born again newbie, lol!

[dorkopolis]

Hi!

After 8 years without keeping a serious aquarium, I've recently started back into the hobby. I've had quite a lot of experience, but I've also discovered that time has made me a bit of a newb all over again.

I got my first aquarium about 21 years ago after it became evident that goldfish bowls were not the best way to ensure an alive fish. About 17 years ago, I started my first "serious" aquarium. I've had all manner of goldfish, tropical freshwater, reef tanks, brackish, and finally a fish-only marine tank.

The only major things that I never kept were cichlids, discus, and other higher-end freshwater fish.

I currently have a 10 gallon tank which I did very well with. Right now it has 7 platys, one 6-week old platy fry, 6 neons, a chinese algae eater, and upside-down catfish. It's also currently housing a 7-inch peacock eel until my new tank has good enough water quality to support it.

The 10 gallon sounds horrifically overstocked, but I suppose my maintance routine has kept it manageable. I was also keeping a gourami, female betta, two mollies, and two glofish in there as well.

Yesterday morning, we set up a 30 gallon. I've seeded the tank with substrate from the 10-gallon, as well as added 5 gallons of the water from the same tank. So far, I have two mollies, 7 baby mollies, a pictus cat, and a platy. Also I have the above mentioned glofish, gourami, and betta. The tank it cycling very nicely and quickly. And yes, I have a plan in case everything spirals horribly out of control, lol!

Anyway, I'm feeling overconfident at the moment, but don't be surprised if I'm posting in a few days that I've totally made a fool of myself. :)

Oh! And I'm happy to be here!

[Drumachine09]

Contrary to popular belief, using water from another aquarium doesnt help a cycle.


Welcome to the A.C.!

[dorkopolis]

Contrary to popular belief, using water from another aquarium doesnt help a cycle.


Welcome to the A.C.!

Thanks for the welcome! I've only recently heard that adding water from a different tank helps it to cycle (and I wondered whether or not it was true.) Regardless, I've always wanted a bit of old water in my new tanks. Something about a tank full of virgin water just creeps me out.

Any advice or correction is certainly appreciated. It's been so long, that I can't always tell fact from myth anymore.

(and before anyone says anything, I'll be getting a 55-gallon within a month. I don't plan on staying overstocked.)

[Drumachine09]

Yup, the bacteria anchors itself to decorations, gravel, the filter media, an even the glass. It doesnt just float around in the water.

How soon are you getting the 55?

[jeffs99dime]

welcome to a.c.

[Chrona]

Welcome to AC!

Make sure to keep an eye on that chinese algae eater. I had one, and they get mean (and big) as they mature.

[dorkopolis]

Yup, the bacteria anchors itself to decorations, gravel, the filter media, an even the glass. It doesnt just float around in the water.

How soon are you getting the 55?

Ah, that's something else I did. I put about 70 percent of my old decorations and plants into the new tank, about 5 pounds of the old gravel, and let the spongy part of my old filter hang out in the new filter for several hours. I wasn't thinking of it as a cycling thing, I just wanted to clear some junk out of the ten gallon *blush*

About four weeks until the 55 (my husband had to stay home from work the past three weeks to help me through some things, so I want to wait until I have extra cash to toss around!) and then I'm going to get a 5 gallon for keeping fry. I want to use the ten gallon for a little brackish tank.

[Drumachine09]

Ah, that's something else I did. I put about 70 percent of my old decorations and plants into the new tank, about 5 pounds of the old gravel, and let the spongy part of my old filter hang out in the new filter for several hours. I wasn't thinking of it as a cycling thing, I just wanted to clear some junk out of the ten gallon *blush*

About four weeks until the 55 (my husband had to stay home from work the past three weeks to help me through some things, so I want to wait until I have extra cash to toss around!) and then I'm going to get a 5 gallon for keeping fry. I want to use the ten gallon for a little brackish tank.



Using seeded gravel/decor/filtermedia GREATLY decreases the cycling time for a new tank. I think my 10 g cycled in less than two weeks.

[dorkopolis]

Welcome to AC!

Make sure to keep an eye on that chinese algae eater. I had one, and they get mean (and big) as they mature.

So I hear. I never actually kept one before for some reason. Hopefully I'll find a nice fish store that will let me trade fish with them. I had an arrangement in the past and it was a great thing. So far, though, he's (with help from the upside down cat) is doing a great job of cleaning up the extra food on the bottom of the tank.

All my fish are wal-mart fish, so far. This hobby*coughaddictioncough* started as a little treat for my toddler, and quickly spiralled out of control for the whole family *laughs*. (My local wal-mart has a 6-month return policy on fish. And the fish-lady there is a hobbyist and keeps PRISTINE tanks. It's amazing.)

So far, though, I've only had one unexpected death. I had a really healthy molly that just suddenly died one night. The other 4 were fish that died within 12 hours of purchase. No deaths in three weeks, although I am anticipating one tonight. My gourami beat up a little female dalmation molly this afternoon.

[crackatinny]

Welcome to AC:22:

[Lady Hobbs]

Welcome. Just remember that tank will not cycle without a source of ammonia. I would do the fishless cycle which will save you a ton of work, no loss of life to fish and you can get it done in less than 2 weeks tops.

[Abbeys_Mom]

Welcome to the forum :)