Help with my new 55 gallon tank!!!

b.greene

b.greene

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Jan 30, 2008
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Northern Michigan
:help:I just bought my first "big" tank (55 gallons) and I am so excited! I want to transfer the fish from my three 10 gallon tanks. I would like to get them into the new tank as soon as safely possible. Today I filled the tank with water and Aqua Safe, and transfered all the decorations and (plastic) plants from the old tanks. I have a 30-60 gallon filter running. If I move a filter from one of the established 10 gallon tanks in there as well, how long do I need to wait bofore adding the fish????

I currently have 2 mystery snails, 4 juvenile mollies, 2 African Dwarf Frogs, 2 otos, 5 juvenile guppies and 2 adult guppies.

Any other advice???
 
I would put more than 1 filter on the 55, the one you mentioned is not enough, try to transfer as much media as possible, and monitor your WP's ......:idea:
 
I would move at least 2 of the old filters over, while running the new filter. Then put all the fish over there. You will have a larger volume of water to help things.
 
Are you saying if I move two of the 10 gallon filters over now I can move the fish in right away? What if I can only move one? I am giving one tank away and using another to QT the new fish I am getting.

Will I need to purchase anther large filter in the long run to keep my 55 gallon going? How powerful do you suggest? As I said, the filter I got with my tank is for a 30-60 gallon tank.
 
Move as much media as possible from the other tanks. This will help jump start the new filter for the tank. Do you have a new filter to go with the old filters or do you still need to buy one? Remember, you can never have too much filteration.

Marinemom
 
I have the new 30-60 filter running in the new tank and I will transfer one of the old filters from a 10 gallon. I transfered at least 11-12 fake plants/rocks from the other tanks, as well.
Still not sure if I can transfer the fish/frogs yet, or if I need to wait?
 
The 30-60 filter that you have may possibly be enough for a 55 if you stock the new tank lightly and stay on top of cleaning manually. As others have said, moving media will give your new filter a jump start. It will not give you an instant cycle but if you go the fishless cycle method, it could easily get it down to a week or two.
 
I would put one of the 10-gal filters on the 55, put ALL the 10-gal filter media in the filters on the 55, and transfer all the fish. You may get a mini cycle, but it shouldn't be too bad. Just watch the parameters and do water changes when necessary.

If the fish you listed are all you have at the moment, it should be no problem at all. That's a very light bioload for a 55.
 
Do not move the fish yet. You still have to cycle the new tank before adding the fish if you are going to do a fishless cycle on this tank. Just remember you have to feed the bacteria on the media from the used filter. You can do this by adding straight ammonia or even using fish food. Test the water as much as you want during the process and when your ammonia and nitrite are sitting at 0 consistantly for a week and you are showing some nitrates in the water as well then you will know that you are cycled and it will then be safe to add fish. Just remember not to add too much at once or you will typically see an ammonia spike.

Hope this helps.

Marinemom
 
HELP!!!
I am feeling very confused! Some are saying it is ok to move the fish now, some are saying I need to do a fishless cycle first.

Here is what I have done so far...

*as I said earlier, I transfered 11-12 (fake) plants/decorations from my existing, healthy tanks

*I added a filter from one of my existing, healthy 10 gallon tanks

*I added a filter cartridge from another one of my existing 10 gallon tanks into the new 30-60 filter

*I added 4-5 handfuls of gravel from my existing tanks, in a nylon stocking (I read this was a good thing to do - can the beneficial bacteria really even get out of that nylon to do any good?)

Can I move some fish or not? I only have around 20 inches of fish to move. so I don't think the bioload should be a problem in the 55 gallon tank...
 
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