Getting A New Aquarium Started

[ThePiggy]

So I have this tank that someone gave to me, I think it is a 29 gallon. I have removed the old sealant and applied new silicone sealant a week ago, it holds water now. I got the glass as clean as I think it will get. I think I am ready to start setting it up and cycling it. I am planning on moving my JD into it because he has outgrown his old tank.

I bought a 50 gallon filter because I know that cichlids make a lot of waste. Right now, I have it running in the JD's tank along side the filter that was already in the tank to try to give the bacteria a head start in the new filter. I keep a strict water maintenance schedule.

I don't have a source of ammonia to do a fishless cycle.... and I've never actually done a proper cycle the two tanks I have now have been established for a long time. I used to have small tanks, but I just did water changes every other day and kept an eye on the ammonia. I've never had a problem with my fish doing things this way, but I've never had a large tank.

Please help me do this right Thanks!

 

[snowflake311]

just use some filter media from you 2 small tanks and put that in your new filter. The bacteria will grow fast once you seed it.

Or you could run your new filter on your old tank for a few weeks and that way it collects the needed bacteria.


Or you could start from scratch and do a fishless cycle that will take 3 - 8 weeks to finish.

You do know you will need another tank for your JD a 29- 30 gal is not a good permeant home for a mature JD.

 

[ThePiggy]

He's still medium sized, but I'm having trouble finding a good size tank that I can afford. This 29 gallon was free and it's better than a 10 gallon. I've read on a few aquarium sites that the minimum for a fully grown JD was 30 gallons. Mine just reached 6 inches. He acts happy and healthy, but I know that he needs more room to swim. Even with frequent partial water changes and good filtration, you think that a 29 gallon isn't big enough?

 

[snowflake311]

Is it 3 feet long? How wide is it? 55 gal is the smallest they should really be in. But if you are keeping only him in this tank it might be ok. It depends on the size of the tank LxWxD and how much swimming space they have. Jd are very active fish. My baby ebjd is non stop swimming. You can't beat a free tank. You had a 6" jd in a 10 gal tank? I'm happy you got this tank for him.

Look on craigslist just watch it everyday you should find something. I have seen free tank posted on There.

 

[GAB99]

i think all you hav to do is put the gravel (1/3-1/2) from the already cycled tanks and into th new one, then run the filter and its cycled! just put the jack dempsey in so he can start making food for the bacteria so it wont die off


friends of mine have done this and its worked fine.