Starting Up My 2nd Tank, Need Answers

HI all, I have a 55 gallon tank that has been up and running for years. Tropical fish, live plants.
I am looking to get another 55 or a 75 gallon tank.
Questions I have:
1) When I do a water change in the existing tank, can I put that water into a new tank, then just add more water?
2) How long should I ( or do I ) have to wait before adding fish?
3) I am using eco complete now in my existing tank ( about 2-3 years) all my plants do very well, should I stay with this, or try something else? New tank will also have live plants.

Thanks for any help on this

 

You can add fish once it is cycled. If you borrow some media from your existing tank it will cycle more quickly, likely in a week or 2.

 

What I would do is now add the filter for the new tank to your existing tank. Let it build up some bacteria while your setting up the new tank. I do like to move the old water to the new tank. Can’t hurt. I also like to feed the new filter once it’s in its new tank with some sludge from vacuming the old tank. Like a gal of that water. Gives the existing bacteria something to eat while waiting for fish. I have eco in a 90 and wouldn’t recommend it. Just set up a 125 and used the finest gravel I could find. Plants are growing great allready. I filled this 125 the way I’ve said and had discus in it 3 days later. All doing good .

 

1) When I do a water change in the existing tank, can I put that water into a new tank, then just add more water?

There's no real need for that unless perhaps you were upgrading to a bigger tank and moving current fish to it. But for a new setup, it doesn't really matter. What will help cycle your new tank is putting in gravel, decor, plants, filter media, anything with surfaces that's been in your old/current tank for a long time could be put in the new tank with treated/conditioned water and ammonia source, such as food, straight ammonia, etc. So that the beneficial bacteria on whatever you move to the new tank doesn't die off. The BB develops and lives on surfaces. That's what you'll want to put in. Dirty/old filter media is one of the best.

2) How long should I ( or do I ) have to wait before adding fish?

If you want to do a fish-less cycle, until your ammonia drops to 0, your nitrites drop to 0, and there's some nitrates, no more than 40.

3) I am using eco complete now in my existing tank ( about 2-3 years) all my plants do very well, should I stay with this, or try something else? New tank will also have live plants.

Up to you, but if it's not broke, why fix it? I'm constantly dealing with this. I want to improve my tanks and try new things, but a lot of times, I just mess things up or it turns into a nightmare. That could just be me and my bad luck, though. If you're getting good results with what you've been doing, you can just continue doing it.

 

HI all, I have a 55 gallon tank that has been up and running for years. Tropical fish, live plants.
I am looking to get another 55 or a 75 gallon tank.
Questions I have:
1) When I do a water change in the existing tank, can I put that water into a new tank, then just add more water?
2) How long should I ( or do I ) have to wait before adding fish?
3) I am using eco complete now in my existing tank ( about 2-3 years) all my plants do very well, should I stay with this, or try something else? New tank will also have live plants.

Thanks for any help on this

1. Yes, it definitely helps to add the water from your existing tank into a new tank and even add some of the existing tanks substrate if you are using the same substate - It definitely helps with Cycling your new tank.
2. Still want to make sure your Nitrogen Cycle is complete before adding fish if planning to do fishless cycle.
3. I don't have experience with Eco Complete, so cannot say. I am using a mixture of CaribSea tiny pebbles and medium sized pebbles and am having no issue growing rooted plants (lower to moderate lighting). So i'd just go with preference. My next tank I plan to use a black substrate

 

What I would do is now add the filter for the new tank to your existing tank. Let it build up some bacteria while your setting up the new tank. I do like to move the old water to the new tank. Can’t hurt. I also like to feed the new filter once it’s in its new tank with some sludge from vacuming the old tank. Like a gal of that water. Gives the existing bacteria something to eat while waiting for fish. I have eco in a 90 and wouldn’t recommend it. Just set up a 125 and used the finest gravel I could find. Plants are growing great allready. I filled this 125 the way I’ve said and had discus in it 3 days later. All doing good .View attachment 575306

What type of gravel did you use? Beautiful tank by the way. I am thinking about a Discus tank, are they hard to do? I do know the water temp should be kept higher.

 

I used a 1/8” gravel that was in my 45 gal and added all of that gravel from that tank. About 60+ lbs. than on the bottom I used 20lbs of a 1/4” gravel. It was the smallest I could find. I have 40lbs I didn’t use. Still in the bag if your interested $20.

Discus are harder they need more attention. 50% wc every other day. Water temp between 84-88. Also from another thread Petsmart or Petco has a 75 gal for $100 on sale now.

 

I used a 1/8” gravel that was in my 45 gal and added all of that gravel from that tank. About 60+ lbs. than on the bottom I used 20lbs of a 1/4” gravel. It was the smallest I could find. I have 40lbs I didn’t use. Still in the bag if your interested $20.

Discus are harder they need more attention. 50% wc every other day. Water temp between 84-88. Also from another thread Petsmart or Petco has a 75 gal for $100 on sale now.

Really? They need a 50% water change every other day? I do a 50% water change 2x a week. But every other day seems alot

 

You can add fish once it is cycled. If you borrow some media from your existing tank it will cycle more quickly, likely in a week or 2.

The beneficial bacteria will die without an ammonia source. So using seeded media accomplishes nothing if you leave the tank fishless for 1-2 weeks.

When using media from another filter, you add the fish at the same time. Unless you plan to feed the bb with pure ammonia or something during that couple weeks.

Dennis57 I agree with 86 ssinit put another filter on your current tank. Sponge filter or HOB filter. After a few weeks it will be a fully cycled filter that you can move to the new tank and immediately start adding your new fish!

 

Ok that’s also if you buy young (small) fish. Larger grown fish will do fine with twice a week. So it’s just a time thing. May take 6+ months to get them size. Young discus eat lots of food .

 

The beneficial bacteria will die without an ammonia source. So using seeded media accomplishes nothing if you leave the tank fishless for 1-2 weeks.

When using media from another filter, you add the fish at the same time. Unless you plan to feed the bb with pure ammonia or something during that couple weeks.

Dennis57 I agree with 86 ssinit put another filter on your current tank. Sponge filter or HOB filter. After a few weeks it will be a fully cycled filter that you can move to the new tank and immediately start adding your new fish!

Of course. I assumed that it was understood that to cycle a tank you have to have an ammonia source.

 

Of course. I assumed that it was understood that to cycle a tank you have to have an ammonia source.

Not everyone understands that. So I feel its best to specify for the sake of the people who are still learning.