How Long To Cycle Water In A 250l Tank?

[stevo_gti]

hope some one can help me im getting my new 250l tank in about a weeks time and would like to know how long a tank this size needs to be cycled with water before the fish are introduced? i have a smaller 60L aqua one horizon that i left for 7 days as this is what i was told and all was fine but i m assuming its alot longer for the bigger tank?

and also the new tank comes with sand is this better than gravel? and how hard is it to keep clean?

thanks for any help, mark

so from this::

to this::

 

[Corleone]

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861[/URL]

Read this thread. Just leaving it set doesn't do anything, no matter how long. If you do a fishless cycle, the water stats will tell you when it's ready, but generally about a month, give or take.

Edit: Was a bit confused there on the two tanks, since you already have the first tank cycled (I assume - do you have a test kit?), you should be able to do the transfer immediately. Move all of the filter media into the new filter along with the fish. You might get a mini-cycle doing this, but many people have had it work flawlessly. Monitor the water quality and be prepared for some extra water changes, but it should be good within a few days at worst.

 

[minxfishy]

Typically a fishless cycle can take anything from 21-40+ days, using this method: [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=113861[/URL]

Or 4+ weeks using the fish in method: [URL="http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=175355"]http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=175355[/URL]

However, as you should already have some mature filter media from your 60L tank, if you take 1/3 from it and then use the first method from the link above, it should greatly reduce the time to cycle it.

Or you can use all the media from the 60L if you are planning on transferring the fish from it directly to the large tank, then wait a couple of weeks before slowing adding new stock.

Sand is good for a lot of species, particularly cories as it doesnt harm their barbles. To clean it, just use a syphon without the tube, just the hose end and hover just above the sand to pick up the debris. Takes some practice but is easy enough once you get use to it.

 

[stevo_gti]

thanks guys, i did try and do a search but for some reason everytime i do it comes back with an error,

im not sure if i can put any filter media in as the 60L tank is runnin an undergravel filter and a hang on box filter that came with the tank and it has specific cartridges for that model

 

[Corleone]

thanks guys, i did try and do a search but for some reason everytime i do it comes back with an error,

im not sure if i can put any filter media in as the 60L tank is runnin an undergravel filter and a hang on box filter that came with the tank and it has specific cartridges for that model

With an undergravel filter, the bacteria live in the gravel, which does make it difficult to seed a new tank. You can take a cup of it, put it in a filter bag or nylon sock, and put it in the filter of the new tank, but I'd proceed with a fishless cycle from there, rather than moving the fish over immediately.

You could try running the filter for the new tank on the old one for a month, which will get it colonized with bacteria, but considering the size difference, it might create too much flow and blow your fish around the tank.

 

[Davo86]

thanks guys, i did try and do a search but for some reason everytime i do it comes back with an error,

im not sure if i can put any filter media in as the 60L tank is runnin an undergravel filter and a hang on box filter that came with the tank and it has specific cartridges for that model

whats the stocking for the 60L ?

personally i would simply setup the new tank
fill the tank up with dechlorinated water
wait until the temperature matches your other tank,
then add the horizon filter to the new tank,
and move the fish across to the new tank,

wait a week or so before adding any new fish
increasing stocking gradually from then onwards

 

[stevo_gti]

the stock in the 60L are
1 plec
1 red tail shark
3 mollys
3 corys
4 baby mickey mouse platys
2 khuli loach
1 green spotted puffer (will soon be in brackish water)
1 fresh water clam

but wont putting the fish in the new tank be bad for them until the bacteria levels are right?

 

[Keithoms]

Well, thats what we are saying. If you fill up the new tank with dechlor water and put in your old (non undergravel) filter, that filter will already have the bacteria needed for the amount if fish you have.You then put your fish in. Run your new filter alongside this, and eventually it will also have enough bacteria but will not have harmed the fish.

EDIT: Your old tank is quite overstocked, so thank you for getting a bigger one

 

[Davo86]

the stock in the 60L are
1 plec
1 red tail shark
3 mollys
3 corys
4 baby mickey mouse platys
2 khuli loach
1 green spotted puffer (will soon be in brackish water)
1 fresh water clam

but wont putting the fish in the new tank be bad for them until the bacteria levels are right?

your filters should have a mature colony of bacteria, so even if you lose some whilst moving everything across, it will be able to recover within the first 24hours or so.
if you feed lightly for the first few days and keep an eye on the stats, theres no reason why it shouldn't be a quick and easy change over

 

[stevo_gti]

i didnt realise the tank was over stocked but i knew i didnt want any more fish in it as i wanted to make sure there was enough room for the ones i had,

im not sure i the filter will hook over the back of the new tank as i dont have it yet but if it will ill give that a try but dont want anything happening to my fish as i become quite attatched to them now

the hang on filter is a clearview 280 55i
and the new one im thinking of getting for my tank is an atman 882 internal filter

 

[Keithoms]

For a 250l id really suggest getting an external filter. My favourite, the Tetratec ex1200.

 

[Davo86]

and the new one im thinking of getting for my tank is an atman 882 internal filter

tbh I've never heard of that and neither has google by the looks (found a couple of american sites and an australian one but no mention of the 882 model?)

for a 250L tank you really need to be looking at a cannister filter imo, or 2 good sized internals,
what tank is that by the way?

 

[stevo_gti]

i think the tank may be custom made, i fell on it on ebay and the guy was close to me so thought i would have it,he originaly got the tank to set up marine but didnt end up having room for it as his wife wanted a bigger kitchen he says its only 4 month old,i was originaly going to go for an external canister filter but the guy selling the tank has some of th atmans for sale and i was told (not by the guy with the tank) that this would be better as it has a built in heater and powerhead aswel but im still not convinced so may look into a canister one again now

this is the filter- http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=005

 

[stevo_gti]

it did also put me off that i cant seem to find much about the atman filters on the internet like you said so think ill stay away from them

 

[Davo86]

i think the tank may be custom made, i fell on it on ebay and the guy was close to me so thought i would have it,he originaly got the tank to set up marine but didnt end up having room for it as his wife wanted a bigger kitchen he says its only 4 month old,i was originaly going to go for an external canister filter but the guy selling the tank has some of th atmans for sale and i was told (not by the guy with the tank) that this would be better as it has a built in heater and powerhead aswel but im still not convinced so may look into a canister one again now

this is the filter- <a href="http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=005" target="_blank">http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=005</a>

from experience I would have to say that you get what you pay for, and a filter/heater/powerhead in one for £39.99 sounds iffy to me, to say the least
not to mention the brand is pretty unknown to me and i have worked in a LFS for just under 7 years now so would have surely come across this before if it was worth buying.
(Also in the past i have brought an unheard brand of external filter which lasted 8 months before leaking)

obviously its upto you but i would check both the wattage of the heater and the output of the powerhead first, if the heater is not 300W and the output is not at least 1250LPH then its not going to be upto scratch for your tanksize.