YAY!! I'm finally getting a second tank!

[boozybears]

I'm so excited... my husband has finally decided that we need more than just our 25 gallon tank!! He won't let me do the 55 gallon that i want, but has found a nice 30 gallon from a friend at work.

Anyway... I have a few questions for you:

1. The first tank was cycled with fish (found this site about 3 days too late) We want to do this one properly... so are looking at the fishless cyling. How exactly do you use media from our existing tank in the second one? I've heard some people take some gravel, wrap it in nylons and float it in the tank... is this sufficient? How do you use filter media?

2. He really really wants to have a school of tiger barbs... any suggestions of how many would work in a 30 gallon and what would make fun tankmates? I've heard so many different things from other sites and from the lfs guys... but i trust the opinions of people in here much more.

Thanks so much guys!!! I really appreciate your help on this one!

MTS.. here I come!!

Valerie

 

[Joviella]

Great to hear about tank number 2. If you put some of your existing filter media into the new filter along with some of the gravel from your cycled tank,you shouldn't need to cycle.
I always do this when setting up a new tank,and this way I escape the dreaded cycle!! You need to put some fish straight in though to keep the ammonia going.HTH.

 

[boozybears]

so it can really be that easy? Just set up the tank, add the gravel etc from the first tank, add a few fish and there you go? Wow!! I think i could like that!

thanks!
Val

 

[Puffer_freak]

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

A new tank! Yes! Good luck!

 

[sakaspuds]

just make sure the tank is filled, heated and the water is conditioned before you put the filter and substraite in, because as you already know, tap water will kill the bacteria

 

[kevin007]

Ah yes, fun fish!

this is what i will do...

8 tiger barbs
6 cories
1 bristolnose or clown plec? (smalll plec)

so that this is a "tiger barb" tank, the others are just "clean up crew" for the tiger's mess!

EDIT: u can acually fit more fish in there imo

 

[parker313]

I like the above stocking list, plus you could add a blue gourami or neon dwarf gourami or a gold gourami for a splash of some different color.

If you get the filter before the tank and run it on your existing tank for a week or so, that will really help make sure the tank's cycled too.

 

[bunjiweb]

I would go for a similar combination that Kevin has suggested...

Although how about adding some danios for the top of the tank? They go well with barbs.

6 danios, 6 barbs, 6 corys (or ottos?) and a plec.

I think that would work really nicely

Ben

 

[boozybears]

thanks guys! I love your suggestions! I'll report back once we've got it all up and running!

Val

 

[David]

I like the above stocking list, plus you could add a blue gourami or neon dwarf gourami or a gold gourami for a splash of some different color.

I believe the tiger barbs would nip the gouramis trailing ventrals, would they not?

 

[canarsie11]

I have them together, tigers only payed attention when first introduce the gourami. But I have large group of tigers, so that could be it also