Am Seting Up A New Tank

[mooey65]

I got a new tank its the one that was in Aldi This one
Am not setting it up yet as I am moving in the new year and I think its best if it wait until than, But what I have done is put the new filter in the tank that I have running already (is this ok to do?) Also is that filter any good?

 

[toshapetriji]

A good start would be to read this link.

Fishless cycle

 

[mooey65]

Not very helpful that matey

 

[cloudburst]

The tank looks ok for a starter, Just make sure you read into getting your tank cycled and dont rush into it.

 

[mooey65]

Its not a starter tank its a 2nd tank.

 

[waterdrop]

Hi moo,

Since you have had a tank before and experience with that, and have a high post count here on the forum, compared to a new beginner, perhaps you have gone through the process of a "Fishless Cycle" before? Its just hard to tell from your sentence. Or perhaps you were not a member here when you started your previous tank and have missed this info?

I think the direction they're headed is that beginning the fishless cycle process now and then keeping the filter media submerged in water during the move would be one of the most useful things you could do at this point.

A filter is just a bunch of hardware when you buy it and not capable of fully functioning in terms of removing the most important toxins from the tank water. It takes a minimum of 3 weeks and more often a couple of months (!) to grow the correct two species of bacteria in the filter that make it functional. You use pure household ammonia to do this process, so just setting up a tank with water doesn't actually accomplish anything, only following the "fishless cycling" working document here in "New to the Hobby" will get you started asking the right questions and preparing your biofilter!

Let us know your status with this info.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[toshapetriji]

thanks WD

 

[Goodygumdrops]

To answer your question moo,yes,that was a good idea to put the new filter alonside the other one on your existing tank,that way you have a mature filter to add to your new tank when you're ready to go.

 

[mooey65]

Ok I will start again I was very busy before when I ask about a new filter.

I have a mature tank its running two filters the first one is the on that runs along the top in there ( From the bottom to the top ) At the bottom there it a cloth filter on top of that there are ceramic tubes then on top of them I have biosponge and on top of that there are two net's of like little stones and water comes from the tank via a power head over the top of the two net's.

The second filter is like this one but a bit bigger. all it has in it it a biosponge.

Now both of these filters have been running for about 3months. That's when I tuck over the tank from my dad how has know time on his hands for it. Before I tuck over the tank it was a mess the water had not been changed at all not once in two years and there were three fish that were hardcore and this lived in this tank. The glass was all green and I knew I had my work cut out. I got the tank to my flat and cleaned it all up I washed the gravel and placed it back into the tank I binned all the plastic plants as there were crap (And I don't like them).

I did not know anything about media at this point and cleaned all the filter bits with very very hot water (Sorry I did not know). Then I set it all back up and got some more fish. All the new fish I got started to die one by one so I put some "METHYLENE BLUE" In to the tank. I did know water change until a month later when reading about fish keeping. I did my first water change and the three hardcore fish died.

Now my tank has been nice and clean water change once a week (20%) for over two months iv not lost a fish iv even got fry in the tank I also do weekly water test on the tank.

Now that's the past and I want more fish I have to more tanks to set up but not until I move in the new year. I have a new filter that I have put in to the tank I have running to give it a kick start. I wanted to know if it is fine to do this?

Also the filter in the tank that runs along the top are these any good?
I think I need to change some of the media as its old and has gone blue from the methylene blue I used. Can I do this?

I hope this is a bit better for you guys to read thanks.

 

[OldMan47]

Your best bet is to wait until you are ready to set up the new tank for fish. At that point fill the tank with the gravel, decor and dechlorinated water. Once the tank comes to temperature, get a few fish and put the Fluval internal filter into the tank all at once. The cycled filter that you bring over will provide the needed biological processing and the fish you put in the tank will keep the filter alive. You do not want to move the filter too early because without fish in the tank it's bacteria will die off.