There Maybe Trouble Ahead

[bigfishlittlefish]

Hi guys,
Ive been a member of the forum a couple of months now and because of that gained a lot more knowledge about fish keeping(still a lot to learn).My current tank is only a 2 footer but desperate to go larger and noticed an add for a free 4 foot tank with filter light etc on a notice board.When I collected the tank which will hopefully scrub up well I was offered the last of his fish which was a white gourami and 2 plecos around 5 inches 1 is a bristlenose and other looks unusual not ID it yet(may need to post a picture).They were in a another tank which was a half filled 2 foot tank barely visable cos of water colour.Unfortunatly he no longer had time to keep fish I felt sorry for them and couldn't leave them there so took him up on his offer.

This is where things get tricky my 2ft tank currently has
1 male black molly(was given 2 males by petshop this one bullied the other to death)
2 male guppies
2 pinapple swordtails breeding pair
1 baby swordtail
3 peppered cories
I realise(since reading the forum) the above fish require larger groups hence the need for a bigger tank.
Plus now
1 white gourami
2 plecos
The tank is well over stocked so intend to change water v regularly while I set up new tank.

I need advice on what I should do next do I set new tank up using fishless cycle leaving this tank overstocked, move some over and do fish in cycle, move all the fish over and use both filters or something else altogether.I want to the best for the fish can't see pet shop taking any off my hands and don't know any other fish keepers who would take them either.

Thanks

Gez

 

[fluttermoth]

I think the best plan would be to move the media from the filter in your smaller tank into the new filter; you can then move the fish into the bigger tank straight away. Just remember to test for ammonia every day for a week or so in case you get any spikes from a 'mini-cycle' which can sometimes happen when you move things around.

I'm sure your fish will be much happier in their new home

Do post a pic of your new plec if you can so we can identify it for you, as it might be one of the species that grow to 2 feet long

Let's hope it isn't!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

If your existing filter is giving 0 ammonia and nitrite readings and has been going for more than two months, it should have a bacteria colony supporting all your old fish. Providing you are quite conservative with food for the first few days at least, there is no reason why your old filter and the newly acquired one cannot adjust quite rapidly to the new bioload.

If the new filter came with the free tank and was kept in tank water and had a source of food before collection, you might find the filter has a good sized bateria colony already in it. However, if the fish were emptied out of this tank some time ago without another food source offered or the filter sponges dried out, the filter will have very little if any colony to start things off.

 

[moochy13]

id put both filters and new all fish in the new tank, run it for a couple of months, keeping tabs on the water stats, then move the old filter back to the old tank with some of the fish that you need to up the groups of, obviously bearing in mind you'll be adding more new fish to that tank.

get a picture of that plec up. if its a common it needs to be moved on soon as possible.

 

[coldcazzie]

I agree with the previous posts - put your currently filter and the new filter into the bigger tank and put all the fish in there, test daily and be prepared for a small fish in cycle. It shouldn't be long as you already have bacteria in your currently filter - they just need to up their numbers, but possibly a week or 2 at the most while the filter adjusts. That would be better than overstocking.

Then keep your 2 footer as your hospital/emergency/quarantine tank - I keep mine in the garage unless I need it and then it comes in the house and I put a fluval 2 in it which is constantly running in my main tank, meaning it's never uncycled. Once it's unneeded again it goes back out in the garage and the fluval 2 filter goes back in my main tank until next time.

 

[bigfishlittlefish]

Thanks for all the advice Im going to run both filters at the same time I think. I also have a 3rd filter which should have bacteria as it was with the 3 fish I was given in his small tank I'll put the sponge in the large filter to get it going.The tank is all cleaned up now and filter cleaned out too it was dry and thick with dirt the filter is one that came with the tank and was stuck to the side at some point.Whats the best thing to use to reattach it? Im pretty sure the pleco isnt a common one after comparing pictures to what I think the fish looks like.I say think because the fish has been in hiding the whole time.It has 2 longish barbs coming from its head not sure if that helps I.D it.Im hoping to get them moving in tomorrow, wednesday at the latest will take a pic before I move him/her.

 

[moochy13]

99% sure plecs dont have barbs at all.

sounds like a catfish of some sort.

 

[bigfishlittlefish]

Have just found out what they are managed to get in touch with previous owner 1 is a Blue gourami, a synodontis and a Pterygoplichthys so much for me saying bristlenose.Need to read up on these now to ensure correct food is given but any tips would be great.At least the mystery is now solved.

 

[moochy13]

synodontis catfish are fine in general, shouldnt get too big, ive got 3 in my tank of differeing sizes, no real hassle. mine tend to eat mostly catfish pellets, algae discs, bloodworm and cucumber. the Pterygoplichthys is apparantly a sailfin plec. if it hasnt been stunted this is a monster fish and only suitable for big (5/6 ft) tanks. if it grows properly and helthyily it will be too big for your new 4ft tank.

 

[bigfishlittlefish]

Thanks for the info just looked up pictures and it looks like a featherfin sqeaker and the other does indeed look like the common pleco but again going from memory as hard to see it.How long would a common pleco take to get to around 5/6 inches I think he had this fish for quite a while will post pic of both when I move them for confirmation.

 

[fishnovice]

Thanks for the info just looked up pictures and it looks like a featherfin sqeaker and the other does indeed look like the common pleco but again going from memory as hard to see it.How long would a common pleco take to get to around 5/6 inches I think he had this fish for quite a while will post pic of both when I move them for confirmation.

A common plec would reach that size well before it is a year old. Yours may be a juvenile unless it has been stunted by being kept in a small tank.Pterygoplichthys is a genus of large plecs including P Gibbiceps(huge sailfin plec)but you may be lucky and have a P joselimaianus L001 (smaller sailfin plec which will "only" grow to about a foot though could exceptionally get to 15in if you are really unlucky). L001 is a lovely plec which should be OK for a long time in a 4ft tank. They are not shy plecs so you will see it every night at dusk. I have one myself in a large tank and it gets well on with 2 synodontis tankmates, it's one of my favourite fish.