F1ERCE

I'm probably upgrading my 29-gal to a 55-gal this weekend. Logistically, what is the best way to do it? Do I fill it with water from the former tank and then finish it with tap water? I'm only planning on moving my red devil and blood parrot to the 55-gal and leaving everyone else in the 29.

Also, I want to make the 55-gal a cichlid tank. Preferebly Africans. Who would best be compatible in the new tank? The blood parrot is pretty big and often bullies my red devil, chases him, but I love them both. ha.

Darlene

Ok this info is what I have been told on here, so really it comes from all the other members here You need to seed your new tank with some filter media from your old one and also gravel and those will help your cycle go faster in the new one. From what I have read the water doesn't hold much of the good bacteria you need, its in your filter and gravel.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to help you out more. They are great on here. Welcome to fishlore!

I have no idea about compatible tank mates. Good luck!

Bishop169

Darlene is right the water wont help

What I did when i upgraded is i took the filter pad from my old tank and added it to my new tank and added some gravel.... cut my cycle down to like 3-4 days just running it and feeding the tank..

You can also seed it by filling up a stocking with gravel from your old tank

BIO sipra is a good chioce too if you can get it my lps is always out of it..signs are all over the place but they never seem to have any when i need it.

Good luck and congrats on the new tank

Alessa

yes, but if he plans to leave the others in the 29 gal, removing the filter will throw him into a mini cycle.

ok, you dont give information in wether or not you know about the Nitrogen Cycle. In case you dont http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

also do you have a test kit to measure tank parameters? The API test kit is the one recomended here.

the best thing to do is the following:

squeeze the old filter into a cup (there will be green liquid comming out) and get some gravel from the old tank. Once the 55 gal is running with dechlorinated water, add the gravel, and then add the green mud directly into the new filter.

get some household ammonia with no additives and/or surfactants. and add as many drops as it takes to raise the ammonia to .50 in the new tank. repeat the proccess of ammonia adding every day until the the new tank test for 0 in both ammonia and nitrite and your new tank is ready.

this is the only way to do it without compromising either tanks inhabitants.

good luck and welcome!

MissMTS

It sounds like everyone has already given you good advice as far as seeding your new tank. I can help you as far as your tankmates go.

First of all, a brichardi cichlid will be VERY aggressive when it matures and will kill the rest of the fish in your tank. They also require a very high pH which your other fish will not thrive in. If I were you I would deffinetly take your brichardis back to the LFS. I would replace them with a few more gold barbs since gold barbs are schooling fish and will be much happier in a group of 4-6 of their own kind

As far as your cichlid tank, I hate to break it to you, but with a blood parrot and a red devil, you are already stocked to the max. Both fish get quite large and are considered very aggressive. You should not put any more fish in that tank. The inch per gallon rule does not apply to large cichlids like them. For future refrence, they are american cichlids, and you should never mix them with african cichlids. They require different water parameters and also have different social habbits that will not mix.

F1ERCE

So I'll have a 55-gallon tank for only two fish? I'm kind of new to this but that seems like a waste of space and money. My 29-gal was already overstocked and everyone got along pretty good.

Alessa

ok, youre the one that said that. Im pretty sure that you can add a couple more fish to the 55 gal. I am not an expert on cichlids but I think that the red devil and the parrot would take yo about 10in of fish (dont know the adult size of these fish). but I think that as long as you research for compatible tankmates you'll be fine to add more fish to the 55.

MissMTS

If you want to have more fish in a 55 gallon, you need to pick smaller fish. When stocking a tank, you need to consider the adult size of the fish. It is not humane to overstock a tank just because you want to keep more fish in it. Your fish will suffer from bad water quality, overcrowding, stunted growth, and live short lives. It is not just a matter of everyone getting along. Keeping to many fish in a tank is the equivalent of keeping a bunch of people locked in a closet together for a month. Technically, they all fit in the tank, but that doesn't mean it is right to do it.

Red Devils get 12 inches long and Blood Parrots can get up to 8-10 inches long. I definetly would not add any more fish to the 55 gallon tank. The tank would already be stocked to the max with those two fish. Especially because they are both aggressive species, and are very thick bodied and produce tons of waste.

Bishop169

[quote=MissMTS;399748] Keeping to many fish in a tank is the equivalent of keeping a bunch of people locked in a closet together for a month. Technically, they all fit in the tank, but that doesn't mean it is right to do it.
QUOTE]


It isn't?


Oh man I have to rush home from work

At least I will have more closet space

platy ben

I totally agree with MissMTS

If i were you i would take the red devil and blood parrot back to the LFS and get a pair of leopard cichlids to breed in the 55G