Greetings all! I got my new 20g "just in case my holding acei needs it" tank two days ago and got the urge to make a progression thread about it. My old lady said this is tank #5 and had to go down if the acei didn't need it, but she changed her mind after I got it setup with the black sand and pretty live plants 
Anyways, here's what I did and how it's going so far. Comments appreciated.
Day 1
a) 11am: Bought 20g high package with lights, filter, etc. from chain for $42.
b) 12pm: Transferred 10g of established water from 30g to 20g and filled the rest of the tank with dechlorinated tap water followed by bacteria supplement.
c) 4pm: Ran established filter on 20g and new filter on established 30g for roughly 16 hours.
Day 2
a) 10am: Switched filters back to their respectable tanks.
b) 10am+: Added bio-wheel from emperor 400 to 20g tank.
c) 1:30pm: Added 3 amazon swords and 3 otos to the 20g.
d) 3pm: Performed 50% water change and switched out bio-wheel with other from emperor 400.
e) 8pm~: Checked levels with dip strips (I know, terrible...getting liquid kit today if I feel the need).
Day 3
a) 9am: Checked levels at local chain store via liquid, not strip, kit before turning the light on. Tests were all closer to normal than I've ever had establishing a new tank.
b) 10am: Checked on the otos..all 3 were dead. JUST KIDDING! :hitting: Jeeze, I'm a punk.
c) 10am+: Performed 50% water change and watched otos continue to gnaw 1/4 algae wafer and swords.
The tank is going better than I had expected. I believe having water from an established tank seems to provide a magnet of sorts for bacteria growth in the new tank. That and using the bio-wheels. I see a lot of posts mentioning how using a bio-wheel and established water to jump start a tank doesn't do anything, but I've used this method twice now and had fish in the tank the same day with stable nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia levels. Anyways, I'll update this tonight after work and registering for what I hope is my last year of college. Cheers for looking, the tank's not quite done yet! :thumbsup:
Anyways, here's what I did and how it's going so far. Comments appreciated. Day 1
a) 11am: Bought 20g high package with lights, filter, etc. from chain for $42.
b) 12pm: Transferred 10g of established water from 30g to 20g and filled the rest of the tank with dechlorinated tap water followed by bacteria supplement.
c) 4pm: Ran established filter on 20g and new filter on established 30g for roughly 16 hours.
Day 2
a) 10am: Switched filters back to their respectable tanks.
b) 10am+: Added bio-wheel from emperor 400 to 20g tank.
c) 1:30pm: Added 3 amazon swords and 3 otos to the 20g.
d) 3pm: Performed 50% water change and switched out bio-wheel with other from emperor 400.
e) 8pm~: Checked levels with dip strips (I know, terrible...getting liquid kit today if I feel the need).
Day 3
a) 9am: Checked levels at local chain store via liquid, not strip, kit before turning the light on. Tests were all closer to normal than I've ever had establishing a new tank.
b) 10am: Checked on the otos..all 3 were dead. JUST KIDDING! :hitting: Jeeze, I'm a punk.
c) 10am+: Performed 50% water change and watched otos continue to gnaw 1/4 algae wafer and swords.
The tank is going better than I had expected. I believe having water from an established tank seems to provide a magnet of sorts for bacteria growth in the new tank. That and using the bio-wheels. I see a lot of posts mentioning how using a bio-wheel and established water to jump start a tank doesn't do anything, but I've used this method twice now and had fish in the tank the same day with stable nitrite, nitrate, and ammonia levels. Anyways, I'll update this tonight after work and registering for what I hope is my last year of college. Cheers for looking, the tank's not quite done yet! :thumbsup:
