I have a 10 gallon healthy established aquarium, which houses 1 8inch jack dempsey. I know thats WAY too small, I had a tank break early this year and the 10 gallon was to be used temporarily for him, but that turned into about 4 months. It has a filter on the 10 gallon that is made for a 50+ gallon tank (the one that broke) which has helped keep water quality ok. Anyway, I am finally able to buy a new 55 tank this weekend for him, but I dont want to cycle. Takes too long and I dont want to have to buy fish and wait weeks (bring on the "than you shouldnt keep fish" comments). I plan on emptying the entire contents of the 10 gallon tank (gravel, water, cave, decoration and the entire filter) into to new 55 tank to transfer over the bacteria. My question is will this be enough to establish good bacteria in the new tank? If not should I add some of the bottled bacteria that is available?
A setup question 10-50 gallon
- Thread starter eatingleg4peanut
- Start date
The filter and gravel have enough bacteria to support the bioload of the current tank. If you move those (water is not neccary) then the new 55 will also support the same bio load.
At this point it will be like any other tank and you should make small addtions and let the bacteria muliply to the new bio load.
Just make sure to use enough dechlorinator and you wil be good.
At this point it will be like any other tank and you should make small addtions and let the bacteria muliply to the new bio load.
Just make sure to use enough dechlorinator and you wil be good.
eatingleg4peanut;4289332; said:
Think of it like this... You have a JD producing a certain amount of ammonia in your 10 gal ( ya ya, I'll leave out the waaaaaaay too small comments
) and have a filter with x-number of bacteria on it to consume that ammonia, turning it into nitrites, then finally nitrates. The bacteria on the filter can only grow as much as there is food available ( food for bacteria is that ammonia/nitrites I mentioned ). So, if you're not adding any fish right away, you already have the necessary bacteria on your filter. If you decide to add another fish ( say a mate ) you will likely see spikes in ammonia ( if you test ) until the bacteria on your filter has grown to accomodate. Another thing to keep in mind is surface area. The more the better. If I were you, I'd also buy a second filter for the 55. But that's just me. Good luck with the transfer!Serge
oh, and I am going to be adding a filter, but I want to use the old one as well (I used 2 on the old tank and it kept water quality great)
eatingleg4peanut;4289367; said:
By small addition, I believe they meant fish. Any extra fish will produce a heavier bioload for the tank.
It all depends on his temperment. A 55 is pretty limited for a fish that size. I'd say leave him by himself, or get a female JD and start selling the fry$$$.
He's very aggressive towards other cichlids, he killed several (another jack, a red devil, a jaguar) he likes to be alone. He's really a cool smart fish though. It's gonna sound weird but when he is hungry he will gather up gravel in his mouth and spit it at the glass to get my attention.
Does he make piles with it all over the tank? Wait.... 10 gal lol. Cause my Amphilophus Hogoboomurum does this same thing in my 75. He's actually displacing the gravel to make a "nest". Lots of cichlids do this. If you keep your substrate bigger ( say river rocks ) there will be much less of this.
I suggest you keep him alone. If you do decide to add a mate, start with a tank divider to introduce them.
I suggest you keep him alone. If you do decide to add a mate, start with a tank divider to introduce them.