New Set Up For Jack Dempseys

[JDs4me]

Hi, this looks like the place to be for advice from those in the know!

I am setting up a four foot fifty five (gallon) fishy feifdom for (my) favourite fishy friends!...with Aquis 1200 ext. filter

OK, I plan for a breeding pair of Jack Dempseys (the old, more colourful type) as they are just the best characters I remember keeping from many years ago. So although not a complete newbie i am a little unsure on several issues.

I will be doing a fish-in cycle with them as they are quite hardy fellows as I recall; I plan to add 5-6 to allow for natural pairing off - is this a good idea or does anyone advise against?

For substrate I am going to use pebbles; unusual perhaps but the aquarium is to a rock design and I dont wish to use gravel/sand - I am aware that Dempseys like to burrow so worry that the pebbles, while chestnut-sized and smooth so not injuring them, may stress them out? Further, is there a fish that would be happy moving around on the bottom amongst the pebbles, that the Dempsey wouldn't eat that anyone knows of? As I recall most tank inmates are considered dinner! I might consider sand, but can't find any dark grey/charcoal coloured...refuse to use the artificial shiny stuff in the LFS...I assume builders merchant sand is not a good idea?

Finally, if I have cycle issues I do have the Tetra Marine Safestart stuff to kickstart things...yes, dummie bought the marine version...but the bacteria are perhaps the same? could I use for a freshwater start? I have emailed Tetra but no response as yet...this is a last resort as I don't want to kickstart, prefering the in-fish method

Be great for any advice on any of the above; thanks for reading!

 

[Ruskull]

You shouldn't do a fish-in cycle unless you get a good amount of established media from a friend's tank. You could also ask the local fish store for some nasty, caked up filter cartridge. They have to change them every now & then anyway so most will give you some to kickstart the cycle. All those bottled types are crap & unproven snake oil. How could the bacteria survive in a bottle on a shelf with no ammonia or nitrite to keep them alive?

Jack Dempseys are awesome fish BTW, good luck & post your progress, preferably with some pictures.

 

[JDs4me]

You shouldn't do a fish-in cycle unless you get a good amount of established media from a friend's tank. You could also ask the local fish store for some nasty, caked up filter cartridge. They have to change them every now & then anyway so most will give you some to kickstart the cycle. All those bottled types are crap & unproven snake oil. How could the bacteria survive in a bottle on a shelf with no ammonia or nitrite to keep them alive?

Jack Dempseys are awesome fish BTW, good luck & post your progress, preferably with some pictures.

Thanks Ruskull - down to the LFS for a cacky filter cartridge I go! I have been looking at some of the pics on this forum and am now tempted to do a sand/pebble mix as the substrate looks so good...probably please the JD`s to have a sandbed to grovel around in.

You have confirmed my own doubts about the bottled bacteria re. nutrient needs...putting more thought into future purchases!

I assume that I should place the old filter media into the tank at the same time as the fish are added, so that the bacteria will have an immediate source of ammonia to convert?

thanks again for your prompt reply! Photos to follow when set up and running...

 

[sadguppy]

You shouldn't do a fish-in cycle unless you get a good amount of established media from a friend's tank. You could also ask the local fish store for some nasty, caked up filter cartridge. They have to change them every now & then anyway so most will give you some to kickstart the cycle. All those bottled types are crap & unproven snake oil. How could the bacteria survive in a bottle on a shelf with no ammonia or nitrite to keep them alive?

Jack Dempseys are awesome fish BTW, good luck & post your progress, preferably with some pictures.

Thanks Ruskull - down to the LFS for a cacky filter cartridge I go! I have been looking at some of the pics on this forum and am now tempted to do a sand/pebble mix as the substrate looks so good...probably please the JD`s to have a sandbed to grovel around in.

You have confirmed my own doubts about the bottled bacteria re. nutrient needs...putting more thought into future purchases!

I assume that I should place the old filter media into the tank at the same time as the fish are added, so that the bacteria will have an immediate source of ammonia to convert?

thanks again for your prompt reply! Photos to follow when set up and running...

Shove it into your own filter ASAP as they need the water flow to survive. You can always feed fish food to keep the bacteria going.

 

[JDs4me]

Hi sadguppy, thanks for that but they didn't have any old media due to the system they use...will bide my time maybe and let it happen naturally! Fish-out seems to be the most favourable cycle route so will do that, and keep hunting for old media to add. In the dim and distant past I never did this kind of cycling, just waiting for a couple of weeks and then slowly introducing fish, which seemed to work with close monitoring and water changes.

Have added link to a photo of my set-up; the black sand/pebbles look great, and hopefully the JD's will be happy there.

http/s1066.photobucket.com/albums/u415/gingerwain/

Thanks for your help!

