Upgrade Help

[Callum]

ok ive setup my new 180l tank transfered the fish into it and some of the filter media from my fluval 205 into the tetratec ex1200. the tank has been running with fish for about a day i also added 2 bottles of Tetra safestart. the tank stats from this morning were this.

PH: 7.6
Ammonia: 0
Nitrit: 0.2
Nitrate: 7

are these stats ok also i would like to get 4 more cories in as there is only 1 on his own and has been like that for a while also i figured he would be slightly less stressed on his own. The current inhabitants are 1 juvenile bristlenose 2 platty fry 3 platties, 5 harlequins, 1 cory. substrate is sand, has some bogwood and heavily planted with fakes. Also all my fish tend to be hiding i have left the lights off so far but as soon as i approach the tank they all shoot into the plants. Also my fake plants look as though they have pearled?? there are loads of oxygen bubbles and are getting into my filter why are there oxygen bubbles ?

 

[ox5477]

I would of transfered the media over and let it run for about a week adding ammonia when needed to keep the bacteria alive. They have to acclimate to this new tank and it's new size. Then when all the stats looked good after a 90 to 100% water change (pH = around 7.0 to 7.5, NH4 = 0ppm, NO2 = 0ppm, NO3 = 0 to 50 ppm), then it would be ok to add your fish. Your fish will prob be fine but it's always a risk to add them in an uncycled tank. Yes moving the filter media helps, but it will prob do a min-cycle most of the time (like yours is...ie. the NO2 is 0.2ppm) This doesn't cause a great concern, but some fish just can't handle this and will get sick or could even die.

That might be the reason why they are running and hiding because they don't feel good.... but it could just be the simple reason that they are in a new habitat and are unsure of the dangers yet. Hopefully they will be back to normal in a week or two

 

[BigIan]

they are probably shy as they are in "new territory" and so need time to ajust to there new surrounding and make it home.

and you should wait for the nitrIte readings to hit 0 before you add any more fish,

other than that your doing the right things.

as for the fake planst looking like they are pearling it happens when you suberse things in water small air bubbles cling to them they will eventualy go away just rub them off with your hand

 

[Callum]

How long will the mini cycle take? also can i put the lights on this evening?

 

[BigIan]

any where from a couple of days to a week or two, not that long and looking at it your almost through it,

and sticking the lights on won`t do any harm, just keep disturbance inside the tank to a minimum

 

[Callum]

thankyou wow that mini cycle was very quick then again i overdosed with the safestart which is supposed to be the bio spira for the UK

 

[BigIan]

its only called a mini cycle because as a pose to a whole fishless cycle the bacteria colony is already there it just needs to grow to cope with new bioload.

but 0.2 for nitrite is a very low reading so i`m guessing the bacteria is well on the way to being large enough to cope with the bioload,

once it drops to 0 give it a week or two before adding any more fish

its only called a mini cycle because as a pose to a whole fishless cycle the bacteria colony is already there it just needs to grow to cope with new bioload.

but 0.2 for nitrite is a very low reading so i`m guessing the bacteria is well on the way to being large enough to cope with the bioload,

once it drops to 0 give it a week or two before adding any more fish