my new tank!

emi-chan · Post by **emi-chan** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 6:45 pm

i've been thinkiing of getting a new tank for ages and today i finally got one! I'm moving up a big step from a 30l tank to a 125l tank!
the tank came with a filter system, lighting, heater and a stand.

i'm putting goldfish and weather loaches in it so i'm not using the heater and i was just wondering if it is 2 weeks i leave the tank running before i put the fish in or is it more??

also, how many fish do you think i could put in? i wasn't planning on adding anymore but i might as well if i can because the shop gave my vouchers for more fish. (i have 2 weather loaches and 2 goldfish if you diidnt know already)

Marcos Mataratzis · Post by **Marcos Mataratzis** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 7:49 pm

emi-chan wrote:i'm putting goldfish and weather loaches in it so i'm not using the heater and i was just wondering if it is 2 weeks i leave the tank running before i put the fish in or is it more??

Cycling time can be determined by mesuring amonia, nitrites and nitrates. First, amonia will rise. When it starts to drop nitrites will rise. Only when nitrites gets to zero readings cycling period is over. It´s now time to make a water change to reduce nitrates and start adding fishes. Not all at same time. Add a few, continue mesuring amonia and nitrites and, in a week or so add more fish.

I would not talk about room here but even your new tank is small for the fish you already have.

emi-chan · Post by **emi-chan** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:05 pm

thanks,. i cant wait to get the tank all set up and decorated!!

FishyLady · Post by **FishyLady** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:50 pm

I don't think you can add any more fish, unfortunately I think your new tank is just about large enough for the 2 goldfish alone!! Weather loaches grow very large!!

Val

janma · Post by **janma** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:22 pm

FishyLady wrote:I don't think you can add any more fish, unfortunately I think your new tank is just about large enough for the 2 goldfish alone!! Weather loaches grow very large!!

Val

I have to agree with Val. Here we have even written in books a minimum of 200L for weather loaches and for goldfish 300L. Sorry to say but that 30L is way to small.

emi-chan · Post by **emi-chan** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 8:49 pm

i know how big these fish grow!! and this size of tank is all i could afford and the biggest one i can fit in my house!!
this new tank is a huge project for me and is gimungous compared to and tank my family or me have ever had before!!
awwwww...i got all excited but now i'm depressed...I'm going to go huff now!!
(only joking! i really do apprieciate your advice!

)

janma · Post by **janma** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 12:28 am

You really should choose other fish that are more suited for a tank of that size.

emi-chan · Post by **emi-chan** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:31 am

like??

FishyLady · Post by **FishyLady** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:43 pm

Like something smaller. The weather loaches are going to be the problem, they are capable of growing up to 10" long!! surely you can see that a 30 gallon tank is going to be too small?

Val

emi-chan · Post by **emi-chan** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 4:01 am

i know that.

emi-chan · Post by **emi-chan** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:38 pm

Well here is my tank anyways from the front. Just put the fish in today. They love it! I forgot how hard it is to catch weather loaches especially when they burrow down into the substrate! sneaky little devils!!

Here it is from the side and my lovely new piece of bogwood

Diana · Post by **Diana** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:09 pm

Goldfish can reach a foot long (30 cm), and produce more than average amount of waste for their size. Weather Laoches can reach 10" (25 cm) and produce an average amount of waste, but are social fish and thrive in groups from about 6 on up. To keep 6 fish at 10" and 2 fish a foot long I would suggest a tank not smaller than 75 gallons (roughly 300 liters), and make sure it is a tank with a lot of floor space. (long, rather than tall)

When they are small, the fish can be housed in smaller tanks, but move them up as you have done. At 3" long, for example, I would keep Golds in a tank at least 3' long.

How to quickly cycle a new tank:

The nitryfying bacteria that are currently living in the tank the fish are in are taking care of their waste. When you move the fish, move the bacteria with them. Move the filter, and decorations at least temporarily, until the new filter has grown enough bacteria. Skim the top layer of gravel from the old tank, too. There is a lot of beneficial bacteria living in the top layer of gravel. You can put this in a nylon stocking or mesh bag and lay it on the bottom of the new tank where there is good water flow, or hang it near the water flow from the filter. Then remove the stuff that came from the old tank one item at a time each week. If the filter media from the established filter will fit in the new filter you do not have to actually move the old filter. The bacteria are living on the sponges, floss and other things in the filter.

Here is another way to quickly cycle a new tank:
Add the proper species of bacteria from a bottle. Tetra Safe Start and Dr. Tim's One and Only have the correct species. Do not waste your money on any other 'bacteria in a bottle' products.

Here is a 3rd way to quickly cycle a new tank:
If you can get enough live plants going in the new tank, and the fish will not eat them (tricky with Goldfish) then the plants are a good biological filter. Plant so many it is hard to see the back of the tank. Give them very good light. You want the plants to be actively growing. Plants directly use ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and the nitrifying bacteria you are trying to grow will come in on the plants' leaves and stems.

Here is a method that takes a little longer, but grows a REALLY big population of bacteria:
http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?t=16737

emi-chan · Post by **emi-chan** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:20 pm

i have the plants from the old tank and the pots they came in (i use them as ornaments because, when put together, they make a tunnel the loaches love!) so hopefully there was a good amount of bacteria on these already.
i also put some of the bionode things from the old filter into the new one because it didnt come along with enough.
all the plants in the pics are real so ive got some natural fiter aids going already! and i prepared the tank (its been running a week and a bit) with that biological supplement stuff, the extra concentrated bacteria in a bottle.
there's a huge amount of ground space in the tank compared to my tiny old tank that the loaches are having a good venture round and the goldfish seem to not know what to do with all the new space!
the new tank should keep them happy for a while but i do plan on getting a bigger tank when i'm finishing university and moving into my own house where i can make the room to keep a bigger tank! i'm going to have to start saving again!! lol!

Diana · Post by **Diana** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 9:42 pm

Good to move all the possible bacteria over there! That will really help jump start things. Keep a close eye on the ammonia and nitrite, and be ready to do water changes as needed to keep the levels low.

that biological supplement stuff, the extra concentrated bacteria in a bottle

If the active ingredients are not the Nitrospiros species of bacteria it is a waste of money. Here is the research that backs up this statement:
http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/Library_P ... apers.html

emi-chan · Post by **emi-chan** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:27 am

(i didn't buy the bacteria in a bottle, it came free with the tank so i thought i'd use it anyway!)
yay i did something right for once!! i'll do what you say and keep an eye on ammonia ect.!

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