Algae Question

[Honey Bee]

Good Afternoon:

I am changing over a 30 gallon community tank to a NEW 55 Gallon Community Tank. The 30 gallon tank has mainly bottom feeders. It has been in operation for over 2 years.

The fish are in relatively good health. I have purchased new Plastic Plants & will include some LIVE Plants also. The 30 gallon tank has several somewhat, expensive coral reefs & Rocks. Also, there are some stones that I would like to include in the 55 Gallon Tank. These items have been in the 30 gallon tank for over 2 years.

Would it be Standard Aquarium Practice to place the Reefs, Rocks & Stones, in the new 55 Gallon Tank with the ALGAE on them from the previous tank? My thinking would be to give the Bottom Feeders Algae to feed on while the tank is becoming established.

I normally allow all new Tanks to establish for 1 to 2 weeks before introducing the fish to the new Environment.

With All Best Wishes:


Honey Bee :help:

[imma24]

Good Afternoon:

I am changing over a 30 gallon community tank to a NEW 55 Gallon Community Tank. The 30 gallon tank has mainly bottom feeders. It has been in operation for over 2 years.

The fish are in relatively good health. I have purchased new Plastic Plants & will include some LIVE Plants also. The 30 gallon tank has several somewhat, expensive coral reefs & Rocks. Also, there are some stones that I would like to include in the 55 Gallon Tank. These items have been in the 30 gallon tank for over 2 years.

Would it be Standard Aquarium Practice to place the Reefs, Rocks & Stones, in the new 55 Gallon Tank with the ALGAE on them from the previous tank? My thinking would be to give the Bottom Feeders Algae to feed on while the tank is becoming established.

I normally allow all new Tanks to establish for 1 to 2 weeks before introducing the fish to the new Environment.

With All Best Wishes:


Honey Bee :help:
What do you mean by establish your new tank? Are you referring to cycling your new tank? If so, are you going to move your current filter to your new tank or put the filter media in your new filter? You can't cycle a tank in 1-2 weeks, unless you already know that.

You can move whatever you want into your new tank decoration-wise but I wouldn't put bottom feeders in the tank until you know the tank is cycled.

[Brhino]

what kind of bottom feeders do you have? A lot of them eat little or no algae anyhow.

[Honey Bee]

thumbs2:

Sorry for the delay in getting back to the forum.....Had to go to a Trade Meeting & get some Education.

Pardon my French, but I was talking about the cycle procedure? How long do you feel a tank takes to properly cycle? I have added fish over the years in tanks that were in operation for about 2 weeks, with little or no problems to basic Community fish. Nothing Fancy.

Since this is my PRIZE Bottomfeeders, Cory Catfish, Algae Eater-1, I want to listen to you all good. I also have a Big Sucker, (Starts with a P), that I raised from about 1 inch to about a pound now. I also have many shark type species & Snails. Just come in & it is a bit too late to get to specifics, but if you want, I will look the official names up, tomorrow.

I plan to use everything new, except for the question I had about the Rocks & Corral. I had planned to let the 55 gallon tank run for about 2 weeks. I use well water, with every kind of filter known to man.

They appear to eat Algae, the 30 gallon tank is relatively clean after 2 years, but, they appear to eat the Algae on the Rocks, quiet a lot.

Hope this Helps.

Busy Bee

[Honey Bee]

Good Morning Again: :hmm3grin2orange:

Some of my mules look like this in the Pasture. Well, I have had time to review many posts within this forum & it appears I have much to learn. I have been lucky.

Even though I have an Advanced Medical Degree, my education in fishology is "SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS. Time restraints over the last 30 years has limited my research in all of this, but, retirement has given me more time to work even harder & increase my interest's in this fascinating Hobby. My wife let me have a Man Cave in the back of our newly restored Farm House & this is what precipitated me pooling all of my interests into one room.

I think my best bet is to wash all of the rocks & items & include them within the new 55 gallon tank.

This matter or post concludes with 2 questions,

1. How Long should I wait to introduce the Bottom Feeders to the newly
Established Tank? I like the post about 2 filters. I will explore this idea.

2. Would there be a post or link within this forum, that describes a
Maintenance plan with what chemicals, testing, etc. in a 55 tank?

With All Best Wishes:

Honey Bee

Busy Bee Farms

[bignellm]

In moving over the bottom feeders, I would either wait for the natural foods they eat to develop in the tank ( a few weeks ) or plan on supplementing their foods with fresh foods. Pleco's would like fresh Cucumber and Zucchini slices as well as driftwood in their diet.

If the tank ornaments are going straight in, some of their foods are already there, on the decor.

