Will Be Getting A 55G Aquarium Soon!

[taffy1]

Hi all, I'm new to this forum, so first I apologize if this is not in the correct location.

I will be getting a (used) 55g aquarium within the next few days. It includes filtration (Eheim 2213) and media; natural gravel, several rocks, driftwood, air pump, heater, cleaning supplies etc. Original owner upgraded the lighting, to 3 times it's original power as he always had lots of live plants. I have a few questions about it's setup first...

I have a couple of established (healthy) tanks here, from which I will be stealing some media. I have a UV sterilizer (inside the tank one) that is currently in my 30g. I will be moving that into the new tank as soon as it's set up. (It's rated for up to a 100g tank, so it should be sufficient for the 55g as well). I do plan - or at least hope to - keep some pants. After it's been up and running a couple of days, seeding from the other media, I *may* get a few Zebra Danios...as I know those are very hardy fish and can survive the cycling process, especially with seeding from established tanks.

The first question I have is regarding the plants. I've heard it's good to get the plants in first, as they can help absorb ammonia and help minimize the dangerous spikes in a new setup. However, the concern I have is adding fish (even to a cycled aquarium) is quite stressful making them more prone to disease. But most of the meds (including salt) that is available can be harmful to the plants. Is there any supplement or anything that I could get that might help minimize the risk of disease, that would be safe for plants? The UV should help, but obviously does not eliminate the risks.

Next, I HATE snails!!! Is there any product that is readily available anywhere, that can help eliminate snails without harming the plants themselves?

Finally...I've read a lot of mixed reviews about the Eheim 2213 filter. Some companies seem to say it's suitable for up to 65g aquariums, while others say up to 55g. Big Al's online says 65g. However, several reviews state that people have found this to be more suited for 30g or less, and no where near enough for 50g or more. Others say it's great. I'm not really familiar with this make, so I don't know if I'm getting something good, or if I am going to have to fork out more $$$ on a more powerful filter ??

Thanks for any input you can offer!

 

[TheHolding]

Keep the snails and post them to me, my puffer fish eat them

 

[markandhisfish]

when it comes to filters you really cant beat eheim . id say for light to moderate stocking id say the 2213 will do for now but whjen you get stocked more id think about upgrading to something a bit bigger. as for ammonia/cycling issues if you can get enough mature media from your old filters to completely fill the new 1 with mature media , hey presto instant cycle! a good way of getting rid of pest snails is to put a lettuice leafe ( weighted down ) in just before lights off , in the morning it should be covered in snails , simply remove the leaf and repeat until you stop getting snails.

as for the worries regarding disease caused by stress when adding fish to the tank , i wouldnt really advocate adding meds etc when you add fish , meds and the like should only really be used when needed . if youre worried about disease with new fish its far better to just quarentine them in a seperate tank 1st.

 

[Peggers]

If you're seeding from other filters add some fish at the same time as the media to prevent the bacteria dying off. You can run the tank for a couple of days to make sure everythings fine, then add the mature media with the fish, they way you phrased the bit about the danios it sounded like you'd add the media then run for a couple of days then add the fish.

 

[ellena]

I second what peggers said. There's no point taking mature media from you other filters and just putting it in the tank with no fish. The bacteria will die off as there's no food. You could move some media across and then do a fishless cycle, which should be a lot quicker with that head start.
Are you planning on stocking the 55 gall with all new fish, or moving them from your surrent tanks?

 

[taffy1]

Thanks for the tips. I can move in some fish on the same day then. I haven't yet fully decided what type of fish I will put in the new tank. I have only a small handful of semi aggressive in the 30g, so I do need more in there as well. The small tank has a few tropicals. I *may* move those tropical fish into the big tank, and use the small one as a QT - especially while still working to get the big one occupied. It'll be cheaper to medicate the small tank if needed ... and safer since it only has plastic plants.

Thanks again

 

[roadmaster]

Were it me, I would do as others have suggested with respect to borrowing material from filter on other tank.
As for plant's, I might want to see that the fish I placed in the tank to keep biological filter ticking over,were fish that I intended to keep in the tank lest trying to re-capture them maybe messed up my plant placement.

