Plants Arrived Before Driftwood

Hey guys, I'm having a go at a planted tank and received my plants in the mail today. The problem is I haven't received my piece of driftwood that I also ordered so I'm really only worried about my java moss. Should I store it somehow to keep it alive for a few days while waiting for my driftwood or just let it float in the tank?

Also I'm moving from a 20 gallon to a 55 gallon. The 20 gallon is fully cycled and has been up and running for a few years. Is the easiest way to move that cycle to the new tank to just move the filter over to the 55 gallon? If so I do have a few fish still in the 20 gallon so how would I go about that? Cut the filter in half so I can have it in both tanks or just move the filter and fish over to the 55 gallon?

Thanks!

 

The problem is I haven't received my piece of driftwood that I also ordered so I'm really only worried about my java moss. Should I store it somehow to keep it alive for a few days while waiting for my driftwood or just let it float in the tank?

Just let the moss float in your tank for a few days until your drift wood arrives. It should be fine.

Also I'm moving from a 20 gallon to a 55 gallon. The 20 gallon is fully cycled and has been up and running for a few years. Is the easiest way to move that cycle to the new tank to just move the filter over to the 55 gallon? If so I do have a few fish still in the 20 gallon so how would I go about that? Cut the filter in half so I can have it in both tanks or just move the filter and fish over to the 55 gallon?

If you plan to keep your 20 gallon running, leave the filter on that tank. Buy a new, presumably bigger, filter for your 55 gallon. Clean out the filter sponges (or whatever it has) from your 20 gallon's filter into your new 55 gallon, all that filter gunk should jump start the cycle.

 

Just let the moss float in your tank for a few days until your drift wood arrives. It should be fine.

If you plan to keep your 20 gallon running, leave the filter on that tank. Buy a new, presumably bigger, filter for your 55 gallon. Clean out the filter sponges (or whatever it has) from your 20 gallon's filter into your new 55 gallon, all that filter gunk should jump start the cycle.

I thought it would probably be ok just floating in the tank. Thanks for confirming.

I was actually going to clean up the 20 gallon and probably sell it. Didn't really plan on keeping it going. I've already got the 55 gallon up and running with it's own bigger filter but wasn't sure what it would take to transfer the cycle.

So I should take some of the gunk from the 20's filter and put it in the 55's filter then? Is that what you mean?

Thanks for replying.

 

Hey guys, I'm having a go at a planted tank and received my plants in the mail today. The problem is I haven't received my piece of driftwood that I also ordered so I'm really only worried about my java moss. Should I store it somehow to keep it alive for a few days while waiting for my driftwood or just let it float in the tank?

Also I'm moving from a 20 gallon to a 55 gallon. The 20 gallon is fully cycled and has been up and running for a few years. Is the easiest way to move that cycle to the new tank to just move the filter over to the 55 gallon? If so I do have a few fish still in the 20 gallon so how would I go about that? Cut the filter in half so I can have it in both tanks or just move the filter and fish over to the 55 gallon?

Thanks!

You could keep the moss in the fridge too

 

So I should take some of the gunk from the 20's filter and put it in the 55's filter then? Is that what you mean?

Yes. But, you don't necessarily have put the gunk directly in the new filter. If you just place it in the tank, it will get in the filter too. It will make your water cloudy and dirty looking for a while, but it will clear up.

 

9 out of 10 times I receive purchased plants (or moss) when I'm at work and don't find the time to prepare the plants; so I simply place them in a vase with tap water. Sometimes, they are in the vase for days in a row; never have problems. I don't place plants or moss directly in the tank as I don't want rock wool or gel to get into the tank.

 

Move everything you can from the cycled 20 gallon over to the 55 gallon. By doing so you will be moving the cycle from one tank to another. Bacteria is growing on everything in the tank so the more items you can move over the less chance you have of having an ammonia or nitrite spike in the new tank. I would go ahead and run both filters on the new tank for at least a month but even better continue running both filter for the life of this tank. If you just move media you are losing the bacteria growing on all the surfaces in the original filter.

Since you are also moving fish I would move most of the water too. There is no bacteria in the water but it is the water your fish are used to. By moving most of the original water and then finish filling with fresh water your fish will just feel like they've had a big partial water change.

If you plan on adding additional fish to the bigger tank make sure the cycle is stabilized before adding any. Once you are sure it is just add a few fish at a time to allow the bacteria to catch up with the higher bio-load after each addition.

BTW: I would just float the moss.