Upgrading from 26g bow front to 92g corner

This is where I have an issue, the tank is not cycled properly and 34 fish were added at the same time.

What's done is done and I can't change that.
I will warn you that you will get a spike in Ammonia and Nitrate and Nitrite soon with that bioload.
Even though it's been seeded with existing water and media, it won't be enough especially with this many fish.

Aquariums are like a jigsaw puzzle, it's not 1 piece.

I wish you luck on this and I hope that this works out.
 
cicrush13 said:
This is where I have an issue, ...
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I completely understand your concern however I have had AMAZING success using the quick start bacterial supplements (not ammo-lock or amquel, but the SafeStart stuff). Aquariums may be a jigsaw, but it's not rocket science. And the biggest thing going for this habitat is the large amounts of water changes that I'm doing to control the discoloration from the new drift wood.

The problem I've seen some people have with new tanks and fish right away is they are using Amquel type products which basically make the ammonium inert for a period of time, delaying the need to deal with it. It doesn't break it down into Nitrite and actually prevents the bacteria from feeding on it, thus letting the bacteria die off, then the Locked up ammonium is released causing an even bigger spike.

The original 26 gallon tank this was upgraded from was started in a similar fashion adding all the fish at basically the same time (a day or so apart) using the a SafeStart product. And now 18 months later all those fish are moving on up to the bigger tank. My 180, same thing, an old 14g, ditto. Both fluval edge, same thing, and in fact the Fluval Edge Comes with Nutrafin Cycle to get you started right away, and finally the Evolve 4 ... also started with it.

If you haven't tried the SafeStart products, do it. It's a great thing. Just make sure the product you buy isn't expired and comes from a reputable high volume retailer so that you can trust it was cared for correctly and not left out on a loading dock in 100+ degree weather or covered in snow for long periods of time thus killing off the bacterial colonies. The Nutrafin has the best directions of the three products I've tried, with a multi-day approach to dosing and saying to redose after the introduction of new fish at any point in a tanks life. The Tetra SafeStart comes labeled in bottles for different size aquariums with dump it and forget it style directions and that doesn't make sense to me, as in a few days if you do a large water change, the bacteria in the water column wouldn't have settled into the filter and gravel and you just sucked it all out.

But, again, I understand your concerns, the old tried and true methods of cycling has worked for a long time. Bacteria has naturally been breaking down NH4+ to NO2- and then NO3- for a long time and using a "Synthetic" product has it's risks. I feel as if I can manage those risks and I will have a happy healthy family of aquatic life.

As with all things, there is usually more than one path to your destination... just ask Apple Maps.
 
So it looks like I don't have enough "territories" for the Dwarf Blue Gourami. They are going at it with each other fighting over different plant groups. I threw some more fake plants into the back behind the tree stump to provide some more space and shelter for the three gourami. May have to take one of them back we will see when I run home for lunch. They are the only things fighting with each other. The Baby Roseline Sharks are kind of on their own, and haven't been accepted into the Adult Roseline/Tiger Barb community yet. Not sure what's going on with the catfish, they like to hang out in the dark behind the stump, but then will come darting out, usually either a pair of petricola, or some combination of either a petricola chasing a pictus or a pictus chasing a petricola or all of them in a big group.

The other weird thing is the Penguin Tetra has been adopted by the Hatchet Fish. He hangs out with in the top 1/3 of the tank as part of their group. There's one small hatchet that gets adventurous and comes down towards the bottom to hang with the Tigers/Roseline Sharks and can't keep up with them. They just move to fast and he's too slow and clumsy.

The Red Tailed Shark has claimed the base of the tree. He just patrols around the base and will snuggle in among some of the corners and crevices and sometimes runs into a Gourami fight and scares them.

Ammonium Registered .25ppm reading on an API Liquid Test Kit, pretty much where I expected it to be before last nights water change. Tank is looking really good now very clear water with a slight reddish tint from the driftwood tannin leaking out no signs of distress from anyone (except the fighting gourami).
 
With three dwarf gouramis, you are bound to have lots of fighting. Usually they need to be all alone (like bettas). But, sometimes, you can get away with groups of six or more (so the aggression is spread out, and no one fish gets picked on too much), but three just doesn't work.

Emily
 
esoepr1976 said:
With three dwarf gouramis, you are bound to have lots of fighting. Usually they need to be all alone (like bettas). But, sometimes, you can get away with groups of six or more (so the aggression is spread out, and no one fish gets picked on too much), but three just doesn't work.

Emily
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Yeah I thought I had a nice "triangle" system of habitats setup in this tank with one being back in the corner and then one in each of the front corners, but they all want the same little broadleafed plant on the front right. Heading home now. Hope all is ok.
 
Wow, bad news here, one of the Dwarf Gourami I don't think is going to make it, his side is all discolored from getting attacked and he was laying on the wood in the middle, all his ventral fins were gone as well. The other two had settled down into opposite sides of the tank. He's now out of the tank in an old 14 by himself with an airstone and some melafix.

I called the wife to tell her one of her Gourami is hurt and she was like "was it the one with the shorter dorsal fin, he was was the one picking fights at the store." Out of the seven or so they had, she wants the one that is picking fights.... silly woman.
 
Well he didn't make it, byt everyone else seems to be doing fine. The other two gourami have divided the tank in half, and then share the top portion. I also hit the LFS for some Buy 2 get 1 Free sale they have every Tuesday. Got a bunch of new plants. Really filled things out. I will post a last picture after the bubbles settle down from the water change (and to rescape) and they eat their dinner.
 
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