Starting a new tank 100 Gallon

Hello All,



I will be getting a new tank (100 Gallon- 25.5H x 20w x 48L). I currently have a 55 gallon tank which would be replaced with the 100 Gallon tank. I will also get a filter that is good for a 100 Gallon tank. Here is my question.

1. The current tank is a mature cycled tank, I will be transfering (fish, fresh water plants, driftwood, clay pots, cannister filter) into the 100 Gallon tank (which will have a new filter as well). Will I get an instant cycle?

2. I was thinking of starting this tank as a dirted tank using the Organic Miracle Grow soil, do I have to put a top level of gravel? or can I just leave it as all Organic Miracle Grow soil?

 

Welcome to FishLore!

Yep, you are exactly right! Makes life so much easier, doesn't it, starting with an already cycled tank?

 

Welcome to fishlore!!

Just make sure to squeeze the old filter media in the new filter for awhile.

 

I was going to have the old filter and new filter run at the same time.

 

Hello All,

Hey...

I will be getting a new tank (100 Gallon- 25.5H x 20w x 48L). I currently have a 55 gallon tank which would be replaced with the 100 Gallon tank. I will also get a filter that is good for a 100 Gallon tank. Here is my question.

So jealous...

1. The current tank is a mature cycled tank, I will be transfering (fish, fresh water plants, driftwood, clay pots, cannister filter) into the 100 Gallon tank (which will have a new filter as well). Will I get an instant cycle?

Cycled means you have bacteria in the bio hold, and a good amount of it. If you are not using the same bio hold than that means you will have to wait for it to cycle, but if you are than yes you will get an instant cycle.

2. I was thinking of starting this tank as a dirted tank using the Organic Miracle Grow soil, do I have to put a top level of gravel? or can I just leave it as all Organic Miracle Grow soil?

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I think you can leave it all as Organic Miracle Grow Soil, but I'm not sure.

 

this is exactly what I did for my new 40 gl and I giot an instant cycle so you should be fine!

 

this is exactly what I did for my new 40 gl and I giot an instant cycle so you should be fine!

How do you know you got an instant cycle? The only way to get an instant cycle is using the same biohold.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by biohold. But if the OP takes the filter from the 55 gallon and puts it in the new tank, and doesn't add any new fish, he should get an instant cycle since he already has enough bacteria in the filter to handle the ammonia production from the fish he currently has.

For example, I recently upgraded my 36 gallon tank to a 46 gallon tank. The 36 gallon tank had a Fluval 205 cannister filter but was only rated for up to 40 gallons. So I purchased a Fluval 306 cannister, but instead of using the media that came with the new filter, I took the old media and put in in the new filter. Since I hadn't added any additional fish, I had an instant cycle.

 

When seeding a tank it's best to keep a close eye on the parameters for a couple of weeks.

Remember the only real way to know if your tank has cycled is by using a test kit.

 

It is official..I am picking up the Fish Tank on April 14 ;-)

 

I've done some research on dirted tanks (trying one myself at the moment), and just dirt is not okay. Trust me! I have a layer of gravel on top, and I'm STILL (two weeks later) having problems with cloudy water. I guess there must still be some areas where the gravel cover is thinner, and dirt is seeping through. Here is a picture of my tank at the beginning - you can see even with gravel, it's a brown, cloudy mess!




Also, Cameron, I believe you mean "bioload"

 

Thank you for all your suggestions. Now, I'm rethinking a dirted tank ;-). I do not know if I want to hassle with that.

 

What an ugly tank

 

What an ugly tank

Ouch!

I don't think you need to reconsider. Just learn from our (my) mistakes! I didn't put enough gravel in. I've since added more, and a dirted tank is always a little cloudy at the beginning (maybe not as cloudy as mine ). A few water changes, and you'll be set If you do dirt, you don't have to worry about ferts as much. Personally, I'd rather have the hassle at the beginning and then less to worry about later, but that's just me.

 

Actually, the gravel is just to keep it from floofing (Yes. Floofing ;D) up after its settled. Its about what's *in* the dirt that matters. Certain types of dirt will never settle, while some take just a few minutes to mostly settle.

 

Ouch!

It's the lighting