Tank For My Danios

hi, I’ve been asking a few questions on this thread as I got mis sold zebra danios with a 15l biorb life tank. I thought about rehoming the danios and getting a slightly bigger tank with different fish, but I’ve got a bit attached to the fish and would like to explore keeping them.

I’m a bit limited on space but have seen a 70l tank on eBay that I think I could afford and fit in my house. Its length is 60cm and width is 30cm. Would this be a suitable home for them? I currently have 4 (again given the wrong advice about how many) but would increase to 6 in the right tank.

Another question is that the cabinet I would put them on is 29cm deep but the tank is 30. Would this be a problem? Could I get a base to put on the cabinet before I put the tank on top to reduce weakness?

Thanks in advance.

 

I think that would work. My personal favourite size is a 20 gallon long which is 30" (75cm) by 12" (30cm).

Yes you can get a base to fit the tank and support it more fully

 

Yep it will be big enough for the danios. If you are worried about the overhang you can put a piece of plywood or something similar down first.

 

Excellent, I think I’ll go for it. I currently keep them with no heater and they seem happy. The new tank comes with a heater (and a spare). Should I start using it in the bigger tank or stick with what I’m doing?

 

What's the temperature in your tank and house? What's the lowest temperature your house gets to?

 

No thermometer as yet but we do keep the house quite warm and in the uk so no silly temperatures outside.

 

Probably fine then but keep the heater on hand in case of a cold snap

 

Excellent, thank you.

When I get the tank should I put say half of the stones and a bit of the water in the new one? Then what? Fill it up and put some fish flakes in? Do I need a testing kit after that? How long do you think before I’ll be able to move the fish in?

 

I wouldn't keep any of the water but transfer the filter media from the old filter into the new. Keep any decor you want to. If you haven't replaced it or washed it then it should be loaded with the bacteria you need for the cycle!

 

I’ll be going from the biorb filter to a different type, so the sponges won’t match. Is there a way round this or do I just need to use the new one. It is secondhand so may have previous tanks stuff on, is this ok to use?

How do I transfer filter media? <clueless>

 

HI just have your local DIY enthusiast to cut you a piece of plywood for your new tank. Some branches of B&Q will do it for you.

I agree with all the previous comments just transfer some of your old substrate (gravel) as a large part of your biological filter lives in the substrate.

I usually swill my old filter media in a little tank water and then immerse my new media in this bacteria laden soup to seed my new media with beneficial bacteria. If you can stuff (cut it up with a pair of scissors) some of the old media into the new filter then that would be best. Otherwise just keep your now cleaned old filter media in your new tank for a day or so (it can just sit on the substrate).

It is vital to thoroughly seed your new tank with the beneficial bacteria of the old.

Even though Danios are a cooler temperature fish I would invest in a small heater otherwise you will be running the central heating for the fish if you are away for a day or two which will cost more money in the long term and temperature fluctuations at night during colder winter snaps can be considerable. I live in Wales and I have 2 x 300 watt heaters in my show tank in my living room and despite its size the tank is over a degree cooler in the morning once the heating has been off overnight during this recent cold snap.

Think about leaving a bowl of lukewarm water overnight. In the morning it will be stone cold not the best for Danios.

Enjoy your new tank, crazy Danios are great little fish.

 

Just cut the media up. Very little bacteria lives in the gravel compared to the filter and swishing the old media in waater won't dislodge many bacteria because they stick to surfaces.