flyin-lowe

I plan on setting up my 120G tank in a week or so. I found out this week that an old friend of mine is the manager of a PetSmart nearby. When I have been in there the tanks seem clean and I don't see a lot of ICH or dead fish. I was planning on doing a fishless cycle but since I found out he is working there I thought about getting some filter media to put in the two AC110's I will be putting on the tank.
My plan is to stock the tank with angel fish and cory's right now. I was planning on adding some of the cory's when I add the seeded media as I did not want to add a bunch of angels right away until the tank is a little more established. How long after I add the cory's should I wait until I can consider the tank to be safe from any disease or other issues that I might get from the PetSmart media?

Amanda

Not "a lot" of ich? Meaning you still see some?
No, I do not trust chain stores at all. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.

Prince Powder

I worked at a Petsmart before and even though I have to say by comparison the one I worked at was better than most of the others I've visited, I still would not trust their media. Keep in mind A LOT of fish go through these stores and you not only have to trust how the store is keeping them, but also the breeders or farms their stock comes from. With so many fish going in and out of these tanks it increases the likelihood that some of these fish have an illness which may not show up for the short time they are in the Petsmart tanks, but instead rear their ugly heads once they are taken home by an unsuspecting buyer. I've seen them adding new stock to tanks, I've even helped them do it on several occasions and let me tell you, when these fish get stocked at the stores there has never been an occasion, not once, that they didn't have dead fish in the bags with their new stock. NOT ONCE. Not seeing dead or sick fish only means that they are vigilant about removing them, it doesn't mean they don't get them and that any other fish have not been exposed. Borrowed media is best borrowed from private, well established tanks that you KNOW you can trust.

flyin-lowe

Sounds good and thanks.
I do have a 75 gallon set up that is running an AC 110. I removed the carbon and put in another half section of the sponge in its place a month or two ago. If I removed the ceramic rings from the established tank and put them in one of the AC 110's on the new tank do you think that would be enough bacteria to keep the cory's going and get a cycle going. Also would replacing these rings throw the 75 gallon into a mini cycle, the tank is not heavily stocked (check my profile).

Prince Powder

Whenever you remove media from a tank you run the risk of a mini cycle, but if you remove just the one piece of media I think you would be okay. You'll still have the bacteria on your sponges as well as in the gravel and decor. Just keep a close eye on the parameters for a few weeks.

It is always more difficult to cycle a larger tank with media from a smaller one, but any bacteria you add from an established tank will definitely boost your new cycle. It will not give you an instant cycle, but it will get things going faster. Because corys are sensitive to water conditions I would leave them where they are now and instead start a fishless cycle on the new tank using the used media. With the established media it should considerably shorten the amount of time it will take to complete the cycle. Then once you've completely cycled the new filter you can move the corys.

flyin-lowe

So here's the plan. Today I opened my to new AC 110's and took out the ceramic rings. I put all of them in the 75 gallon tank that is established. I am going to leave them in there for a couple weeks. Then I am going to take the rings out of the AC110 that has been in the 75g for months and put them in one of the new filters for the 120g. Of the two sets of rings I put in the tank today, one will go into the filter of the 75g and the other into the second filter on the 120g. I then plan on adding the gravel,driftwood, and about 10 small java ferns, and possible some other plants. Also I am going to start dosing with ammonia to complete a fishless cycle. I am hoping it goes pretty quick with two sets of ceramic rings and the plants. Anyone else have any other suggestions?

Slug

In short, no I wouldn't trust chain stores for much of anything.

harpua2002

Comments in red. Best of luck!

+1000. Chain stores are pretty worthless most of the time IMO... bad prices, terrible advice, and poor quality stock most of the time.

stache

Are there any good online tropical fish stores. I haven't found any tropical fish stores here (northwest Arkansas) except for Pet Smart and Petco? I am starting a 20 gal tank. It has been set up for 4 months. We had one goldfish who died 2 weeks ago. I don't need to do a complete water change do I? He died during the night and we removed him first thing in the morning. I want to put in tropicals. Nothing fancy maybe neons and danios or platys and mollys Any suggestions where to buy my fish. Also if I use the pH 7.0 additive will that be ok for the fish I want? The ammonia level is at 0. nitrate between 0-20 nitrite 0 The PH is at 7.6 which I know is too high for tropicals. I used a strip to test but I also have individual test kits for ammonia and PH. I would like to add plants so any suggestions on what would work well with the fish I mentioned? Thanks for any help.

Prince Powder

Since your goldfish died 2 weeks ago have you been feeding the tank with any type of ammonia source? Beneficial bacteria needs a consistent source of ammonia in order to survive. While your fish was in there it provided the ammonia necessary, but with no fish you need to add a source of ammonia yourself. I would suggest adding a pinch of fish food to the tank for the next few days and test to make sure your cycle hasn't stopped. Your current readings could be misleading you because they look fine, but that could just mean that the bacteria consumed all the ammonia and nitrite before dying. The Nitrate would still be there even if your cycle had stopped if you didn't do a water change to remove them. While I wouldn't recommend using media from a chain, if they are all you have available you could still buy stock there. Just make sure you quarantine the fish prior to adding them to your tank. 2 weeks would be the minimum, 3 would be better. That way if they do have health issues you can catch it before adding them to your main tank. It would be a good idea to QT any fish regardless of where you get it from though. If you prefer to order online, Drs. Foster and Smith has an online store for live fish.
www.liveaquaria.com
I have never ordered online, but I believe some members have used this site for fish. Perhaps it is best to wait for one of them to offer some pointers on good online sites.

TedsTank

I agree with a hearty NO on getting seeded anything from a fish store. Even if you like them....just what might be lurking waiting.... watching....lol

Most petstores go thru times of fungus, ich, finrot etc..... only use seeded from your tanks or friends that you know.

stache

Thanks for the help.

leeishom

bottom line.
never trust a company that would be happy to lose 100.000 bucks because of a small problem.

compared to a mom and pop store that thrive on every single dollar it can, may earn.