Think it is Safe?

C

Captain Hook

Looking for ideas
Aug 21, 2003
1,779
0
36
Toronto, ON
Visit site
I just set up a tank for my girlfriend that I bought from someone (pretty much all parts used). It is a 35 gallon with a Biowheel 330. The temperature is set at 76 and everything seems nice. To be honest I have never bought testing kits and I don't plan on starting now (probably will with a planted tank around Christmas) so I can't give specific details.

The biowheels were already well established so I think this tank has a good start already. I am also using 2 of the carbon/sponge 330 inserts. So what do you guys think, would it be safe to add a couple fish tomorrow?

Also, I could put a really well established sponge from another tank in the filter. Should I do this as well or is this biowheel enough?
 
treatment between tanks

I think the viability of the bacteria on the biowheel will depend on how the biowheel was treated while in between tanks. If it was wet, aerated, and not without nutrition for very long, it may be OK.

Personally, I would not depend on it if I had a second tank available that has healthy bacteria. I'd take a lot of filter squeezings and that sponge to the new tank.

I've set up Q tanks that way and never seen any ammonia.
 
Sorry guys I forgot to mention that I kept the biowheels wet the whole time. They were kept wet pretty much straight out of the guy's tank I bought them from. I also know the guy I bought everything from is very knowledgeable and a good fishkeeper.

I think you guys are right though and to be safe I might as well move the sponge over.

Edit: I don't think I want to use the sponge anymore. I just pulled it out of the Aquaclear and saw a little bit of light green stuff that looked like slime. I guess it could be some type of algae but it was really wet and slimy. I don't think I want to add this stuff to the new tank.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the sound advice. Yesterday I bought 2 dwarf gouramies. They are not normal dwarfs however. One is almost all bright neon blue and the other (called fire gourami) is almost all a bright orangy red with a little blue on its top fin.

They seem to be doing really well so far. I fed them some frozen brine shrimp and they loved them. I am hoping to add one more regular dwarf gourami in the near future. How long do you guys think I should wait?
 
If the filter still has most of its bacteria left, you could add one more gourami as soon as you feel ready. Dwarf gouramis are my favourite kind of gourami too; I really like their colours.
Just remember to take things slow, as a margin of error.

Graeme
 
Good advice Graeme I am really trying to slow myself down. It's not even my tank but I am finding it difficult to slowly add some more fish. I am thinking later this week we will go check out the fish store and consider adding some fish.

The dwarfs seem to be really happy despite a heater malfunction that brought the water up to about 84 degrees. Luckily I noticed the really hot temps and pulled the heater, had to buy a new Tronic which was a real pain. Will be adding a slate cave I built tomorrow as well.
 
It always seems difficult, doesn't it? I used to rush things when I first started out, which didn't end up too well :p.
Then cave sounds like a good idea too. I would add one, if I had any room.

Graeme
 
This is where I got the basic idea to do the cave. http://www.plantgeek.net/terrace.htm

It is a little different than that one. Mine has a higher roof is the front that slopes to down to the back and wider as well. It doesn't have the section on top to hold plants. I am thinking about building one of these caves for a planted 20 I will be setting up soon and that will probably have live plants on top of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom