30 Gallon Tank Setting Up A Brand New Tank

I am possibly going to get a new tank today. I am upgrading my fishes from a 10 gallon to a 30 gallon. Hoping I can find a 30 today if not I'll either go with 29 or 40. Question: what all do I need to do to start the cycle? I need a fish out cycle. I'm scared to transfer my fish from an established to a non-established tank. I have prime and Biological Booster but that's all the liquids I have. I also plan on transferring my decor and rocks from my old tank to the new one, but not until it's established... or do I need new rocks and decor? Wanting to do it right this time.
I have this list so far. Is there anything else I need?

Bottle of pure ammonia. ammonia and water as ingredients

Chelating agents

A medicine dropper

Filter from established tank

 

The safest option naturally is to fully cycle the new tank and then transfer your decor and fish. That said, if you are treating the water, I don't see a big problem with simply moving the filter from your old tank to the new one (and also keep the new filter going, so you have 2 filters in one tank) and move the fish right away. Your current filter is capable of handling your current bioload and if you're moving decor as well that should be plenty of beneficial bacteria to keep your cycle going, since it's the same amount of fish in a larger body of water.

There might be some risk to this, but I think it's very small, honestly. As long as your water is dechlorinated, it won't kill your bacteria.

If you want to both be safe and speed up the cycling in your new tank, you can take filter material (like sponges) from both filters and mush them together to transfer all the nice nasty goop to your new filter and get a new bacteria culture going. Some people consider this "instant cycling" but I'm personally a bit wary of calling it that sine we can't know exactly how much bacteria get's transferred, so I like the "double filter" method.

 

I agree with IndusNoir, you should be able to move the old filter, old deco, and old gravel, into the new tank with the new larger filter and you will still have a cycle with enough bacteria to at least sustain the current amount of fish. I have done this a number of times. It is possible I was lucky, so you will want to test, and test often, at least for a weak. You need to be extra careful to dechlorinate water that you fill the tank with, but you may not even need that chemical bio booster. I have never used it.

 

The safest option naturally is to fully cycle the new tank and then transfer your decor and fish. That said, if you are treating the water, I don't see a big problem with simply moving the filter from your old tank to the new one (and also keep the new filter going, so you have 2 filters in one tank) and move the fish right away. Your current filter is capable of handling your current bioload and if you're moving decor as well that should be plenty of beneficial bacteria to keep your cycle going, since it's the same amount of fish in a larger body of water.

There might be some risk to this, but I think it's very small, honestly. As long as your water is dechlorinated, it won't kill your bacteria.

If you want to both be safe and speed up the cycling in your new tank, you can take filter material (like sponges) from both filters and mush them together to transfer all the nice nasty goop to your new filter and get a new bacteria culture going. Some people consider this "instant cycling" but I'm personally a bit wary of calling it that sine we can't know exactly how much bacteria get's transferred, so I like the "double filter" method.

So take 1 filter from my old tank and place it in the new one? I do have to prime my wager since it's city water. I don't plan on moving my fish until it is fully cycled just to be safe. I have 2 fancy goldfish and 1 cory catfish in my 10 gall so alot of waste and too small of a tank.

I agree with IndusNoir, you should be able to move the old filter, old deco, and old gravel, into the new tank with the new larger filter and you will still have a cycle with enough bacteria to at least sustain the current amount of fish. I have done this a number of times. It is possible I was lucky, so you will want to test, and test often, at least for a weak. You need to be extra careful to dechlorinate water that you fill the tank with, but you may not even need that chemical bio booster. I have never used it.

I always prime my water before adding to the tank bc I am on city water. I can definitely move the old filter but the decor is the issues as well as rocks. I don't want to move everything prematurely and end up messing up again and killing my fish so I'd prefer a fishnets cycle to be safe.

 

Absolutely nothing wrong with being safe!

 

Knowing the history of the other tanks Kmarroquin89 has, and the recent troubles they have had, I do not recommend jump starting this tanks biological filter off of the other tanks you have.

Start this one clean with a new cycle and separate from the other tanks, and use it to restart those after a big clean of them, if they keep giving troubles off and on.

I would say, keep your biological booster, keep your prime, buy a pure ammonia product.
then this

• The set up: fill tank with water, dechlorinate the water, plug in and turn on filter.
• Step 1 – Add bacteria in a bottle per directions.
• Step 2 – Add ammonium chloride or pure ammonia product until you read 2PPM.
• Step 3 – Wait 24 hours

• Step 4 – Test ammonia and nitrite levels
• Step 5 – If you are at 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites, add ammonia until you are at 2PPM again
• Step 6 – Wait 24 hours

• Step 7 – Test ammonia and nitrite, add ammonia until you are at 2PPM again
• Step 8 – Wait 24 hours

• Step 9 – If no ammonia and nitrites, test for nitrates, if high, do a water change to lower levels
• Step 9.5 - if ammonia or nitrites still, repeat step 7, 8 and 9 until you get no ammonia or nitrite readings.
• Step 10 – good to go.
• It should cycle quickly and you will have a brand new colony, new tank, and none of any problems from the other tanks moving over to your new tank, and worst case if those tanks give you problems, you can tear those down, full clean and jump start them off your new colony.

I really don't recommend jumpstarting tanks biological filters off of tanks that have had any sort of problem in the prior 3 months. i only recommend doing it if the tank that is being used for the bacteria colony has been trouble free for a long while. I don't recommend moving anything from your other tanks to this tank if it can be avoided, or only if sanitized and neutralized first so nothing bad enters the new tank and so you have and can keep control over it, once the horses are out of the barn, it's hard to get them back in. Best to have a fresh start.

Up to you though.

 

Knowing the history of the other tanks Kmarroquin89 has, and the recent troubles they have had, I do not recommend jump starting this tanks biological filter off of the other tanks you have.

Start this one clean with a new cycle and separate from the other tanks, and use it to restart those after a big clean of them, if they keep giving troubles off and on.

I would say, keep your biological booster, keep your prime, buy a pure ammonia product.
then this

• The set up: fill tank with water, dechlorinate the water, plug in and turn on filter.
• Step 1 – Add bacteria in a bottle per directions.
• Step 2 – Add ammonium chloride or pure ammonia product until you read 2PPM.
• Step 3 – Wait 24 hours

• Step 4 – Test ammonia and nitrite levels
• Step 5 – If you are at 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites, add ammonia until you are at 2PPM again
• Step 6 – Wait 24 hours

• Step 7 – Test ammonia and nitrite, add ammonia until you are at 2PPM again
• Step 8 – Wait 24 hours

• Step 9 – If no ammonia and nitrites, test for nitrates, if high, do a water change to lower levels
• Step 9.5 - if ammonia or nitrites still, repeat step 7, 8 and 9 until you get no ammonia or nitrite readings.
• Step 10 – good to go.
• It should cycle quickly and you will have a brand new colony, new tank, and none of any problems from the other tanks moving over to your new tank, and worst case if those tanks give you problems, you can tear those down, full clean and jump start them off your new colony.

I really don't recommend jumpstarting tanks biological filters off of tanks that have had any sort of problem in the prior 3 months. i only recommend doing it if the tank that is being used for the bacteria colony has been trouble free for a long while. I don't recommend moving anything from your other tanks to this tank if it can be avoided, or only if sanitized and neutralized first so nothing bad enters the new tank and so you have and can keep control over it, once the horses are out of the barn, it's hard to get them back in. Best to have a fresh start.

Up to you though.

So I bought a 29 gall. Can't find a 30 but got a great deal on a 29 gal starter kit! Only thing is I can't find ammonia in these fish stores. Where can I buy the ammonia? Also the bacteria, is that the biological booster i have?

 

bacteria is the biological booster that you have.

Ammonia,
you can get it on Amazon if you want a product designed for cycling aquariums that's usually ammonium chloride in liquid form with dosing directions for that product. there's a few, like 2oz for like $5 or so.

Or you can either buy ammonium chloride in liquid form sold as a cleaning agent from the supermarket or hardware store, liquid ammonia that is sold as "clear household ammonia" check the ingredients and label for any sign of coloring added, or fragrance added , surfactants or cleaning aggents added to it.

if using hardware or grocery store ammonia, just read ingredients and it be either Ammonium chloride or Ammonium hydroxide ( just be sure no additives beyond that) then, Add, test, add some more, and stop adding when test reaches the 2ppm.

you can get ammonia for cleaning, like a gallon jug for 1 or 2 dollars. dollar stores, supermarkets, hardware stores, any place that sells cleaning supplies really. dollar sotre is a good place for something like that.
but I can't stress enough, no added cleaning agents or surfactants, or fragrances, no "lemon scent" just a bottle labeled "ammonia" or "clear ammonia" or "pure ammonia", and the ingredients are just some form of ammonium and no other added things.

