Hello everyone again. I am finally able to get a bigger tank, a 29 gallon from Craiglist, I am suppose to get it sunday.:headbang2: So I am ask for yall to give me some idea on how to set it up. I want it planted, so what some good plants to get and what do I need in order to keep live plants? Also I am thinking about getting 1-2 angelfish as my main fish. What is some good fish to go along with them? I was wondering if a school of Class Catfish would work? One last thing...Whats the easiest way to get the tank cycled, I have read the fish tank cycling thread and am a little confused. I want to do this the right this time without rushing because I want the fish to live a nice safe life. So any ideas will help. Thanks in advance!!!:grinyes:
29 gallon setup
- Thread starter computerman0219
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tanker
Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
I always recommend the natural cycle. Go slow first. 4-6 glass cats are OK in a 29gal. Wait and then add an angel or 2.
glass cats are very delicate, just make sure the fishless cycling is done right before adding them.
The #1 fastest way to get the tank cycled is to beg, borrow or steal media from an already established tank, thus bypassing the 3-4 week cycle.
I do it by taking the sponge or ceramic media from an established tank filter and cut it in half (or quarters depending on new tank bio-load), putting half (or 3/4th) back into the established tank with some new media to fill-in the lost media and putting the rest with half new into the new tank. Then carefully monitor both tanks by checking your readings daily - this is because you've effectively cut your good bacteria in your established tank by a bit. Do any pwc needed to keep your ammonia and nitrite at 0. By using established media you can immediately add a limited number of fish to your new tank...actually you will have to add fish to keep the established media going. I recommend adding the hardiest fish you plan on keeping first. You can also help the cycle along by floating some top substrate in panty-hose from your established tank in your new tank. This gives the good bacteria a chance to reestablish from the old substrate to the new substrate.
I have never had a problem starting tank this way, or lost a fish yet. Even with this method though you will still need to add fish slowly, only a couple per week.
This is actually how I handle my q-tanks, only setting them up when they are needed.
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I have a newbie question...
Thanks
what do you mean by that? Also let me see if I understand you. Take an estab. filter media cut it in half and place it in the new filter media for the 29 gal. then take the other half and put it into a new filter media and place back in established tank? Is that correct you got me a little lost.
Thanks
The idea behind floating substrate in your new tank is this:
When your tank fully cycles you have good bacteria that lives on every available surface, this includes plants, decor and substrate (your gravel or sand floor). The majority of it lives in your filter because it requires lots of current to bring it oxygen, but it cultivates to a lesser degree on everything else in your tank. Therefore by pulling some of your substrate, the top being the most oxygenated, you can place it into one leg of a pair of pantyhose and place it into your new tank. The thin mesh of the pantyhose will prevent your substrate from mingling while allowing the good bacteria that is living on it to move onto the new substrate. If your using the same type of substrate you could just as easily put it straight into your new tank. The idea of the pantyhose is to keep it separate.
As for clarification on the media. You are putting 50% to 1/3 of the media from an established filter into your brand-new filter, leaving 50% to 2/3 of the media left behind in the established filter. You are just adding new media to each filter to bring the media back to 100% - if you remove 50% of the media you need to replace 50% of the media...does that make sense?
When your tank fully cycles you have good bacteria that lives on every available surface, this includes plants, decor and substrate (your gravel or sand floor). The majority of it lives in your filter because it requires lots of current to bring it oxygen, but it cultivates to a lesser degree on everything else in your tank. Therefore by pulling some of your substrate, the top being the most oxygenated, you can place it into one leg of a pair of pantyhose and place it into your new tank. The thin mesh of the pantyhose will prevent your substrate from mingling while allowing the good bacteria that is living on it to move onto the new substrate. If your using the same type of substrate you could just as easily put it straight into your new tank. The idea of the pantyhose is to keep it separate.
As for clarification on the media. You are putting 50% to 1/3 of the media from an established filter into your brand-new filter, leaving 50% to 2/3 of the media left behind in the established filter. You are just adding new media to each filter to bring the media back to 100% - if you remove 50% of the media you need to replace 50% of the media...does that make sense?
First of all thanks Rowangel for helping me!!!
ok let me see if I get this....so I put in part of the established filter media in the pantyhose to put into the new tank right or what goes into there (sry Im a newbie)?
For the filter media your actually putting a new filter media in each tank but your putting about half of the old established media into the each new filter media, right?
Here are some pics of the filter media I use and its filter. Thanks for all the help!!!
ok let me see if I get this....so I put in part of the established filter media in the pantyhose to put into the new tank right or what goes into there (sry Im a newbie)?
For the filter media your actually putting a new filter media in each tank but your putting about half of the old established media into the each new filter media, right?
Here are some pics of the filter media I use and its filter. Thanks for all the help!!!
are you gonna use a new filter on it? why not also stick the old filter n teh new tank and the new filter too