My situation

[HorrorShowRot]

So I can get a african knife fish and a sengele bichir or however its spelt for free. Problem is my 90 tank is cycling. They are both juvies knife fish is just over an inch and the bichir is maybe an inch at the most. Could I house them in a 30 gallon for about 2 weeks while my tank cycles? This tank was going to be a small community so its already cycled but I wanna throw these 2 in there. Reason why. I can get these 2 fish for free when normally they are 20 bucks a piece. My lfs needs to clear them out because they are getting more common fish in that will sell. Any thoughts.

[Girl Got Mojo]

I think that'd be okay for 2 weeks, especially if they are that small. What about
taking the media from the 30 into the 90? Then re-cycle the 30 and there's less
moving around stress on the fish.

[MCHRKiller]

Put them in the 30G for a couple of weeks, that would be totally fine...also let them grow a bit before getting the 90G. Smaller tanks are easier for the little guys to find food in. Let your 90G finish cycling and add the fish when you can

[HorrorShowRot]

90s also growing some plants trying out my green thumb

[PostalPenguin]

Why dont you just take some seeded media from your 30g and put it in the 90g? Bam, instant cycle and you can add the fish immediately.

[jaysee]

If they are that small, I would use the 30 as a grow out. They'll be fine in there for a while. I currently have my knife, bichir and bushfish (I bought the butterfly but cannot get it yet) in a 29 while I figure out what to do about the 55 - I think I just have to redo the seams and hopefully not split the glass.

PP has a good point - once you have A cycled tank, you no longer have to go through the process. However, I agree with MCHRkiller that a 90 would make it more difficult to find food. I'd say they're babies, not juvies

Great pickups. What else do you plan on stocking? I would make it a non cichlid african tank, with a school of congos, a featherfin catfish, a bushfish and a butterfly. Basically my 55 with the addition of congos If I had a larger tank I'd do the congos, but I do not.