Oh and goes without saying, but saying it anyways, there will be leftovers if just buying ammonia from a store, it's usually a big bottle. Do not store or mix it with bleach products it produces a nasty gas that could kill ya!

 

bacteria is the biological booster that you have.

Ammonia,
you can get it on Amazon if you want a product designed for cycling aquariums that's usually ammonium chloride in liquid form with dosing directions for that product. there's a few, like 2oz for like $5 or so.

Or you can either buy ammonium chloride in liquid form sold as a cleaning agent from the supermarket or hardware store, liquid ammonia that is sold as "clear household ammonia" check the ingredients and label for any sign of coloring added, or fragrance added , surfactants or cleaning aggents added to it.

if using hardware or grocery store ammonia, just read ingredients and it be either Ammonium chloride or Ammonium hydroxide ( just be sure no additives beyond that) then, Add, test, add some more, and stop adding when test reaches the 2ppm.

you can get ammonia for cleaning, like a gallon jug for 1 or 2 dollars. dollar stores, supermarkets, hardware stores, any place that sells cleaning supplies really. dollar sotre is a good place for something like that.
but I can't stress enough, no added cleaning agents or surfactants, or fragrances, no "lemon scent" just a bottle labeled "ammonia" or "clear ammonia" or "pure ammonia", and the ingredients are just some form of ammonium and no other added things.

Oh and goes without saying, but saying it anyways, there will be leftovers if just buying ammonia from a store, it's usually a big bottle. Do not store or mix it with bleach products it produces a nasty gas that could kill ya!

Would stability work? Or does it need to be ammonia?
I found this. Would this work?

 

Would stability work? Or does it need to be ammonia?

I found this. Would this work?

Sorry took me a bit to find the safety data sheet for that. Yes that will work fine, it's ammonium chloride. That product says 4 drops per gallon of tankwater will get you to 2ppm ammonia.

 

Sorry took me a bit to find the safety data sheet for that. Yes that will work fine, it's ammonium chloride. That product says 4 drops per gallon of tankwater will get you to 2ppm ammonia.

Ok great just ordered! Be here by Thursday! I'm excited but want to start off right this time!!
Say hello to my new 29 gallon tank!! I could not find a 30 gallon but I got an amazing deal on this one! Came with 29 gallon tank, heater, thermometer, filter, cartridge, leds, and a water collections Container! I also bought some stress coat + and some stability. Waiting for my ammonia to get here from Amazon plus also bought 3 bags of new gravel! Of course I'll definitely need more gravel but bought 3 bags to start! I'll eventually bring over my decor from my 10 gall to this one! I'm so proud of this buy!

 

Hey Kmarroquin89 i assume your going to put the 2 fancy goldfish and cory catfish into this tank(29gal)

Is it too late/not possible for you to return the 29gal tank and get a 40gal/40gal breeder which would be a much better size and more suitable for the 2 goldfish to grow, seeing they are only fancy goldfish they dont need the 75gal+ that comets do so a 40 gal would be the very very very minimum for 2 fancy gooldfish to fully grow.

 

Hey Kmarroquin89 i assume your going to put the 2 fancy goldfish and cory catfish into this tank(29gal)

Is it too late/not possible for you to return the 29gal tank and get a 40gal/40gal breeder which would be a much better size and more suitable for the 2 goldfish to grow, seeing they are only fancy goldfish they dont need the 75gal+ that comets do so a 40 gal would be the very very very minimum for 2 fancy gooldfish to fully grow.

Unfortunately I can't. I did look at pricing for a 40 gallon but it was out of my budget so I went with 29. I wanted 30 but all they had was a 29. it's not permanent. It's only temporary but the 29 is way better then the 10 though... or so I thought. :/

 

Unfortunately I can't. I did look at pricing for a 40 gallon but it was out of my budget so I went with 29. I wanted 30 but all they had was a 29. it's not permanent. It's only temporary but the 29 is way better then the 10 though... or so I thought. :/

well yes, 29gal is much better then 10gal but it will still need to be cycled which will take a good month or two....

perhaps a good plan could be.. 2 plecos and 2 comets from 50gal tank go into a stock pond in the near future

2 fancy goldfish then go into the 50gal tank

the 10gal and 29gal tank can be used as hospital/quarinitine tank or small fish tank for the cory catfish...??

