Ok is this water cycled?

[wwestar2000]

Ok so after alot of research i've decieded to start a coldwater tank. I wanna put fantail goldfish in a twenty gallon tank i have. Ok I am really bad at this cycleing stuff. When i first started my livebearer tank i kept asking why the fish kept dying! Cause the water wasnt cycled. ok now i know. I dont feel comfortable with the ammonia stuff so fishless cycle i cant do. I actaully have 5 betta and 2 snails in the tank now. none of my bettas ever died in it and they have been in there for about a month and a half. I decided to do the coldwater tank because it has become really difficult to clean it for the bettas. I will put them in appropriet size containers so thats no worry. Ok so is it ok If i leave the water in the 20 gallon and vacum the gravel out. Then put about 5 gallons of water from my community tank in it? I think that sounds pretty much cycled. tommorow i am going to buy the filture and if i get responds that it could be done i'll do it. Ill run the filture right when i get home and leave it on. Then on tuesday afternoon get the 2 goldfish. Please responde

 

[WILDER]

Sounds fine, only two fantailed goldfish can go in that size tank, buy a great filter one more for a 40gal tank as you are going o need it as they produce alot of waste, good luck..

 

[wwestar2000]

Ok yeah i forgot to post that yeah i want them to grow fully so i was intending on 2. Thanks so much for answering

 

[cuba408]

Yea that water is ready!!! your good to go. Try out the filter your gonna get and if you need to upgrade then do so then.

 

[cuba408]

I believe that 20 for two would be fine but alot of people im sure will disagree.

 

[wwestar2000]

I cant afford more than a 20 at the moment but im buying the fish young. So there gonna be pretty little and probably wont produce as much waste until there bigger to need more than a 20 gallon filture.

 

[cuba408]

Sounds like you have an exellent setup and they will do great

 

[black angel]

your filter will be brand new so will need a couple of weeks to mature, if not longer. In that time your tank will still need to cycle but it will be much quicker with the used water. A lot of the bacteria will be in the gravel and this will colonise the filter for you. Do you have test kits at all? if not i think you should get them to monitor the ammonia and nitrite to begin with once you have added the fish.
As the filter isnt going to be big enough, i suggest getting a bigger one by next year.
Keep up with weekly water changes with gravel vacs and feed little but often as the fish will be young and you should be ok.
good luck with them, and we want pics once its all up and running

 

[wwestar2000]

What if I use a filture cartrage from my community tank? I put it in like 2 weeks ago and i will just give them a new one? I'll wash the used one off and pop it in the new filture. Ok? or not?

 

[black angel]

yes you can use the old media, but i would use half of it and the new stuff as well. Still get your fish on tuesday as you will still need the ammonia from the goldies to help keep the bacteria up, just remember to check your ammonia and nitrite levels at the beginning in case of any peaks happening.

 

[cuba408]

That would be the easy way out. Id say yes if you dont have the time or your just impatient as me

 

[wwestar2000]

No really like im extremely impatient, I have anxiety attacks if I have to wait to long. Ok so if the goldie will be ok i'll get them. I guess i should still leve my 2 females in the tank then just so it doesnt uncycle until i get the goldies, right?

 

[black angel]

yes you can leave other fish in there until you get your new fish.