Unsure if I should stock more fish now or later.

Onikun

Onikun

AC Members
Jun 25, 2005
389
0
0
Last night I bought a used 30gallon long tank with an aquaclear 500 filter and many other thigns included. On the way back home the substrate was kept wet, all the rocks and plants (lots of rocks) were kept wet, the filter was kept damp (some water may have leaked out but bacteria shouldn't die in damp conditions right?) I only kept maybe 10% of the origional aquarium water because I was unable to move it with me. Anyway right now the tank is stocked with the following (it came with the deal) 1 black skirt tetra, 2 rosboras, 2 cardinal tetras, 1 cherry barb. Also the previous owner put a bag of hagen "ammona remover" or something (white rocks) inside the filter. I don't know what it really does, maybe it removes the ammonia? if it does this will there be no established bacteria?

How will I know when the tank is ready to be stocked with more fish? I have a nitrate test kit. should i test it to see if there are any nitrates? Also I have a 10gallon tank thats been established for about half a year now and I could probrably get some gunk from the filter and dump it in the 30gallon if needed.

Any ideas?

I was planning on eventually getting 4 cories, 2 yoyoloachs and 2 bolivian rams.
 
There will be very limited bacteria. You'll want to get ammonia and nitrite test kits, and I wouldn't stock anything until you can establish that the systemis viable for the current fish.
 
really? But her tank was up and running and then we took it apart. none of the gravel got dry none of the rocks or plants did either. and the filter either.

I have a 10gallon established tank thats been running for 6 months thats kinda overstocked with guppies, should i pull some gunk from there and rub it up against an aquaclear sponge and maybe that will jump start it?
 
Well if you have tests kits and the tests show all is well then I would probably wait a week or so before adding fish. If there is anything wrong then don't add fish yet. Also this may have started a mini cycle if a lot of bacteria died. Also,again, when adding fish I would definatly add more of the fish you have because they are all schooling fish. That would probably max out your tank if you add the correct amount of each. Good luck!
 
If the chemical media was in use full time, it binds the ammonia into a non-bio available form, so the bacteria colonies never establish in sufficient quantity to support the bio-load. Are there some there? Likely! But not enough to process all the ammonia being produced. Seeding with media from the established tank would certainly help, but again, without testing for ammonia/nitrites, there's no visibly way to be sure. Without knowing a base line for nitrates in the system, testing for them alone will not indicate anything on the status and effectiveness of the ammonia consumers.
 
I guess i'll just go rub an aquaclear sponge against my 10gallon media for some gunk and then leave it in there for a week or 2. if no fish die then i guess its all good? I only have a nitrate testing kit.

I suppose if i test the nitrates right now and then test it again in a week and see that they have gone up that would indicate that ammonia is being broken down into nitrite then into nitrates right?

Oh and i've taken out the chemical media as of now. I don't know if the chemical will still be in the water? I don't know. I guess i'll just have to wait
 
I've researched this ammonia remover and it seems to be Zeolite. I've removed it from the filter. The previous owner was using it. I hope there is established bacteria in the tank. I think i'll go get some gunk from my 10gallon just in case.
 
I'd just get an ammonia and nitrite test kit. While you can use nitrates in a very general way, it still won't tell you if there is detectable ammonia in the system, just that nitrites are being broken down to nitrates.
 
well i went to the fish store they tested my water, ammonia zero, nitrite zero. So I bought 4 cories. but the stupid cherry barb is trying to chase them around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom