Messed Up...overstocked My Tank...

[Saf1]

Embarrassed to admit this but... I had a tank that was stable and generally happy (ongoing battle with algae but the house is bright, so not much to do but clean the algae out when I see it). It's 15 gallons, had 6 little gray guppies and 2 African dwarf frogs. I'd been itching to introduce something with some color and caved in the pet store and decided it would probably be okay to add some neon tetras. Except since they're schooling I wanted to be sure I got enough. I admit I underestimated the size of my existing fish and thought the neon tetras were smaller than they are...now every time I look at the tank I just see crowded everywhere. Especially at feeding time...ugh, so many fish. Tonight one of the guppies looks super stressed, swimming from the bottom to the top over and over. She's one of the larger fish.

I had been debating getting a larger tank as it was, and this situation prompted me to go ahead and do it. So I have a 36 gallon tank sitting in it's box on my kitchen floor right now all ready to be set up. Here's my dilemma...

I really wanted to do a fishless cycle on the new tank. I lost two friends cycling my existing tank (had no idea what I was doing and started with more fish than I should have), and don't want to do that again if I can avoid it. However, given the crowding in my existing tank I don't know if it would be better to move a few of the fish out into the new tank and cycle it that way. I intend to keep both tanks...not sure what I plan to put in the new tank...will probably ask for input on that once it's cycled. Just trying to decide...fishless cycle and keep my smaller overcrowded tank for now, or move some fish from the smaller tank into the big tank and cycle it that way??

Here are my stats:
15 gallons -
6 guppies
8 neon tetras
2 African dwarf frogs

Using API master test kit this morning -
pH 7.8
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nirate 0-5.0

Appreciate any advice...

Thanks all!

 

[NickAu]

 
6 guppies
8 neon tetras
2 African dwarf frogs

Unless I am mistaken Tetras and ADF prefer soft acidic water while Guppies prefer hard water.

 

[Saf1]

Huh I don't know. I've had the guppies since October and the ADFs since December...both seem to be doing well. I've seen the frogs in tanks with both guppies and neon tetras at the pet store and assumed (maybe foolishly) that they would all do well together.

 

[cowgirluntamed]

What kind of filter are you running with the current set up? If it has good media in it you can put it on the new one to sort of do an almost instant cycle. Have a ****** one on as well though so it can start growing the good bacteria in there. I've also had success with Dr. Tim's One and Only nitrifying bacteria as well as Tetra Safe Start. You could always try one of those to help get it cycled faster. If you would worry about the fish...but the stuff in...then add ammonia like you would be doing for a fishless cycle and wait 24 hours to see what the test results are. If everything is good then you can add the fish.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Well now, you have a few options but it all depends on a couple of things.

First, are you planning on keeping the 15 gal tank up and running and keeping some of the current stocking in the 15 and transfer some of the others into the new tank?

Note: neons do not do well in newly set up tanks, they usually require an established tank that's been running for at least 6 months IMO.

Or are you planning to shut down the 15 gal and put the new tank in the same position as where the 15 gal currently is?

Also does the new tank have a filter included?

 

[Saf1]

I'll keep the old tank up as well, with plans to spread my existing stock between the two (I'll add additional fish later once everything is established...but I don't know what yet). The new tank did come with a filter. Both are aqueon tanks with aqueon power filters appropriate to the tank sizes.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Right, that makes things easier to do actually.
 
First set up your new tank wherever suitable, with a heater, not in direct sunlight etc etc
 
I would advise you to put in quite a few fast growing plants in the new tank, elodea, vals and floating plants are a few example of fast growing plants, they are nutrient hungry easy low tech plants and will help quickly deal with ammonia, and of course along with the usual washed substrate, decor etc. Then fill up with dechlorinated water, switch on heater and filter and lights if you have that included.
 
Now, the filters, i am not that familiar with aquaeon filters but am assuming it may be a HOB? (Hang On Back)
 
This may be a bit more tricky, can you possibly swap up to a third of the filter media to the new filter? If so then thats a bonus. If not, then would squeeze the filter media into the new tankw ater, it may be a bit mucky and debris will float about but this is the good stuff and will quickly clear up and end up exactly where you want it, in the filter. Don't forget to return the filter mendia back to the established tank.
 
This basically is what we call 'seeding' the new tank with (hopefully) both types of bacterias that you require.
 
You can add Tetra Safe Start bacteria or Dr Tim's One and Only Live Nitrfying Bacteria, either of these can also help to boost the bacteria numbers
 
Do NOT add any of your stocking yet.
 
You then need to follow the fishless cycling article - Cycling Your New Fresh Water Tank: Read This First!
 
Due to the seedling or filter media from the esablished tank to the new tank  the cycle should progress MUCH faster than the normal fishless cycling from scratch.
 
We're talking a matter of days up to two weeks max to complete this.
 
Do test the water every day and add ammonia when appropriate, should not think you need to add 'snack' doses due to having seeded the tank with both types of bacteria.
 
Any problems at all with the cycling, post a query on here.
 
Once cycle is done, hopefully less than a week, add all the stocking you want from the old tank to the new, do not worry about acclimatising or anything, just plop the fish in via the net.
 
Job done

 

[Saf1]

Wow thank you that actually helps a lot. They are hang on back filters with the carbon filter cartridges. I usually change the carbon cartridge in my existing one once a week or so when I do my water change. I'd been doing it less but I'm finding since I do struggle with algae that it tends to get pretty mucked up pretty fast. Are you saying to squeeze that filter cartridge into the new tank? The only reason I get a little confused is that the filter also has the plastic lattice that the cartridge sits in that is supposed to help maintain the biofilter when the cartridge is changed. Basically I'm not sure what exactly we're talking about with the term "filter media." Is it the carbon filter cartridge? Would it be worth putting a used cartridge into the new filter for a little bit so it can populate that plasic lattice before putting in a new one? The two filters take different sized cartridges but it seems like I could put a used smaller cartridge into the bigger filter for a short time since the brand new tank shouldn't need a lot of filtration and it's more about establishing the biofilter at this point. Hoping that makes sense...thoughts?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Right, just as i thought might be the case.
 
Ok, carbon filters are ok for bacterias to colonise on actually, so I'd put in some recently used carbon filters into the new filter AND swish in the plastic lattice part into the new tank water in the hope that some of the gunk that comes off that will have the bacterias as well which would seed your new tank. Don't forget to replace that lattice part back into the 15g filter.
 
 
BTW - i would not bother with replacing carbon every week, waste of money imho, you can either leave the carbon filter in the filter and just give that a clean in old tank water in a bucket when doing weekly w/c or maintenance.
Or you could replace the carbon filter cartridges with sponge media or filter floss which would actually clean the fine particles from your water column making for nice clear water.

 

[Saf1]

Well, I admit I wouldn't be sad to be able to stop ordering big boxes of filter cartridges . Had no idea I could rinse and reuse. Just looked up filter floss and it looks like you can get a lot for a few dollars, so I'll probably give it a shot...particularly if it will result in a clearer tank.

Thanks so much for you help! I finally have a good plan to proceed!