oneidkat

Hey I got a new tank! It's 65 Gal and now it gets tricky...

Are there any precautions to take when shifting a tank? It's empty (obviously) but I am concerned that will make it 'weak'. Would filling it with a doona be a good idea? Wrapping it too?

Secondly the tank needs some resealing and I have read up on it enough to feel like I can do this. Is it as straight forward as it sounds? I plan to buy 100% RTV Silicone as it seems this is the best type to use in tanks. Some sites recommend using acetone to clean the glass prior to resealing and some suggest isopropyl alcohol... I am thinking I shall reseal the entire tank because that seems the safest most sensible way to go about it to me... Opinions?

Thirdly what is the best & quickest way to cycle a tank? Or is slow & steady better and of so how shall I go about that? I've never had to cycle a tank before as the tank we had was established and transported with 50% of its water still in it.

I want to move the fish I currently have in a 15gal tank into the bigger one and I know I need to cycle before this can be done. Any & all advice will be appreciated SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!

Thanks
Kate

capekate

Hi Kate,
congrats on the new larger tank! yeaa.... Your fishys will be so happy!
lets see... about your questions..
Just make sure when you carry the new tank that the weight is distributed evenly. You should be ok... of course, move it while its empty.
Even tho you are in a hurry to add the fish, the only quick way to do that is to use the Bio spira. Second fastest way is to use some tank media from an established filter and gravel from another tank and some of the water as well.
BUT your going to have to let that silicon dry for a few days tho... resealing the corners doesnt seem to be so hard to do, just make sure you wipe off any excess quickly or you will have a dried mess on your hands.
Your guys have been in that other tank for so long.. a few more days or a week wont hurt. Make sure you test the water regularly to see where you are in the new cycle...
good luck with the new tank!

~ kate

oneidkat

Is bio Spira hard to find? I think our Rainbow Shark might have eaten some of our neons after all... I spent an hour searching for them today (not a huge tank currently as you know) and I only found three! I vacuumed and found nothing either so they've apparently vanished. Not so sound evil or callous but I guess it's helped reduce the over stocking issues... I don't mean to sound like I am in a rush-I definately don't want to mess this up in anyway! If it takes a month I am happy to wait-as you said yourself Kate-they've coped so far so a little while longer won't hurt too badly. Now that *I* have a tank I intend to start it properly & keep it in perfect condition.

Lord knows our shark deserves to have a happy retirement. Poor stunted thing! I've added a hollow skull with holes through it to our tank for the neons in the hopes of keeping the neons out of the sharks tunnel and they've taken to it nicely... I kind of penned them into one side of the tank with the skull for a few hours using a plastic cutting board (it does the trick) it didn't reach the water line but the neons don't really go near the top of the tank so they stayed put. I have spent so much money on this and that since taking over this tank, fixing all the goof ups and such but it was worth it. I even think the fish are begining to look healthier but that could be imagination. This site has been a tremendous source of info... After years of being scared of fish I am now totally into them!

I am reeeeeeeeeeeeeally looking forward to this... I am even going to try to build a stand (something to occupy me while the silicone dries) and found some awesomely simple plans on a site where you enter the dimensions of your tank. My hubby has started calling me the 'crazy fish lady' because it's suddenly all about the fish!!! I am going to keep my smaller tank and maybe use it for my snails. I know lots of people dislike them but I love them so much! Thanks ever so much for your help Kate... With all my enquiries!

Kate

Narcicius

You could keep snails and a dwarf puffer, they make quite the interesting couple.

Narcicius

Just kidding BTW just felt really bad after posting that, Dwarfs eat snails like candy, but they are one of my favorite pet fish. They are very interactive. but srsly ignore that earlier post.

FL CommunityFans

Bio-Spira via drfostersmith online cost me about 50$ last night. It's enough to treat 90 gallons ( our 29g and 10g - plus maybe another tank if I can talk the wife in to it ;p )

They have 2 different sizes you can order. The shipping is 1 day refrigerated shipping and costs 19.99 no matter how much of the product you order. I think the 3ox package of it is 29.99 and the 1 oz package is 19.99.
Order it now, and get it in the next day or two.

oneidkat

I just did a rudementary search and couldn't find somewhere to get bio spira online here in Australia (now you know why I keep adding u's to words like colour hee hee) so I am going to zip off to my lfs to see if he can get some for me... I won't need it for a few days coz I have to get the tank resealed and test it's water tight, so that'll give him time to get it in if he can.

Are there any other products that can do the same thing? I recently used a product called CYCLE which is apparently some kind of nitrifier that "rapidly matures tanks". Is this the same as bio spira or is it a poor substitute?

Lucky you said something because I might have taken that advice seriously... Not might have, WOULD HAVE... LOL! You don't like snails? Or are you just up for making people giggle? Thanks a bunch guys for the advice and the laughs!

FL CommunityFans

Folks here say CYCLE is a poor product. I have it as well, but did not sue the full usage of it, as directed simply because I am not wanting to wait 4-6 weeks for it to cycle through. I can't say it's a poor product, but many longtime members here have told me this repeatedly, so take that for what you will

GL finding some bio-spira. We have quite a few LFS's in this area of Florida, and none of them carried it or would order it for me

COBettaCouple

Cycle contains the wrong kind of bacteria. That's what causes it to be just expensive water.

oneidkat

I have hunted my area and NO ONE has bio spira and they won't get it either. UGH!!!! I was told by a few stores cycle would do the trick and have the tank ready in 7-12 days but it will cost about $10 a day to 'feed' the tank which is excessive given that it might not work at all.

I have used cycle before but as to its effectiveness I can't say... I added some recently coz I had phosphates from over feeding... Would I be better off cycling my tank with out the aid of products and so it using tank media from an established filter and gravel from another tank and some of the water as Capekate suggests? I don't mind waiting, I just want to get it right... I think I'll go read up on cycling some more. Thanks guys!