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Hi all,

Calla - I know u explained this to me ages ago during my leaky tank attempt however ive lost those messages!

What i need to know is - for my new shellie tank - the best way to get it up and running.. I have a big sponge filter that has been in my current tank for a few months in the hope I'd get a new tank.. I need to know - how to NOT kill the bacteria when i move it to the new tank! Should I be taking water from my current tank, or new water etc.. If someone could just run me through the basic process that would be great.

Cheers!

When I go to set up a new tank, I always take some gravel from an already established tank and place it into the new tank. Depending on the size of the new tank, and already established tanks, depends on how big the new tank is and how large your established tank is to how much is new in the new tank...

Anyways if you have enough of the established gravel take out several handfuls out and place them into the new one. You can also take some of the water from the new tank, though I wouldn't use a whole lot of it...

Also you mentioned having a sponge filter in the new tank...do you have a sponge filter in your established tank? If so you could also take some of the filter media from the older filter and place it in the new one...

Those little things should help your new tank cycle faster...Congratulations, and best of luck--Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Yup heidi's got it Anything that has a surface will have some bacteria on it, not so much the water really. The more gravel you can take (without causing a mini cycle of course in the originating tank) the better. I'd only suggest taking gravel from your own tanks or a tank you fully trust (ie not from a LFS tank).
If you're moving an additional sponge filter that'll help out a lot since it does house lots of bacteria. IMO it should be in the established tank for a good 3 to 4 weeks to develop a good colony.
Again just make sure you don't reduce your bacterial colony in your originating tank.

^_^
[hr width='40%'] "Ah, yes," said the toad. "You've got Nac Mac Feegles!"

heidi
Could explain the reason for this statement please.
"I wouldn't use a whole lot of it..."


When I set up my new 34Lt Betta tank I will be able to remove a fair amount of base from my 5ft to help the new set up along. I also will be placing the filter foam in with my other filter to collect some good bacteria as well. Also I will be using some noodles from the existing container.

As well as adding a measured amount of Sera Bio Starter.

I did a similar thing when the 4ft broke and had the tank up and running immediatly with no trouble at all. I only lost one SAE and he jumped out. I used about 50%+ of the origional water & 100% of the base.

In my opinion will all the correct knowledge and preperation there should never be a problem. Note I used the famous word "Should"

Keith

Last edited by keithgh at 13-Mar-2005 01:58

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Keith what I was meaning but guess I didn't say (blonde moment sorry:%)) was I wouldn't fill the whole tank up, but 50% or so would be good...This would be the equivalent of a really good water change. It is also what I do when I have had to move a tank from one location (ie. house) to another. It should also leave plenty of water in the other tank so as not to send it into a mini cycle, having to try and cycle two tanks at once can drive you a little crazy, trust me:%)

Does that explain the question, I left hanging?

Let me know...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

heidi
At least you can "blonde moment" all I can say is balding and going grayer gradually.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Just wanted to say thanks for the help, tank is going great, as are the 5 multies housed there! They have already re decorated lol