setting up a second hand 55g community tank

M

mississippimorn

Registered Member
Aug 26, 2005
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I'm not a newbie but this is new to me. (I do feel like a newbie though because I am basically starting from scratch after a year off from the freshwater aquaria hobby after a move.) So, someone offered me a 55g that they have a few goldies in. I need to buy a stand for it. I have no idea what kind of filter is in there, so I may need a new one.) The goldies will find a new home as I am not interested in goldies. I've only had tanks as large as 30g and started slow. Do you add only a few fish to a 55g as well or does it need to be more like a small school in order to cycle well?

Thanks in advance.
 
i would move the tank and get it all set up at your place with the goldies in it. do water tests and make sure the tank isn't cycling or anything due to the move (in case it has to go far and you lose your bacteria). as long as it isn't cycling, i would get rid of the goldfish and put in an equal bioload of new fish within the space of a couple days. goldfish are messy anyway, and if they are pretty big, well. . . one big goldie is equal to a bunch of little tetras.

if it is cycling, you can either keep the goldfish and use them or get rid of the goldfish and try a fishless cycle (check out the "Cycle" thread). the advantage to a fishless cycle is that when it is complete you can add all of your fish at once.
 
If you don't have one already, get a test kit, at the very least for amonia, nitrite and nitrate, this will tell you if the tank is cycled once you move things and give you an idea as to where you are. Plus, if you'll have your own tank, you'll really want them anyway ;) . check out www.bigalsonline.com, they sell an aquarium pharmaceuticals master test kit, it has everything you need, and would be cheaper than buying individual kits
 
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