Starting 2nd Tank Need Advice

[xx_xxsammiexx_xx]

Ok so im not a total newbie but i am still learning so bear with me on this one.

So i already have a 111lt tank thats 24uk gallons. Iv had this tank over a year and have no problems with it.
Now i want a 2nd tank so i have a 50lt 11gallon tank set up, its been going for 3 days i have put king british safe guard and safe water in and i have a new filter in (new pads too) i also have put in a plant as when i set up my last tank i was told this would help cycle it.

What i am wondering is should i add some of the filter fom the old tank and some of the water or not and what to do after that. I have read the fishless cycle topic but wondered how to cycle with filter from the other tank. Any suggestions?
x sammie x

 

[woody1k]

Hi there , well what i normaly do is whenever im seting up a temp tank or perminant tank i always use the water out of my main tank , alot of ppl probably don't agree with mixing water but in my case i know my water is perfectly fine and ive been doing it for a long time now , but i never introduce water into my main tank from another tank although there would be no need to do so anyway . also i have carbon in my main tank filter that is used to remove chemicals ect but i always keep it in my main tank filter for the main reason so i can always cut some of when setting up a new tank by placing the cut carbon into the filter of the new tank setup that then preforms as a biological media . ppl also use some gravel to from there main tank thats ok and will help too . As long as like me know your main tank is well established and safe i see no problems using gravel , filter media or water from it . hope this helps .

 

[xx_xxsammiexx_xx]

Hi there , well what i normaly do is whenever im seting up a temp tank or perminant tank i always use the water out of my main tank , alot of ppl probably don't agree with mixing water but in my case i know my water is perfectly fine and ive been doing it for a long time now , but i never introduce water into my main tank from another tank although there would be no need to do so anyway . also i have carbon in my main tank filter that is used to remove chemicals ect but i always keep it in my main tank filter for the main reason so i can always cut some of when setting up a new tank by placing the cut carbon into the filter of the new tank setup . ppl also use some gravel to from there main tank thats ok and will help too . As long as like me know your main tank is well established and safe i see no problems using gravel , filter media or water from it . hope this helps .

Yeah that helps, the plant that i put in is from the old tank too so hopefully that will speed things up a lil. thankyou x

 

[woody1k]

Well if you have used treated water from your tap and new gravel your plant may struggle to stay alive as the new tank wont be cycled and this will not really help in your cycle process . you can buy plant food for your plants but thats not really speeding your cycle up .

 

[OldMan47]

The plant has a surface, just like everything else in the tank and will have some of the right bacteria growing on it. Compared to a filter media sample, the plant won't provide much but it will be a start. Some of the filter media from your old filter will do much more to jump start your cycle. Another option, that I use quite often, is to rinse out an old filter in the new tank. By cleaning your old filter in the new tank, you are doing something like what the bacteria in a bottle people advertise, but with a big difference. The bacteria in your working filter are alive and are the ones that you want to establish in the new filter. No matter how many filter samples, good bacteria, plants or anything else you put in to start your cycle, you still need to do the cycle before adding fish.

 

[xx_xxsammiexx_xx]

The plant has a surface, just like everything else in the tank and will have some of the right bacteria growing on it. Compared to a filter media sample, the plant won't provide much but it will be a start. Some of the filter media from your old filter will do much more to jump start your cycle. Another option, that I use quite often, is to rinse out an old filter in the new tank. By cleaning your old filter in the new tank, you are doing something like what the bacteria in a bottle people advertise, but with a big difference. The bacteria in your working filter are alive and are the ones that you want to establish in the new filter. No matter how many filter samples, good bacteria, plants or anything else you put in to start your cycle, you still need to do the cycle before adding fish.

Thankyou for your help. I havnt put and gravel in yet as i was wondering what to do with it wether to buy new or use old.

 

[OldMan47]

If you decide to replace mature substrate, a sample of the top layer from the old substrate will also be a good thing to use to get the new filter going. A sample where it will get good flow in the new filter will give some help to the new filter.

 

[xx_xxsammiexx_xx]

If you decide to replace mature substrate, a sample of the top layer from the old substrate will also be a good thing to use to get the new filter going. A sample where it will get good flow in the new filter will give some help to the new filter.

So put a few bits of gravel into the filter itself?

Btw went to the aquatica down the road where i have bought most of my fish from. Took my water test results in (at the bottom of post) and he said stick some danios in and monitor the water, what do you think. I have added a plant, some gravel and a bit of filter media from the old tank to the new tank.

So results...

New tank 11 uk gallon
Ammonia 0.4
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 17
Ph 8.5

Old tank 24 uk gallon Have done water change sine test.
Ammonia 0.1
Nitrite 0.1
Nitrate 100
Ph 6

Tap water
Ammonia 0.1
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Ph 8.5

What do you think?

 

[OldMan47]

I think the LFS is trying to sell some danios. At an ammonia level of 0.4 and a pH of 8+, you will quickly be taking back dead fish to ask for a refund. Ammonia is much more toxic at a pH above 7.0 and we only ever accept 0.25 ppm here. Go ahead and get the tank cycled. I have seen recent data on fish stores in the UK that says only 4 or 5 percent of them are even willing to acknowledge that such a thing as a fishless cycle is possible. Don't be too surprised if they think that what you are doing makes no sense to them. An empty tank doesn't require fish food, has not sold any fish, won't inspire most people to buy decor or plants, doesn't lead to sales of medications, etc. What is their incentive to encourage that kind of behavior on your part?

 

[zoetetra]

regards the substrate you could always get a pair of tights and put some of your old substrate in there and pop it in your new tank,just leave it there for a week and that will certainly help.

i wouldnt be happy with adding fish with any reading for ammonia and nitrite and i keep my nitrate below 40