Setting Second Tank

[channing]

im wanting to upgrade my ten to a 29g. what is the easiest way to do this? im wanting to get angels, how many can i get plus anything else go with them. thanks

 

[iairj84]

Well setting it up is easy, you would be able to transfer the media from your 10 gallon over to the 29 gallon, but I wouldn't personally put angels in a 29 gallon. They're tall fish and 29's aren't all that tall at all!

 

[Tolak]

29 gallon tanks are fine for angels, the problem is getting two that are compatable. Start with 6 juvies, with the understanding that you will be bringing 4 back. Most independant lfs are more than happy to do this, as they know large angels sell well. Once you have a compatable pair stock your tank around the pair.

I'll put 5 or 6 adults in a 29 when trying for a pair, this usually takes a few days to a few weeks. Depending on the size of the fish the pair will either stay in the 29, or get moved to a 20.

 

[channing]

so i can put everything from the ten to the 29 and i dontg have to wait for it to cycle?

 

[Tolak]

The tank itself doesn't cycle, the fiter media which holds your nitrifying bacteria is what is cycled. You could take the filter, fish, and whatever decorations you like, move them from the 10 to the 29, and be good to go. If you aren't doing large water changes, 50%+, add the water from the 10 gallon, and fill the other 19 gallons with tap, or whatever water you use for water changes.


I'll be doing the same thing in about a week, from a 29 to a 150, with around 145 angels. I do 50% water changes weekly, the fish & filter will go from the 29 to the 150, with 150 gallons of fresh tap water.

 

[Matty P]

How long has the 10g been running for?

Matt

 

[iairj84]

If you run the filters from the 10 and their are fish in it, yes you wont have to wait for it to cycle. On the other hand, it would be best to run your old filter with the new filter for a week or so in the old tank just to start building up that beneficial bacteria. Then you could just swap the fish and both filters and you would only have to wait another week or so and the new filter should be "seeded" with all the good bacteria. This process should ideally take a month if you want to be sure you get all of the bacteria, but 2 weeks should be sufficient in most settings. I do this all the time in my filters and stuff a couple extra bits of media in mine just in case I have an emergency. Of course you would need to transfer fish over with the filter to the new tank, and don't rush to stock it yet either. Continue to add your fish as slowly as possible.