 

[Ruskull]

You shouldn't do a fish-in cycle unless you get a good amount of established media from a friend's tank. You could also ask the local fish store for some nasty, caked up filter cartridge. They have to change them every now & then anyway so most will give you some to kickstart the cycle. All those bottled types are crap & unproven snake oil. How could the bacteria survive in a bottle on a shelf with no ammonia or nitrite to keep them alive?

Jack Dempseys are awesome fish BTW, good luck & post your progress, preferably with some pictures.

Thanks Ruskull - down to the LFS for a cacky filter cartridge I go! I have been looking at some of the pics on this forum and am now tempted to do a sand/pebble mix as the substrate looks so good...probably please the JD`s to have a sandbed to grovel around in.

You have confirmed my own doubts about the bottled bacteria re. nutrient needs...putting more thought into future purchases!

I assume that I should place the old filter media into the tank at the same time as the fish are added, so that the bacteria will have an immediate source of ammonia to convert?

thanks again for your prompt reply! Photos to follow when set up and running...

Bravo! Just make sure you put the filthy media directly into the filter, not the tank! The good bacs die within hours if you wait too long. I've cycled all my tanks this way & it usually works best when the tank you're cycling is smaller than the donor tank you got the media from.

I can't wait to see pics......

Hi sadguppy, thanks for that but they didn't have any old media due to the system they use...will bide my time maybe and let it happen naturally! Fish-out seems to be the most favourable cycle route so will do that, and keep hunting for old media to add. In the dim and distant past I never did this kind of cycling, just waiting for a couple of weeks and then slowly introducing fish, which seemed to work with close monitoring and water changes.

Have added link to a photo of my set-up; the black sand/pebbles look great, and hopefully the JD's will be happy there.

http/s1066.photobucket.com/albums/u415/gingerwain/

Thanks for your help!

Looks good so far. Keep checking around, you'll find another fishkeeper or fish store that has some nasty media for you to use. Don't be shy, ask other customers at the store. Most fishkeepers will be happy to help.

 

[JDs4me]

Blimey, tank looks worse for the blow-up pic...well done though for that! Tried an attachment but wouldn't work, hence the link.

Well, I may not need gunky media after all as I have readings for NH3, NO2 and NO3 on the API test kit so somethings happening (1, 0.25 and 40 respectively)! Possibly NH3 trace in the tapwater but hard to say... Mopani wood will form a hide area to the left of the tank. Water a little cloudy as photo taken just after depositing sand and pebbles. Will look for fish in about a weeks time; no JD's anywhere here so may look on this site for anyone selling. LFS's saying they cannot order specific types of fish in, but will happily sell me the EBJD's for £40 each!

You shouldn't do a fish-in cycle unless you get a good amount of established media from a friend's tank. You could also ask the local fish store for some nasty, caked up filter cartridge. They have to change them every now & then anyway so most will give you some to kickstart the cycle. All those bottled types are crap & unproven snake oil. How could the bacteria survive in a bottle on a shelf with no ammonia or nitrite to keep them alive?

Jack Dempseys are awesome fish BTW, good luck & post your progress, preferably with some pictures.

Thanks Ruskull - down to the LFS for a cacky filter cartridge I go! I have been looking at some of the pics on this forum and am now tempted to do a sand/pebble mix as the substrate looks so good...probably please the JD`s to have a sandbed to grovel around in.

You have confirmed my own doubts about the bottled bacteria re. nutrient needs...putting more thought into future purchases!

I assume that I should place the old filter media into the tank at the same time as the fish are added, so that the bacteria will have an immediate source of ammonia to convert?

thanks again for your prompt reply! Photos to follow when set up and running...

Bravo! Just make sure you put the filthy media directly into the filter, not the tank! The good bacs die within hours if you wait too long. I've cycled all my tanks this way & it usually works best when the tank you're cycling is smaller than the donor tank you got the media from.

I can't wait to see pics......

Hi sadguppy, thanks for that but they didn't have any old media due to the system they use...will bide my time maybe and let it happen naturally! Fish-out seems to be the most favourable cycle route so will do that, and keep hunting for old media to add. In the dim and distant past I never did this kind of cycling, just waiting for a couple of weeks and then slowly introducing fish, which seemed to work with close monitoring and water changes.

Have added link to a photo of my set-up; the black sand/pebbles look great, and hopefully the JD's will be happy there.

http/s1066.photobucket.com/albums/u415/gingerwain/

Thanks for your help!

Looks good so far. Keep checking around, you'll find another fishkeeper or fish store that has some nasty media for you to use. Don't be shy, ask other customers at the store. Most fishkeepers will be happy to help.