Some guest came by today and was admiring my tanks and she said that she has a tank that is about the size or bigger than my 55g and wanted me to help get it running and ready for fish so I was wondering say if she wants to do it in the next few weeks and I'm going to try and steer her towards the marineland penquin bio filter 350 like I have and was wondering since this filter has two filter cartridges could I take one out and put a fresh one in to replace it then put it in here filter along with some of my gravel that I will take over to the tank to clone her tank or would that put my tank at a risk of mini cycle?
Need A Question Answered Please
- Thread starter Durbkat
- Start date
metfan581
Fish Addict
i dont see y not
Dangerousdan
Moved On
.
Well I cloned the 55g with the filter from my 20g and put about 10 pounds of gravel from the 20g into the 55g and the filter from the 20g is still in their and the tank has been running about a week and a half.
Your gonna clone from your 55 right... you'll probably experience a mini-cycle but I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just monitor water stats and do an extra waterchange as needed. Really cool of you to help out a friend like that. I sure could have used some filter media when I started out
Yeah I'm going to clone from the 55g but may tell her to wait a few weeks to make sure I won't experience the mini cycle. You mean even with the filter from the 20g running it would still get a mini cycle?
Yes I would wait a week or two to make sure there is alot of bacteria on your 55 filter pad. Keep the 20 gal filter running in the 55 and you may not experience a mini-cycle. Seems like it doesn't matter though. You'll still be removing 1/3 or more of your bacteria. It should cause a mini-cycle but it won't be severe. Like I said just monitor water stats.
Hi Durbkat 
I think it would be best to ask her to wait a couple of weeks. The amount of time and effort she will be saving will be worth it to her in the long run.
Then, if you keep your old filter running while you make the change, you will not be losing much but she will still be off to a good start. Just remember to tell her to have about 1/3 of the number of fish you have ready to go so it has nourishment. Explain to her how the bacteria reproduces and the importance of stocking slowly too.
When you remove part of your media, it will be no different than if you were to wear it out and change it. If you have any mini-cycling, it will straighten itself out quickly.
Will you be helping her stock her tank too?
I think it would be best to ask her to wait a couple of weeks. The amount of time and effort she will be saving will be worth it to her in the long run.
Then, if you keep your old filter running while you make the change, you will not be losing much but she will still be off to a good start. Just remember to tell her to have about 1/3 of the number of fish you have ready to go so it has nourishment. Explain to her how the bacteria reproduces and the importance of stocking slowly too.
When you remove part of your media, it will be no different than if you were to wear it out and change it. If you have any mini-cycling, it will straighten itself out quickly.
Will you be helping her stock her tank too?
Yes, because by the way she talked and when I was talking about benfical bacteria I could see the confusion in her face. 
I am going to start her off with about 4 to 5 black widow tetras then I'll get her some more black widow tetras and then I'll ask her to look what other fish she'd like and I'll tell her if its compatible or not.
I am going to start her off with about 4 to 5 black widow tetras then I'll get her some more black widow tetras and then I'll ask her to look what other fish she'd like and I'll tell her if its compatible or not.Might be a good idea to get the whole thing planned out before hand. She may want something that won't go well with the tetra's. Just a thought. I think it's best to plan a tank around a (or a few) centerpiece fish.
depends on the fish. I'm no cichlid expert so i'll let someone else answer. I believe that angel fish are only really aggressive when breeding. not sure though. To clarify i said to plan around a centerpiece that doesn't mean that you have to or should start the tank with that fish.
Katchan
Fish Addict
Durbkat, as a general rule if its to big to fit in an angels mouth its safe
. The only other time to worry (in a tank that size) is breeding time (if you end up with a pair) but a tank that size the other fish should be able stay out of the angels way
Andrew
. The only other time to worry (in a tank that size) is breeding time (if you end up with a pair) but a tank that size the other fish should be able stay out of the angels way
Andrew
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