 

[taffy1]

Slight problem here. The new tank has not arrived yet, and will not be coming until late Sunday evening or possibly Monday afternoon. The owner had kindly offered to bring it over here for me, as he has a van and I just have a small car. He's moving tomorrow, so needless to say he's very busy. Initially he'd wanted to bring the tank/stand etc here before moving to his new house, but called this afternoon saying that he still had tons of packing to do, and could not make it today. I can't fault him...he was very kind to offer to help transport it here, and help carry it in, etc.

Currently, my 30g is housing semi aggressive fish. My small (5g) has tropicals (only got them the other day, after I'd decided on the new tank). I do know that I want one of the big tanks as semi-aggressive, and the other big one as tropical....just haven't quite decided which way it's going to be. (Leaning toward keeping the semi aggressive where they are now, and moving the tropical to the 55g. I think that will minimize stress levels - at least for one group).

The 5g tank is overstocked right now...and the fish have only been here a few days. I have 3 Platies and one male Guppy in there, as well as one tiny little (baby) female Betta. The guppy and Betta seem totally fine. At least 2 of the platies have ick. I've been treating with salt and Maracide. Tested the parameters when adding the fish, and the important numbers were fine - 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrates. Tested again today, and assuming the Maracide is not affecting the results, these levels are still 0. Also gradually upped the temperature to 80F. Of course with the 30g housing semi aggressive, I could not move anyone there. The 5 gal has two filters running. The original (Waterhome) filter that came with it never seemed to be enough, so several months ago I added an Elite filter (also rated for 5g)...so right now the filtration is more than adequate.

I'd expected to be able to lessen the load of the 5g today (or tomorrow if I'd left the new one running overnight with the media from the 30g). Now that is not going to happen for at least another couple of days. I can only HOPE that these sick fishies will make it. IF (big IF) parameters remain okay, they should. Assuming the little betta and guppy remain healthy, they are likely going to be the first moved. I'd thought of bringing the UV sterilizer and putting that in the 5g, tho it would take up a lot of room in there....and might risk adding disease to the sponge media in there; which I definitely don't want, because I want the UV in the new tank setup right away. And the sponge from that is of course one of the media I'm going to seed from. The other will be one of the 2 sponges from the Fluval filter also in the 30g tank. (Might also take the old carbon pad out of the Fluval for the new tank, but I think I'll have enough to seed from without it).

Sorry for the long post - yet again! (The 5g is not [live] planted, so I can safely medicate the tank as needed)

 

[roadmaster]

Slight problem here. The new tank has not arrived yet, and will not be coming until late Sunday evening or possibly Monday afternoon. The owner had kindly offered to bring it over here for me, as he has a van and I just have a small car. He's moving tomorrow, so needless to say he's very busy. Initially he'd wanted to bring the tank/stand etc here before moving to his new house, but called this afternoon saying that he still had tons of packing to do, and could not make it today. I can't fault him...he was very kind to offer to help transport it here, and help carry it in, etc.

Currently, my 30g is housing semi aggressive fish. My small (5g) has tropicals (only got them the other day, after I'd decided on the new tank). I do know that I want one of the big tanks as semi-aggressive, and the other big one as tropical....just haven't quite decided which way it's going to be. (Leaning toward keeping the semi aggressive where they are now, and moving the tropical to the 55g. I think that will minimize stress levels - at least for one group).

The 5g tank is overstocked right now...and the fish have only been here a few days. I have 3 Platies and one male Guppy in there, as well as one tiny little (baby) female Betta. The guppy and Betta seem totally fine. At least 2 of the platies have ick. I've been treating with salt and Maracide. Tested the parameters when adding the fish, and the important numbers were fine - 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrates. Tested again today, and assuming the Maracide is not affecting the results, these levels are still 0. Also gradually upped the temperature to 80F. Of course with the 30g housing semi aggressive, I could not move anyone there. The 5 gal has two filters running. The original (Waterhome) filter that came with it never seemed to be enough, so several months ago I added an Elite filter (also rated for 5g)...so right now the filtration is more than adequate.

