help for newbie with cycling!

[rainer]

ok i have a tiny 10 gallon tank with two small little peacock bass. dont scold me but i did not know anything about cycling when i started keeping them and just threw them in there. so far it has been around a month and a half and theyre still healthy . has the tank most probably been cycled?

also, im planning to move them to a 55gal in prob a month or so. how should i jump start the cycling? i dont know if the 10 gal has been cycled so im not sure if i can use the filter material method to cycle it. Thanks! i would really need expert help on this one!

 

[Tongue33]

ok i have a tiny 10 gallon tank with two small little peacock bass. dont scold me but i did not know anything about cycling when i started keeping them and just threw them in there. so far it has been around a month and a half and theyre still healthy . has the tank most probably been cycled?

also, im planning to move them to a 55gal in prob a month or so. how should i jump start the cycling? i dont know if the 10 gal has been cycled so im not sure if i can use the filter material method to cycle it. Thanks! i would really need expert help on this one!

The tank is or is close to being fully cycled. You should be past your last Spike.

On moving them to a fifty five... I would move the filter to the 55 without cleaning it.. Also keep a bottle of Prime on hand and read it just incase your 55 decides to crash.. Also move all the substrate and decor form the current tank to the new one.. The current tank has enough bacteria to support the fish you have in it, so moving evertyhing should keep this in order.

Remember Prime will NOT take the Nitrite or ammonia out.. It will however detoxify it.

 

[rainer]

Thanks tongue for your advice! so how long do i leave the filter and the decor in the new tank? as in i cant transfer the fish over immediately right? or can i? since there is enough bacteria to support the fish as you say. do i have to cycle the new 55 gal too?

 

[Dr Joe]

Just like Tongue33 said...

Transfer everything to the 55g including fish and old water, just make sure you age/treat/acclimatize (match temps) the rest of the water first.

Dr Joe

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[Ianab]

Thanks tongue for your advice! so how long do i leave the filter and the decor in the new tank? as in i cant transfer the fish over immediately right? or can i? since there is enough bacteria to support the fish as you say. do i have to cycle the new 55 gal too?

Yes, move the fish, ornaments, filter all over to the new tank at the same time.

What I would do is set up the new tank, let the temp and water settle down for a couple of days. Then move everything across. The new tank wont be properly cycled, but it will have some working filtration from your existing filter, and because it's only lightly stocked that will be enough. Over the next few weeks the new filter will start working, you can gradually add more fish and return the old filter to the small tank.

Take things slow building up the fish numbers and you wont have any ammonia problems.

Cheers

Ian

 

[rainer]

hmm so ill have 2 filters in the tank after i move them over? thanks a million for all your advice! appreciate it!

 

[rainer]

hmm what if i do not want the substrate in the new tank? kinda a hassle to get all that crap out. do i take some out bit by bit since theres some of those BB adhered to them?

 

[danny]

do as every one has siad but dont fill the new tank,add your old ten gals and five new gals, so what your doing is like a warter change,,so then just add five gals every week untill it is full

 

[Ianab]

hmm what if i do not want the substrate in the new tank? kinda a hassle to get all that crap out. do i take some out bit by bit since theres some of those BB adhered to them?

It's ideal if you can take everything, water and gravel included. But the cycled filter is the most important part. The majority of the bacteria are living in the there, as long as you move that over you should be OK.

There is allways some extra bacteria living on the gravel, glass, ornaments etc, but they will grow naturally over time like the ones in the new filter. Then the tank can be considered fully cycled.

Cheers

Ian

 

[muckieman]

i agree with the above also is the the 55g for life or will you upgrade again.