On links to maintenance, many of us have them in our signature lines below and alot of that information is stickied in Under the Article Forum and Beginner's Corner

Article Forum Link (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/forumdisplay.php?f=121)
Beginner's Forum Link (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/forumdisplay.php?f=66)

[imma24]

Pardon my French, but I was talking about the cycle procedure? How long do you feel a tank takes to properly cycle?

I have added fish over the years in tanks that were in operation for about 2 weeks, with little or no problems to basic Community fish. Nothing Fancy.

Since this is my PRIZE Bottomfeeders, Cory Catfish, Algae Eater-1, I want to listen to you all good. I also have a Big Sucker, (Starts with a P), that I raised from about 1 inch to about a pound now. I also have many shark type species & Snails. Just come in & it is a bit too late to get to specifics, but if you want, I will look the official names up, tomorrow.

I plan to use everything new, except for the question I had about the Rocks & Corral. I had planned to let the 55 gallon tank run for about 2 weeks. I use well water, with every kind of filter known to man.

Busy Bee
Cycling a tank properly involves feeding it ammonia (whether from fish themselves or pure ammonia) to grow bacteria in your filter (it goes through the nitrogen cycle) - this bacteria processes ammonia to nitrites & then a different bacteria to nitrates. You can not place a time frame on this process - it is different for every tank - fishless cycling generally takes less time because you can "spike" your ammonia right away and not worry about hurting fish - this grows bacteria faster.

The only way you will know your tank is cycled is by taking readings of "water parameters" which for a cycled tank will be 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrites & 20ppm or less nitrates. It's best to use a liquid test kit to do this as test strips aren't very accurate or reliable. There are links in this forum to read about both types of cycling (with fish & fishless).

It sounds like you have always cycled your tanks with fish - which is fine, except once the fish's ammonia gets into the water, it concentrates more on the bottom and affects bottom dwellers more, causing stress, possible burns & other negative stuff. It's best to wait until a tank is completely cycled before adding those types of fish.

Also sounds like you have a Pleco - if you have a common (rather than say a Bristlenose) one, it will get way too big for your 55gal tank - it will grow to at least a foot.

As for filtration, it is best to have filtration for at least double the size of your tank - if you can put some media from your current filter in your new filter, that will help speed up bacterial growth by "seeding" the new filter, but you will need to decide how you want to cycle your new tank.

[Honey Bee]

Good Afternoon Again:

Feeding the bottom feeders raw food……….Boy, I am learning now. Now let us entertain my ignorance.

Concerning the Ammonia issue. Is that Household Ammonia or a product at the Pet Store? Is there a formula to use in the Cycle Process? Never did this before, I have a real fancy test kit. Controlled the levels with how much water removed during the weekly change of water. (The natives had to learn English)!!!!!

We have a new Chain Pet Shop that is opened about 35 miles north of here. Like a child at Christmas Time. I am speaking of all the Chemicals & Brand Names, I have never heard of.

What I was speaking of is an Article or post suggesting the basic Maintenance Chemicals everyone is using now????? I will look up my big boy. If he gets to big, I will put him in one of the irrigation Ponds. It is like a child to me. So, I take it, that I will do no harm by adding a few of the stones to the new Tank, without washing them?

Many Thanks:

Honey Bee
Busy Bee Farms

[bignellm]

Should wash/rinse the stones, to get debris off, but no real biggie unless is a rock like limestone, that dissolves into the water column. Just will raise PH.

On the Ammonia, it's Pure Ammonia, like the household cleaner--just be sure not to use any that has fragrances or additives. Just Pure Ammonia.

[Honey Bee]

Good Afternoon:

Any formula or link or post about how much ammonia during the cycle process for a 55 tank?????

The rocks and or stones are non porous. What I was speaking of is an Article or post suggesting the basic Maintenance Chemicals everyone is using now????? Concerning this question????? Any posts or links or good books?

Many Thanks

Honey Bee
Busy Bee Farms

[bignellm]

Ok, basic maintenance chemicals.

Here's what I have:


Tetra Aqua Safe

That's it for maintenance chemicals on my side. All you need is a good dechlorinator for maintenance chemicals, in order to nullify the chlorine in city/municipal tap water during water changes and gravel vacuuming.

Other's use a product called Prime to dechlorinate. But I find Tetra Aqua Safe more than adequate for the job.

[Cermet]

As for the amount of ammonia, the tank's filter will need 1 part per million (ppm.) Don't add too much above this or the cycle may slow. Normally, it takes four to six weeks. Do not change the water during the cycle - only after it is complete.