how to stock three tanks?

[Plan-B]

Hello all.

This is my first post on these forums and I think it may be a little long. Also I am very new to the art of fish keeping so please bare with me.

I recently bought some angel fish at my LFS and days after bringing them home one became overly aggressive. It was quickly brought to my attention that the 15 gallon tank the three angels were residing in was too small contrary to what my LFS had previously told me. My LFS refused to take the fish back even when I told them I did not want a refund or store credit. I refused to dispose of the fish myself. This left me with one option…… New tank. Well after some financial wizardry on my part I was able to spring for a new 48Lx18Wx24D 90 gallon tank with lid, lights and stand, a Rena XP3 canister filter, 250W Ebo Jager heater, aerator, gravel, driftwood and other decorations. All this was bought at a reputable fish store, not the LSF mentioned above and I was told the filter and heater would support the tank.

I'm very happy with my new purchase but it has come with new problems and new questions. I'm not really sure what I should do with it. As it stands now I have:

5.5 gallon. Cycled. Filtered.
Male betta / 2". Pleco / 2" (I think the pleco is
either a gold nugget or a galaxy. The LFS
from hell told me he was a common but he has lots
of yellow spots on him unlike
any common pleco I have seen before).

15 gallon tall. Semi cycled. Heated. Filtered. Aerated.
3 x angelfish / 1.5"-2". Pleco / 3" (This pleco is
also unknown. He looks exactly like
the picture of the rubber pleco on this sites fish
profile but looked nothing like the
rubber plecos I was shown at the store where I
bought the new 90 gallon).


90 gallon. Not cycled. Heated. Filtered. Aerated.
Not set up so no fish here yet.

I want to move the three angels and one of the plecos (preferably the one that will grow the largest) to the 90 gallon. The betta will stay in his 5.5 and the remaining pleco will either be moved to or stay in the 15 if possible. I would like a small, peaceful algae eater for the 5.5 gallon, one that can handle cooler temps and less oxygen. If need be, I can add a heater and aerator. I would also like to get 3-4 more angels for the 90 gallon but other then these additions I am unsure of what fish to add. None of my current fish can be returned so this is what I have to work with. I do like the idea of schooling fish and other non fish aquatic animals. So let me know how you would stock these tanks. Any ideas are appreciated.

Another question. I would like to use the water and fish from the 15 to cycle the 90. Do you think that putting the fish through two back-to-back cycles will be too much for them? Should I try a fishless cycle and if so can someone direct to a post or FAQ that explains how?

And… How long does pet shop bogwood, driftwood need to be soaked? The stuff I bought at Big Al’s managed to turn the water not tea coloured but cola coloured in all of 15 minutes. It’s been in there three days. I’m going to change the water tomorrow and see if I get the same results.

And, And… Does everyone agree the heater and filter I have listed above will support a 90-gallon tank?

And… That’s it.


Thanks,
Plan.

 

[johnnyxxl]

the filter and heater may support the tank depending environments and fish loads. I am looking at the xp 2 or 3 for my 55 gallon purchase.

fish for the betta tank, my betta is heated in a 5 gallon tank with a ghost shrimp, will be adding some otto cats to it

I would consider the otto cat,

true SAE and not the Chinese aglae eater would be one to consider I believe the others may be better input.

 

[snitz55]

The wood is going to take about a month to get really water logged depending on how big a piece it is. I usually soak it my bath tub (that I don't use, since I have three bathrooms) until it is water logged and stays down. You could also use any clean container. A nice schooling fish is the boseman rainbow, they are half blue and half yellow and really show their colors in the morning. They grow to about 4-5 inches and like to school. They are a community fish and won't harm or damage the angels and since they are faster, the angels can't hurt them. I had them together and they get along well and would look good in a 90. My boseman I bought over 4 years ago along with three others for my 35 hex. It was my first tank and I soon realized it was to small for them as they grew and lost all of them but one. The last one has hung in there with three angels until I got the 45 gal cycled and moved him 2 months ago and I think he is happier with more room.

 

[9tails]

Originally posted by snitz55
(that I don't use, since I have three bathrooms)

Ooh! Get you!

 

[TKOS]

Just to let you know that an aerator doesn't bring extra oxygen into the tank. It helps to establish an equilibrium between the air and the tank water. The amount of oxygen in the water is dependant on the temp of the water and the cooler it is the more oxygen it can hold.

So your betta tank has just as moch oxygen and is not a low oxygen tank. That being said Bettas are also tropical fish and liek the temp in the mid to high 70's.

So ottos are the only choice for a tank that small as far as fish that eat alage go. But another good option is algae eating shrimp. Amano shrimp if you can find them so a great job. But of course low feeding and weekly water changes do even better.

Tanks don't need algae eaters. Get them if you like them, but don't feel like you have to have one.

 

[Blinky]

You asked about putting your fish through back to back cycles - I don't recommend it. If they can stay in the 15g for a few more weeks, it's much kinder to them to fishlessly cycle your tank. There is an abundance of information on the AC website about fishless cycling, and if you Google 'fishless cycle' you'll find all kinds of stuff. Here's just one article I found:
http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycling.html
With driftwood, just keep changing that water and in a little while you'll notice the tannins leaching from the wood are less. There's no harm in some tannins leaching into the tank if it's a tank for angels - they like these conditions. You can control the colour in your tank with frequent water changes and, if you need it, carbon.
I think it's wonderful that you've made such a commitment to your angels. They're WONDERFUL pets, and they're going to adore their new 90g home.

 

[fishpoor]

The heater will work as long as there isn't a large difference between the desired tank temp and ambient room temperature. If the room is much colder than you want to keep the tank, you are better off getting another heater, rather than replacing the one you have with a much larger one. I also always use 2 filters, no matter what size tank, This allows you to throughly clean one at a time and not overly mess with your filtration capabilities. Also some filters and I'm not famialiar with the xp3, don't like to self start after a power failure. Two filters give you two tries. You could put the fish and the filter from your 15gallon in your 90 as long as you waited a month or so for your cannister to gain bacteria before adding any other fish and did regular water changes. This understocked and with an established albeit small filter your angelfish would love it. Just be cautious when you do add fish,stock slowly so you don't overwhelm your filters. That said. I have 2 angelfish in my 50 gallon with 3 turquoise rainbows ,4 serpae tetras, 2 yoyo loaches and 3 botia straita with no problems. Angelfish will eat anything that may fit in their mouths. I tried ghost shrimp,,lunch. The rasbora espei that were already in the tank the angels still don't bother, but when I tried adding 5 more,the angels ate them. They especially enjoy small tetras.

 

[anonapersona]

To the big tank now.

I'd take everything fromthe 15 gallon, particularly the gravel and the filter, over to the big tank now.

The big dose of fresh water will make the fish more comfortable, the old filter and the new filters will gain bacteria. With the tiny fish load, ammonia won't get too high. You'll still want to test for ammonia every few days and do water changes if it gets above 1.0 ppm, but if you use Prime to condition your water the fish will stay quite comfortable even as ammonia and nitrite rises for it will be detoxed and not hurt them.

In a month or so, when the cycle is complete, then take the old filter back to the 15 gallon and set it up with whatever you wish. Or keep that filter as a back up to the Filstar on the 90 gallon tank.