Seeding tank

[Byron]

I have 5 danios at the moment in the tank and that's probably small for a 130 litre. I try to feed them once or twice a day to help the bacteria feed on the waste. No use of artificial ammonia as I had the thought of seeding the bacteria in. One of my sponges I put in my small 28 litre filter I placed in the new tank when I setted it up to jump start the process. Only plants I have is a pot of valisneria and the leaves of that are just detaching. Also have java moss which I don't know if they take in Nitrates. If the parameters stay low I might see in getting some cardinal tetras in a weeks time.

Is there a certain part of the tank which I should get the samples of water from?

Five danios in 130 liters (30-some gallons) is miniscule, so previous comments remain. The plants/seeded bacteria was adequate.

Plants do not take up nitrates primarily, they prefer ammonium (ammonia) and their rapid assimilation of ammonia/ammonium means less for the bacteria so less nitrite, and thus less nitrate. Nitrate is taken up by most plants only when ammonium is insufficient in balance, as the plants have to spend valuable energy changing the nitrate back into ammonium, and they don't do this unless absolutely necessary to get nitrogen in balance. One scientific test is worth noting: The turnover time for ammonium at 0.4 ppm N in Pistia stratiotes was found to be 4 hours, while the same plant species required 20 hours for nitrate turnover. I suspect this may be due to the extra internal work the plant must go through to deal with nitrates as opposed to ammonium.

I take water for tests from just below the surface. I have never heard that it matters.

 

[Byron]

I'm just wondering now if I should get 6 cardinal tetras but put them in the 28 litre for about a week or two before placing them in the new tank . I have 2 amano shrimps in the 28 litres which hopefully are feeding the bioload of the filter so could transfer them in the new tank if I get cardinals to put in there.

Two shrimp are not going to do much. And with new fish, they are best to go into the established tank. If you quarantine, then it is best to have an established tank for this purpose; I keep a 20g planted tank permanently running to use for new fish acquisitions; they can stay in there for weeks as necessary, and then when moved into the intended display tank which is obviously also established, it is a very minimal change for the fish. Cardinal tetras are sensitive fish, so this is important to keep in mind.

What is the danio species?

 

[zain611]

Two shrimp are not going to do much. And with new fish, they are best to go into the established tank. If you quarantine, then it is best to have an established tank for this purpose; I keep a 20g planted tank permanently running to use for new fish acquisitions; they can stay in there for weeks as necessary, and then when moved into the intended display tank which is obviously also established, it is a very minimal change for the fish. Cardinal tetras are sensitive fish, so this is important to keep in mind.

What is the danio species?

I have zebra danios so Hardy fish. My smaller 28 litre I've had set up for 6 years so no worries about it not being established. It still has its original sponge media which I might put in the new tank when it has to go. I'm just thinking if I should put the cardinals in there first for about a week so I can keep an eye on them and the new tank's water parameters. Looks good so far.

 

[Byron]

I have zebra danios so Hardy fish. My smaller 28 litre I've had set up for 6 years so no worries about it not being established. It still has its original sponge media which I might put in the new tank when it has to go. I'm just thinking if I should put the cardinals in there first for about a week so I can keep an eye on them and the new tank's water parameters. Looks good so far.

Quarantine should be four or five weeks minimum, sometimes longer if the fish have unique aspects. For example, cardinals I would normally QT for 4-5 weeks. Marble headstanders might stay in for a couple months because they are fish that eat from surfaces, primarily the substrate, and are slow eaters. So I would want to ensure they were eating very well before moving them into a tank where other fish can easily out-compete them, or frighten them into not eating. It is safer to "overfeed" in a QT. QT is not only for disease, but other aspects of a fish species.

I asked about the danios more for their compatibility. They are very active fish, and I personally would not combine them with slower fish like cardinals.

 

[zain611]

Quarantine should be four or five weeks minimum, sometimes longer if the fish have unique aspects. For example, cardinals I would normally QT for 4-5 weeks. Marble headstanders might stay in for a couple months because they are fish that eat from surfaces, primarily the substrate, and are slow eaters. So I would want to ensure they were eating very well before moving them into a tank where other fish can easily out-compete them, or frighten them into not eating. It is safer to "overfeed" in a QT. QT is not only for disease, but other aspects of a fish species.

I asked about the danios more for their compatibility. They are very active fish, and I personally would not combine them with slower fish like cardinals.

Thanks Byron. I am planning on giving the danios back mainly because I don't want them when I put in some dwarf shrimps. One of them ate my velvet blue shrimp when I put them in the 28 litre. I'm going to have to see on how long I can keep the 28 litre as my mum wants to get rid of it as we have the new tank now. I'm thinking getting 6 cardinals tomorrow so then can have them in the smaller tank for a bit.

 

[zain611]

6 cardinal tetras are in the 28 litre tank. I placed the amano shrimps in the new tank and looks like they are slowly getting used to it. I forgot to ask my LFS if they can take back the five danios I bought from them.

 

[SeaAngel]

Hi gang. New here. I keep extra sponge media in the back of all my tank filters. Then when I need an instant cycle for a QT I just put one of the extra sponges in the back of the new filter. Automatic cycle every time.

 

[zain611]

Hi gang. New here. I keep extra sponge media in the back of all my tank filters. Then when I need an instant cycle for a QT I just put one of the extra sponges in the back of the new filter. Automatic cycle every time.

I have a 28 litre tank which has been set up for 6 years. I got a larger 130 litre (35 gallon) to replace it and seeded it with the current tank. Two months before I squeezed in an extra sponge in the small filter in the smaller tank placed that in the new tank to jump start the cycle. The new tank has been set up for 2 weeks now with 5 danios and 2 amano shrimps and ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates are 0ppm when I checked a few days ago. Either the bioload is miniscule for the size tank or the bacteria is able to break down these things.

I have 6 cardinals and 3 cherry shrimps in the smaller tank which I'll transfer over on Saturday. If the water parameters are as good as they are now in the large tank I'd probably just can put new fish straight in there

 

[zain611]

Just wanted to update about my tank. Its been set up for 3 weeks now and heres the test results.

Ammonia - 0ppm
Nitrite - 0ppm
Nitrates 5.0ppm
pH - 7.6

Looks all good . I have some vallinseria in the tank so they must be taking in the nitrates. The seeding must have really helped.