New Tank Setup

[rust81]

I am about to setup my 2nd tank. I have new gravel, a fluval 2+ filter, a 100W heater and plastic plants. Yesterday i placed 1/2 of the filter pads from the fluval 2+ filter in my filter in my main tank, which has been up and running for 6 months. What i dont know is how long to leave the new media in my old filter for in order to make sure that it has enough bacteria on it to then put in my new tank! Any ideas?

 

[dthoffsett]

You should run them for about 2 weeks, then add a few fish to the new tank, and slowly and carefully stock it, making sure to test frequently.

 

[rust81]

Here’s my dilemma – in my main tank (70L) I have just introduced 2 female dwarf gouramis to the existing male & female dwarf gourmais in order to take some pressure off the lone female (as she was getting chased too much)!

Since I put them in last night, the 3 tiger barbs that I have in the tank are chasing the gouramis and trying to nip at their tales. As per my previous post, I am setting up a 50L tank that I want to put the tiger barbs in. I have taken the filter media from my NEW filter and put this in my OLD filter in my main tank to mature. Ideally I should leave this for a week or so to ensure that it has enough bacteria on it – but I think I may need to get that tank up and running a bit quicker if the barbs continue to nip the gouramis.

Here’s what I am thinking:
Take the NEW media from my OLD filter and put this in my NEW filter along with some of the bio-rings that have been in my OLD filter for 6 months. Also take about 20L of tank water from my old tank and put this in the new tank. Introduce one of the barbs and see how he gets on for a few days before moving the other 2 over.

Does this seem like a reasonable approach?

 

[-germ-]

Here’s my dilemma – in my main tank (70L) I have just introduced 2 female dwarf gouramis to the existing male & female dwarf gourmais in order to take some pressure off the lone female (as she was getting chased too much)!

Since I put them in last night, the 3 tiger barbs that I have in the tank are chasing the gouramis and trying to nip at their tales. As per my previous post, I am setting up a 50L tank that I want to put the tiger barbs in. I have taken the filter media from my NEW filter and put this in my OLD filter in my main tank to mature. Ideally I should leave this for a week or so to ensure that it has enough bacteria on it – but I think I may need to get that tank up and running a bit quicker if the barbs continue to nip the gouramis.

Here’s what I am thinking:
Take the NEW media from my OLD filter and put this in my NEW filter along with some of the bio-rings that have been in my OLD filter for 6 months. Also take about 20L of tank water from my old tank and put this in the new tank. Introduce one of the barbs and see how he gets on for a few days before moving the other 2 over.

Does this seem like a reasonable approach?

Definately reasonable and should certainly help, you can alos snip a small piece of media out of the old filter to add to the new and squeeze the old filter sponge onto the new filter sponge, all these will help the new filter with seeding...
There is no point in adding the old water if you are doing it for the bacteria. I'd add some food or some waste, gravel vacced from your old tank to provide an ammonia source.
Have'nt you got a liquid tester rather than using the barb as the fishy equivalent?

 

[rust81]

Yes i have all the test kits - so will test first before adding the first barb. The new sponge filter has only been 'maturing' for 3 days in my first tank - will this be enough? Would adding some gravel from my main tank also help - as there is also bacteria on the gravel i think?