I think that would be a sensable decision. what do you think?

 

well yes, 29gal is much better then 10gal but it will still need to be cycled which will take a good month or two....

perhaps a good plan could be.. 2 plecos and 2 comets from 50gal tank go into a stock pond in the near future

2 fancy goldfish then go into the 50gal tank

the 10gal and 29gal tank can be used as hospital/quarinitine tank or small fish tank for the cory catfish...??

I think that would be a sensable decision. what do you think?

I do plan on moving my goldfish and 1 pleco to somewhere and eventually moving my other 2 goldfish in the 55 gal. The corys staying in the 29 and I need to get a few more cories also... but right now I gotta work with what I have ya know. I did buy some stuff to "jump start" the cycle hoping it cycles pretty quickly.

 

sounds good, now only thing holding you back is the landscaping until you can make a pond i guess???

 

sounds good, now only thing holding you back is the landscaping until you can make a pond i guess???

Exactly or finding someone who will take them. Not giving up! I just built a stand today. Hoping to finish tomorrow so I can put my gravel and water in my new tank. I do need to take a filter from the 55 gallon and place in the new 29 gallon right? As well as using the prime, stability, and should get my ammonia Thursday. Will it be Safe to go ahead and run the tank then add ammonia when I get it? Definitely NOT adding any fish till its 100% cycled!

 

please be careful when 'take a filter from the 55 gallon' please just take one or two small sponges dont take all the media otherwise the 55gal will be harder to battle the ammoni9a from big fish poop.

Also replace the media you take out of the 55gal.

Best of luck with the 29gal and would love to see a photo when its setup. adding some plants to the tank will help with cycling, then when the goldfish go in move them to the 10gal so the goldfish dont eat them

 

please be careful when 'take a filter from the 55 gallon' please just take one or two small sponges dont take all the media otherwise the 55gal will be harder to battle the ammoni9a from big fish poop.

Also replace the media you take out of the 55gal.

Best of luck with the 29gal and would love to see a photo when its setup. adding some plants to the tank will help with cycling, then when the goldfish go in move them to the 10gal so the goldfish dont eat them

That's what I meant. Not the blue thing but the white thing with charcoal in the middle. It came with a filter and a blue peice I'm thinking of only adding the white piece behind the one it came with orrr do I just need to replace the new one with the old one all together? Also, do I need to wait for my ammonia to come in or can I go ahead and let it be running? And idk what to do about my decor. I wanna keep the same decor from my 10 gall since it's something familiar but idk...

 

That's what I meant. Not the blue thing but the white thing with charcoal in the middle. It came with a filter and a blue peice I'm thinking of only adding the white piece behind the one it came with orrr do I just need to replace the new one with the old one all together? Also, do I need to wait for my ammonia to come in or can I go ahead and let it be running? And idk what to do about my decor. I wanna keep the same decor from my 10 gall since it's something familiar but idk...

You could put the water in and dechlorinate and start running it, but without ammonia, there's no food for the bacteria, so it would just be wasteful to only use the bacteria in a bottle before then, theres nothing available for the bacteria to eat and it will die, unless you have another source of ammonia around. Fish foods and stuff take time to break down and not a good source for immediate use by bacteria In a Bottle.

 

You could put the water in and dechlorinate and start running it, but without ammonia, there's no food for the bacteria, so it would just be wasteful to only use the bacteria in a bottle before then, theres nothing available for the bacteria to eat and it will die, unless you have another source of ammonia around. Fish foods and stuff take time to break down and not a good source for immediate use by bacteria In a Bottle.

Hmmm. Yeah all I have is prime, biological booster, stability, stress coat +, pleco pellets and goldfish flakes made with algae meal. Ammonia won't be here till probably Thursday

 

I have stress coat +, prime, stability and Fritz Aquatics Fishless Fuel Ammonia Solution and Biological Booster... reading the reviews some are saying you also need FritzZyme Nitrifying Bacteria... is this true? Or is what I have enough to fishless cycle my new 29 gallon tank?

 

Look what I got today!!!! Super excited!!!!!!
As soon as we fix my floor I'll start cycling my new tank! Hoping my Sunday I can fill it up, add my chemicals and just monitor it... I cant wait! A little scared bc I've never used these chemicals before but I'm excited to get started.