Update on NEW 150 gal Tank Set-up!

[Leftyroc]

I just got back from my LFS and they said unless I was doing a heavily planted tank or discus to not wait for the RO to fill the tank and just use what ever RO I have now and disconect the filter and fill. They said to run the tank for about 24 hours and then to place my current fish in the tank with and at that point add Fritz-zyme Turbo Start 700 to jump start the Bio. He then stated every two weeks till one month I can add new fish to a total of half of the current inches in the tank. Just as a reminder my new tank is using 2 ehiem 2217 cannisters, two bio-wheels and a peguin underwater power head.

[Leftyroc]

I left out he said I probably shouldn't fishless cycle but I want to see what you guys have to say on here. Thanks for the help.

[Drumachine09]

Fishless all the way. And the one inch per gallon rule is wrong.

[Rue]

...and I don't think using R/O water to fill a brand new FW tank is a good idea...unless you're adding supplements...

[Chrona]

Not sure why he said not to fishless cycle. It's much quicker than fish cycling, you get to add all your fish (or almost all your fish) at the same time, and you don't lose any fish to ammonia/nitrite spikes. Everyone has their own opinion though I guess.

[Leftyroc]

Yeah, the guy said that the tank is so larger that there is almost zero chance of losing the 5 fish that I would be putting in there.

[Leftyroc]

Also to clarify it wasn't one inch per gallon, I need him to clarify this for me also. What he was saying if I have a total of 24 inches of fish that I could then add 12inches of fish in two weeks because that is what the bacteria in the tank should be able to handle with out spiking to much. He said to chech the nitrates every day or so once the fish are added.

[cocoa_pleco]

to be honest, theres not really any rules for how many fish you can keep. You just have to make good judgment and ask people.

[Chrona]

Also to clarify it wasn't one inch per gallon, I need him to clarify this for me also. What he was saying if I have a total of 24 inches of fish that I could then add 12inches of fish in two weeks because that is what the bacteria in the tank should be able to handle with out spiking to much. He said to chech the nitrates every day or so once the fish are added.

You will need to check the ammonia and nitrites. The nitrates aren't too much of a concern provided you do a partial water change every 1-2 weeks.

As for the fish, how big and how many of those fish listed in your sig do you have? And think about fishless cycling this way. You can either switch the fish over now and wait 2 weeks to add each new batch, during which time your fish will be subjected to ammonia and nitrites, OR you can wait 1-3 weeks max for fishless cycling to finish and add everything at once. Unless all those fish are real small you will get spikes, since cichlids are fairly dirty fish.

As an alternative (or a supplement), you could set up and run both Eheims on your 50g now to build up some bacteria.

[Leftyroc]

I have 2 Blue Gouramis, 1 Convict, and two Jacks. The jacks are the largest at about 5 and 7 inches.

I have the tank half filled and I am about to start running the ehiems once filled, a friend of mine suggested I take 20-30 gal of the water from my current tank and populate it in the new tank along with the majority of the stones and decor. He thinks that will bring the cycling down alot.

As always thanks for the help. This is the best forum!!!

[Chrona]

The vast majority of the bacteria is in the filter and the substrate so old water will not effect cycling very much, if at all. If you are set in fish cycling, then run your Whisper on the 150g for a few weeks as well as the Eheims. See if you can swirl off some filter catridge debris in front of the Eheim intakes. The only thinkg keeping the old water would do is decrease the change in water parameters as you transfer fish over (which is a good thing of course)

[Leftyroc]

One thing he also mentioned was taking the filters from the old tank and placing them on the bottom layer of the canisters so it would bring the bacteria up throught the layers. Maybe this is a good Idea also? I am not set on fish cycling I would like to try fishless cycling and see if I could get it to move quickly. Who knows, I just am going to get everything running and then decide tomorrow.

[Leftyroc]

It is soo late here in NJ I am going crazy and have to work in the AM, opps that is now!!! My question is: Is it bad to only use a little (3in) of Ehfisubstrat in my 2217? I am 50/50 bleaching the substrat that was in ther can and had some fresh. Since this is my 1st canister I would assume that some is better than none I just want to plug the can in a make sure it works and have it start to cycle.

[cocoa_pleco]

canisters cycle REALLY fast for me. I remember my 20g long and hydor canister pretty much set the world cycling record probably, 8 hours flat. I almost crapped myself that day.

[crackatinny]

I had no choice in my 120g but to add 4 of my fish after only 2 days, due to probs in the other overcrowded tanks, I am keeping a real close eye on the fish in the new tank, so far so good.

Have you posted any pics of your new tank yet?

[jeffs99dime]

where's the pics of the tank?:ezpi_wink1:

[Leftyroc]

Pics of the tank will be this evening when I get home. At 4am when I was working on it I was to dilusional to take pics and post. I promise there will be some tonight.

[jeffs99dime]

Pics of the tank will be this evening when I get home. At 4am when I was working on it I was to dilusional to take pics and post. I promise there will be some tonight.


cool. can't wait to see them.

[Fishlova88]

Fishless all the way. And the one inch per gallon rule is wrong.
Really? then whats the rule? Cuz i hate that rule. lol

[cocoa_pleco]

there isnt a rule. You have to use general sense and ask people if youre overstocked.