New Tank Question

[Shaddex]

Ive been given (well in a week) a Jewel Rio 180 for FREE !! woo hoo !! Tank number 2....

Is there an easy way to get the cycle started/finished quickly so I can get my fish in.
Could I move 50% of the water from my current tank + tap water to fill, as the substrate + Filter on the new tank are used and will be used until I collect it ?

 

[Skins]

If the filter that comes with the tank has mature media you should just about be ready to go.

Keith.

 

[doresy]

Firstly the water hold no benefit, bacteria wise. Neither does the substrate. Bacteria is in the filter media so swap some of the filter media from your new tank's filter with your old tank and that will kick start your cycle. Then it's cycle as usual.

It will help but really there is no 'quick way'

 

[OldMan47]

The used filter will instantly be cycled. The only use you have for the old water is to keep enough of it to gradually acclimate your fish to the new water qualities in your home. Obviously the fish will already be accustomed to the tap water where they are now. A slower change is always better if you can do it without too much trouble.

 

[Shaddex]

So the tank is coming on Saturday and Im after some fish to put into it.

My no.1 tank (90ltr) has

2 silver sharks.
2 Platies
2 Zebra Tetras
2 Neon Tetras
2 peppered Cory
1 Clown Loach
6 Gupies

Strange mix I suppose.

No.2 Tank (25ltr) has

14 Platy fry.

No.3 Tank (180Ltr)

No idea what to get.


Should I move the fish around and get a few more of each to make up the group numbers. ?

Any advise welcome.

 

[weezawoo]

Firstly the Clown loach def needs to go in the bigger tank if not be rehomed as he will get way too big for the tank that you have him in atm also they prefer to be in groups! Also it is advisable to up the numbers in the groups to around 5-6 at least for the corys and tetras as they will be much happier in a larger group!

 

[Shaddex]

Firstly the Clown loach def needs to go in the bigger tank if not be rehomed as he will get way too big for the tank that you have him in atm also they prefer to be in groups! Also it is advisable to up the numbers in the groups to around 5-6 at least for the corys and tetras as they will be much happier in a larger group!

So move clown loach into bigger tank + get a few more.
Move neons to new tank + add more
Move corys to new tank + add more.

That would make 4 Loaches, 6 neons and 6 corys in the 180ltr tank. 16 total.
leaving the rest in the 80ltr tank.

is 16 to many for a 180ltr tank ? If not what can I add that will suit the corys, loaches and neons ?

 

[weezawoo]

Sorry might not have been too clear. Clown loaches grow to on average a foot long. I believe this is the largest they can get in the right environment. If they are in smaller tanks their growth is stunted but their insides keep growing. Therefore it isn't good to keep them in small tanks. They are best kept in groups of 3-4 or more However because they get so large they need a minimum of around 80 gal if not more. Check this out: http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clown_loach
Really you should try to rehome him if you can so he gets a good ife I had the same when I started out fishkeeping, I bought 2 clowns but once given the proper advice I took them back to the store, thankfully they are really nice there!
With the tetras. I have a shoal of 12 and they look awesome! It all depends on what you want in the other tank, I currently have a 200l tank in the pic below. I have a lot of small fish like tetra and quite a few corys. Are you looking for small fish or bigger fish?

 

[Shaddex]

I prefer smaller fish. so looking for bigger numbers of each type in both tanks.
Im passing the clown onto my friend who has 280lts tank, and he already has a clown in it.

 

[weezawoo]

Awesome that would be good for him
As to fish, tetras are a great choice all round. I find rummynose great to watch, mine stick together well and swim back and forth all the time!
Harlequin rasbora have some nice colouring, under my lighting they have a sight blue tinge on them!
I also have some head and tail light tetras and glolight tetras.
There are so many small fish it all depends on what you prefer.
Cherry barbs are another nice small fish to have. All of these prefer bigger groups so you could have a few large groups in your tank.
Quick note your bala sharks can grow quite large and should be in a 6 foot tank in the end (just had a look online) also they might eat the neons when bigger it might be worth you having a read online about the fish you have at the moment.