and a couple of tights (stockings for the Americans ) of gravel.

I wanted to put everything in, and let the new tank run in for a couple of days. As it is new water and there is no fish, there will be no ammonia being produced and nothing for the bacteria to feed on and it will die right?

So should I put a couple of fish in there to create amonia or can I just put some food in there and let it rot?

Any help will be apreciated

Thanks

 

[sylvia]

You could put a fish in.

Have you considered your other option though? You can put the new filter(s) in your old tank so that bacteria colonise them and then move them back to the new.

 

[yvez9]

I would set up the filter in your current tank as sylvia suggests
let it run for a few days and then move it back to your new tank and put in a few fish

 

[Barday]

Cant do that I'm afraid, The fluval4 will be too big for my old 20g, The turbulence will realy freak out the fish

But wouldn't that be the same as putting a established pad in the new one?

We are talking about a tank which is over 45g will a couple of fish keep up the amonia in a tank that big?

 

[sylvia]

Provided you add new fish slowly after that, that should work fine.

 

[Barday]

Cool thanks!

2 a day slow enough or would you recomend less?

 

[yvez9]

putting an matured filter media would work just as good

like sylvia suggests, just 2 fish to start off (3 or 4 if they're really small fish) and then every 2-3 weeks another 2 fish until you have finished stocking

 

[sylvia]

Monitor your water quality. I think you could get away with 2 a week as well but take it slow. Rushing won't get you anywhere .

 

[Barday]

I know I can't rush it, but I need to get the fish from my 20g into my new one ASAP. I've now got 2 tanks sitting in the living room and the folks are not too happy!

 

[sylvia]

Lol... well they'll just have to live with it for a little while longer

 

[Barday]

Yea, you try telling them that!

 

[Barday]

How hardy are bn plecos?? - I know from Chooklets post, that they can survive for over 90 mins out of water - but how tolerant are they of amonia? The reason I ask is because I would like my plec to be one of the firsst fish in the new tank so I can take to bod wood out of the old one, and also because they are messy, therefore producing ammonia to feed the bacteria in the old filter sponge.

Any help appreciated

Thanks

 

[Waterloo Kid]

If you are transfering all your fish from one tank to another then just move them all at once and transfer the old filter to the new tank. Run the old and new in tandem for a couple of weeks and then remove the old filter. Alternatively, if the media from the old filter fits into the new filter, just put all the old media into the new filter, top up the extra required in the larger new filter and you have a fully cycled filter! The amount of bacteria required depends on the amount of fish, not the size of the tank. Adding the ornaments and bogwood will help. Chuck in a few nets of old gravel and you will have as much bacteria in the new tank as you had in the old tank.
Ta-Daaaaaah!

WK

 

[Barday]

Cheers WK!