Greetings! I need some opinions on my setup and what I'd like to do. I currently have a 75 gallon tank with an XP4 canister filter which is also running to a 20 gallon tank DIY wet dry filter with bioballs and a UV filter / heater set @ 78 degrees. Recently I added a 55 gallon tank next to it and plumbed the new tank to the 20 gallon sump. So both tanks share a water source / heater / no need to cycle the new 55 gallon. The 55 gallon currently holds a blue gourami who was terrorizing my angels in the 75 gallon. The 75 gallon tank is a community tank with black neons / corys / angelfish / 1 small rainbow fish. So my dilemma is I have an opportunity to get 6 (all 2 to 3 inch) Santarem Discus from a local breeder. In anticipation of this I got (2) Aquaclear 50s, tossed the carbon insert, added an extra biomax insert, and attached them to the 55 gallon, also I have a 250W marineland heater ready for it. The 55 gallon is bare bottom with a DIY sponge filter that has been in the tank for 2 weeks(maybe slightly less than 2 weeks but since i set up the 55 gallon) So the golden question is once i get my discus or slightly before I use the cutoff on the sump filter line, they will no longer share that filter, crank the heater to 84-85. What should I expect from my Aqua clears? Will they have the bacteria to handle my discus? I am very concerned with a mini cycle hitting that tank on top of new discus acclimating. Most websites say add fish slow but that is not an option with these discus, they must be added all at once. Thanks for your opinion!
New Discus Tank Cycle Question
- Thread starter Jrigsbee
- Start date
How long before you get your Discus? I'd take media from the sump and put it in both AC's . Add new media (maybe what was in the 50's?) to your sump (it'll seed quick with what's left in there). Done.
In my XP 4 i have 2 trays of Seachem matrix ( the loose rocks that just lay in there) and partial tray with 1 bag of biomax that fits an AQ70. I had 2 but used one in my sons 29 gallon to seed his he got for christmas and that tank has platys with ich in it so I would defin not touch or remove anything in that tank in the near future. Would the one biomax that fits the AQ 70 cover the 55 gallon? I could remove it from the one bag from xp4 and put the biomax in one of the AC50s. Thanks for the idea.
The breeder will hold the discus for me for maybe another week to 10 days. I figured id cut the common water off and heat the tank higher the day before i get them. Since the tank will be fishless then when I do that.
IMO, it will take over a week close to 2 weeks. Other options:
1: Put some deco from 75G into 55G plus seachem stability
2: Switch the xp4 to 55 and put Aqua Clear in 75G to cycle it.
just my 2 cents.
1: Put some deco from 75G into 55G plus seachem stability
2: Switch the xp4 to 55 and put Aqua Clear in 75G to cycle it.
just my 2 cents.
All I have for the 75g as far as decorations is prob 5-6 plastic plants, would that help? I have seen posts where people pantyhose some gravel that is something I could maybe try. Moving the XP4 is a great idea but difficult since my 75g stand is enclosed on the bottom and I can lock it but the stand for the 55g is not. I worry my 2 year old daughter who gets into everything would unplug it or dump it over. I have heard the 2 week min on alot of posts from acclimating new filters to old tanks. Thanks for the ideas!
Jrigsbee;4812159; said:
from what i know plastic plants and gravel helps. there is another option that i just think of, don't cut off the sump. let it runs both tanks and put aqua clear filter in the 75G tank, that will be quicker. Just my opinion.
good luck.
Right now the sump is hooked to the 55 gallon and the 75 gallon and running. Heater is in the sump. I put the (2) AC50s on the 55 gallon while the sump is flowing water to the 55 as well as the 75 gallon. But once i get the discus ( which may have to be this weekend) wouldnt I have to kill the common sump link and crank the heat? I figured 86 is bad for the angels / corys / pleco / black tetras in the 75 gallon. Plus I will make sure these discus are healthy looking and from the photos they look great but I dont want to expose my community tank to the same water as new discus either just in case. Thanks for the ideas and opinions!