New 29 gallon

[teddscau]

I got a new tank for Christmas, 29 gallon. I've put nice, new, light blue gravel in and it looks great! Took a scoop full of my old tank gravel and added it to speed up bacterial growth. I put the filter and heater on that it came with. It also came with a trial size pack of TetraMin Tropical Flakes, a pack of trial size AquaSafe, and a nice, blue net. Got it all set up. Tank's a nice temperature (extra warm to encourage algae and bacterial growth) I had to dump out most of the water yesterday so I could put a board underneath it to reinforce the dresser it's on (the dresser is used to store stuff) That's a real setback. :seeingstars:
Do you guys have any tips for how long to wait before adding fish, what I can do to speed it along, make adding fish to the tank safer, what things I should add, etc.

[annageckos]

Read this [Only Registered Users Can See Links.] about cycling your tank. You are going to have to put in a ammonia source to start the cycle. That link will tell you want you need to do. Good luck. Any idea's on fish yet?

[teddscau]

I'm going to add my ghost shrimp, oto, snails and whiteclouds. I'm going to eventually put a blue ram in and some cherry shrimp. Not sure what else I should put in. Any ideas? Nothing that will kill the inhabitants.

[teddscau]

I've heard of a product called SafeStart. It adds bacteria or something. Should I get it?

[rich311k]

Your best bet is to do a fishless cycle. The safe start will help move things along but is not a substitute for a cycle. You said you added old gravel do you have access to another running tank?

[frank_zappa]

if you have another, cycled tank running, cut off a piece of the filter media from that tank's filter, and put it in with the filter media in the new tank...then you should be all set.

[teddscau]

Yeah, I have another tank. A 5 gallon.

[MrJim]

Be sure your dresser is up to the weight~full 29 gal tank is pretty heavy.

[teddscau]

The dresser seems fine and the board is taking a good amount of the wait.

[teddscau]

Oops, spelled weight wrong.

[teddscau]

Would it be okay if I skipped the fishless cycle and just added a bunch of water from the other tank and added the bunch of the old gravel?

[jay2487]

no the water only holds waste gases the bacteria has put off, it doesn't do much for the cycle, swap filter media or substrate and decor as that is where most BB lives. If you don't want to do a fishless cycle the easiest way I've found is to buy 3 or 4 cheap comet feeder goldfish. They put off plenty of ammonia and are pretty tough so they will tough through your changing water conditions. I wouldn't suggest putting expensive or fish you love in while cycling, the changing conditions will probably kill them. The fishless cycle is going to be the best route no matter how much you don't want to do it.

[teddscau]

I know! I could borrow my friend's goldfish! Add some old gravel, swap filter from old tank, wait a while and poof! All good.

[annageckos]

Your friends goldfish will suffer from the toxic ammonia and nitrite. How happy wouldd your friend be if you killed his/her fish? If you have used media from another tank that will speed things along greatly. White cloud are great little fish, but they are a cold water species and GBR is a warm water fish. GBR need a much higher temp than the WC. Ghost shrimp will do well with either fish. Cherry shrimp may get eaten by the GBR if you go that way. If you are set on GBR than stock around that. Some type of tetra would be good. You will also need to let your tank mature for a couple of months before adding the ram. Good luck with your tank. Research what you like to see if they will go together.

[teddscau]

Would white clouds be fine in 75 degree water?

[teddscau]

WAIT! I mean 78 degree water!

[annageckos]

No, WC need a lower temp. I wouldn't go any higher than 73F. On the other hand GBR's need a temp 78-82F. What fish do you like? Maybe if you list some fish we can see what ones are compatible.

[teddscau]

Darn!!!! I can only keep one tank! I have white clouds that I need to move to my new tank eventually! But I really want a blue ram!

[Deleted User]

Congrats on your new tank!

I second the recommendation to take some of the filter media out of your existing tank... possibly all of it now and put it in the filter and switch your fish over. I don't know that it's worked "perfectly" for me when I've greatly increased the water volume (but not the number of fish) but others swear it does...

Good luck,
Jill

[teddscau]

Stupid white clouds! They live for SEVEN years! I want tropical fish, not wimps that call themselves tropical! All the fish I want like over 75 degree water! I'm stuck with a wimp tank! Hmmm. Maybe I could keep both tanks...

[jay2487]

or take the white clouds back to your LFS. You don't seem to like them so don't keep them. The LFS will take them

[teddscau]

I'm a genius! I'm keeping them in the old tank. But what do I do with the golden white cloud who's a bully? Anything I can do to get him to smarten up?

[teddscau]

Aww, look at the baby. [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[teddscau]

Ahhh! The picture disappeared!

[teddscau]

Yay! 116 views!

[teddscau]

Guys, you gotta checkout the photos on this site!
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Taurus]

The Blue Acara is striking! Beautiful fish as are the GBRs.

[teddscau]

I'm trying to get my new tank safe for fish as soon as possible. Here's my plan:

1. Add a scoop of gravel from my other tank.

2. Add decor from other tank.

3. Put old filter media from other tank in new filter.

4. Maintain 86 degrees to encourage bacteria and algae growth.

5. Keep tank light on for over 12 hours.

6. Anything else?

[annageckos]

If you are taking the media from the other tank, what about the WC's. They will be in an uncycled tank. You NEED an ammonia source to keep the bacteria alive. If you move the media, but are not feeding the bacteria(ammonia or fish waste) it will die. If you don't like the WC return or trade them in. Get a couple of fish for the 29 with the other filter on it. It will have bacteria in it already. Don't worry about growing algea, it doesn't need help. You will have some soon anough.

[rich311k]

Why dont you return the WCs get some fish you like, only a coule to start and then move everything to the new tank. No cycle and you have fish that you want. After that add fish slowly.