New Aquarium Setup

Hello once again,

I am looking for some comments and suggestions from TASA regarding the following:-

I have purchased a new 300L fresh water fish tank with the main reason to remove my Flower Horn from my Oscar tank.

Last night I washed the gravel and filled the tank with water. Also treated the water with a dechlorinator, probiotics, a handful of coarse salt. and had the new 750w bio-filter running around the clock.

Questions:

1) For how long would I need to wait before I can add my fish to the newly setup tank?

2) Do I have to add some small fish (Gold Fish, Cherry Barb etc) to the tank to start the cycling process before adding my Flower Horn?

3) I suspect the Flower Horn is under a lot of stress as I got it on Sunday and have tried feeding it but it does not want to eat. (Tried pellets and blood food) It appears to be really active though! Perhaps pregnant?? By gradually introducing it to the new aquarium, would it be good to do it now?

Thanks.

 

untill the tank has gone thru its full cycle...but to boost this you could add some of the other tank's water to this one.

You could also try using Seachem Stability...helps reduce the time and you might be able to put the fish in by the end of the week - or sooner

HTH

 

Hi Newby,

What exactly do you mean by "full cycle"?
Does this involve the housing of other fish in order to get the water levels as stable as possible, or a certain period of time having your water run through the filters?

I have used the Seachem Stability product when I filled up my tank last night.

Thanks.

 

Found these nice pointers at http://www.bluecrayfish.com/cycle.htm

1. Run the aquarium at a high temperature, up in the low to mid eighties, Fahrenheit. Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need lower temperatures. The higher temperature leads to faster cycling.

2. Keep the tank only about 50-65% full. This creates a waterfall effect as the water leaves the filter, and when the water from the filter hits the surface of the aquarium water, there is a great deal of water turbulence, exposing more water to more air more quickly, and leading to increased oxygenation, and thus, faster cycling.

3. Keep the aquarium light on 24 hours per day during cycling. Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need less light, or which need darkness. The increased light leads to faster cycling.

4. Use as many air stones and air pumps as you have access to, which will fit in the aquarium. Keep them all running all the time. This leads to increased oxygenation, which leads to faster cycling. Only do this if you have no pets in the aquarium which need calm, or still water.

5. Keep the filter running the entire time the aquarium is undergoing the cycling process. This increases water flow, and insures that good bacteria build up in the filter material, both of which lead to faster cycling.

The only reason I'm being so adamant is because it is no day 2 of the Oscars having to share their tank with the Flower Horn and only get to use 100 liters of water, each. Both fish species barely got space to move..... but I guess rather late than sorry.

 

Read this. It will answer all your questions.

 

Thanks @discusguy....was just about to send him that link

It sure helped me to understand the whole process

 

Excellent info discusguy, thanks!

 

Go read some of my beginner articles in the article subforum.

 

Very nice, Very interesting reading there Zoom. This is most definitely the best reading thus far, I got off the internet regarding new tanks setup.

Thank a million Zoom!