Originally Posted by aquarist48

Hello BB. I've been waiting on pictures simply because my tongs haven't arrived for me to get the back of the tank planted. They have been shipped
I'll have them up before too long!
Thanks again!
Ken

Originally Posted by aquarist48

Good morning. I just finished my first filter floss change in my 265g. I don't depend on my floss for biological purposes. I never have. I have tons of other media for that purpose. For me and my tanks the floss catches the waste that I feel needs to be removed to keep my readings in tact. The tank was set up 8/29/09 All is well 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and 5 nitrates, no blooms. I change my filter floss in all of the filters (my 26g too) every 5 days. (I do some things differently than others; more information can be found in my blog if you're curious, with details to my madness)

I'm preparing my 26g that houses my 2 juvie Bloody Parrots to match the pH and temperature in my 265g so I can transfer them over. The temperature is perfect, matching the temp in the 265g but my pH in the 26g is a bit higher than the 265g. So, I'm going to mix 1g of distilled water into 4g's of my tap well water (my tap has pH so high it's off the charts). So when I do my water change in the 26g on Saturday it should lower a bit within a few days and then I can transfer my babies over I want my pH in the 265g to match the 26g or to be just a tad bit higher. My rule of thumb is you can move a fish from a low pH to a high pH without much problem (as long as it's not a rediculous difference) but you can't take a fish from a high pH to a low pH without fatalities. (from experience and information I've read over the years).

My plan is to move the juvies (once everything is matched) while they are hiding in their pot bellied terracotta urn. (pictures in my profile) I'm going to lift the urn out, plugging the little hole at the bottom with my finger and covering the large opening with my hand and place the urn into the 265g letting them swim out when they feel comfortable. I think this will be a lot less stressful for my little guy and girl. I'll leave the urn in there for them to call home.

Once I see everything is matched as close as I can possibly get it, I'm going to run to Petco and see what fish they have that I want. I want 4 more Cory's and or Red Hook Silver Dollars and Striped Silver Dollars. I will probably have to drive to where I bought the tank (LFS an hour away) to get the Silver Dollars that I want. I'll quarantine them for a month and then switch them over to the 265g as well. Then repeat the process until I have my 265g stocked the way I want it. I want my new fish (Cory's) first ready to go into the 26g before I make the move. I will transfer the Bloody Parrots before I add the Cory's. By doing so this will keep me from losing my cycle in the 26g tank. I'll continue to use the 26g for quarantine until the 265g is stocked. Then I'll restock the 26g with something, not sure what.

Any thoughts and suggestions are always appreciated!
Ken
PS (everything was transferred over from my 155g to start this tank. I don't want anyone to get confused about cycling)