I'd expected to be able to lessen the load of the 5g today (or tomorrow if I'd left the new one running overnight with the media from the 30g). Now that is not going to happen for at least another couple of days. I can only HOPE that these sick fishies will make it. IF (big IF) parameters remain okay, they should. Assuming the little betta and guppy remain healthy, they are likely going to be the first moved. I'd thought of bringing the UV sterilizer and putting that in the 5g, tho it would take up a lot of room in there....and might risk adding disease to the sponge media in there; which I definitely don't want, because I want the UV in the new tank setup right away. And the sponge from that is of course one of the media I'm going to seed from. The other will be one of the 2 sponges from the Fluval filter also in the 30g tank. (Might also take the old carbon pad out of the Fluval for the new tank, but I think I'll have enough to seed from without it).

Sorry for the long post - yet again! (The 5g is not [live] planted, so I can safely medicate the tank as needed)

Sounds to me a good plan. Have no expierience with Maracide,not sure how it would affect biological filter with respect to bacteria but would perhaps,perform daily water changes or every two day's on the five gal. Considering the small volume of water,re-dosing with salt and water changes would not be too difficult.
UV sterilizer would in my view have little effec on ICH parasite except for the free swimming stage, so I might be comfortable with just the heat salt method for treatment of same.
Would keep in mind that relatively small bioload in 55 gal when you move fish, will be something to consider during stocking of the 55 gal. Bacteria will need time to develop to each new addition of fishes . I would not add too many at once.

 

[taffy1]

Sounds to me a good plan. Have no expierience with Maracide,not sure how it would affect biological filter with respect to bacteria but would perhaps,perform daily water changes or every two day's on the five gal. Considering the small volume of water,re-dosing with salt and water changes would not be too difficult.
UV sterilizer would in my view have little effec on ICH parasite except for the free swimming stage, so I might be comfortable with just the heat salt method for treatment of same.
Would keep in mind that relatively small bioload in 55 gal when you move fish, will be something to consider during stocking of the 55 gal. Bacteria will need time to develop to each new addition of fishes . I would not add too many at once.

Thanks! Maracide, according to the manufacturer, is guaranteed not to affect the biological filter. I always opt for "safer" meds when possible. I'm planning a partial water change tomorrow.

I never move in a lot of fish at one time, generally no more than about 4. I might do 5 or so this time, since they'll be only a tiny blip in the 55g tanks radar...especially since I need to lessen the load in the 5g sooner rather than later. I still think the Danios would be very hardy and can withstand a cycling tank especially one well seeded. So, I'll probably get 3 of those (of course,only after I have the tank here in operation - so that would be Monday, if it does come Sunday night). If the guppy and betta remain healthy, I'll likely move them over as soon as the water is stable....so late Sunday night if the water is ready before I go to bed.

 

[taffy1]

The tank has been here a few days now. It's coming along, but very much a work in progress!

It only arrived on Monday, so a bit later than expected. I set it up and got the filter going and water conditioner in. Later, I added "Superbac Live! Nitrifying Bacteria", as well as the seeds from my established tank. Then plant food and Co2 (just the liquid version <g>). The following day, I picked up some plants (about 6 of them, 2 decent sized Amazon swords, and other assorted smaller ones). Then I added 4 fish; 3 new ones, and one guppy from the 5g QT (one only one in that tank who managed to avoid the ich).

So far, everyone seems happy and healthy in there. I checked the water params today, and there was 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate. I realize it's still too early to expect much in the way of nitrates yet, but I'd wondered if I might be expecting ammo yet. Perhaps I won't notice much spike in ammo...with only 4 small fish, and the bacteria and seeds, along with the plants...is that enough to prevent much in the way of spikes as this tank does cycle? How often would I need to test at this point...once daily enough, since there is only the 4 fish in the fairly big (planted, and seeded) tank? Or perhaps once alternate days is enough?

I will be adding more plants, and more fish as time goes on, but I wanted to go slow to help prevent problems with cycling or disease. I believe the problems with ich in the 5g QT is resolved, but I want to make 100% certain of that before attempting to move them over. They will most likely be the next fish added to the new tank.

Thanks