Upgrade Everything.

I currently have an overstocked tank and I know I want to upgrade to a 20 gallon long.

I have 4 Balloon Mollies (2 males & 2 female) and 4 corydoras. (Theyre just babys I can't sex them).

I was wondering how do I upgrade everything at once? (I didn't cycle my first tank because I didn't know anything about cycling.)

I really ideally would like to cycle this new tank and try different things.

I would like a new filter. I have an aqua clear that's only good up to 15 gallons...but it's really hard to restart if the power turns off. I was thinking of going with something like . But I don't have any experience with this kinds of filters. Do I need more than one of these? Should I have one that hangs over the side too? Is that too much filtering? I don't want to drown my balloon babys.

I have quite a few questions on how to actually cycle as well. Can I cycle with fish? How about plants? I've seen debate about both. Can I use the substrate from my current aquarium or is that a no go? I plan on buying the kit with the vials.

I have either 7-8 various sized moss balls and want to get more plants. Java moss and red ludwigia.

I'd also like something that eats algea. But I'm unsure what to go with because my tap water does have copper in it. (Not enough to make it unsafe for humans, but enough where I am unsure if a snail is an option)

 

Sponge filters have bad mechanical filtration which is very important with mollies. I would get a HOB. I reccomend Tetra brand power filters. Mollies poop a lot. I would get the filter recommended for at least 30 gallons.

 

Yes you can use the substrate, that’s actually a really good idea. Plants are also a good idea. For the filter, you can either move the media from your current filter into the the new filter, or you can have both running at the same time for a week or two. You’ll need to monitor the tank for the first week in case of a minI cycle but even if that happens the spikes in parameters shouldn’t be too bad. I wouldn’t recommend that sponge filter you linked - that would be better for a shrimp or betta tank. Mollies are messy fish and need a hang on back filter.

I never recommend a fish/invert specifically for cleaning algae. My thought process is you should get it if you truly enjoy it for itself, and if it cleans algae that’s a bonus. Depending on the copper levels, there are water conditioners that remove heavy metals such as Seachem Prime.

 

Sponge filters have bad mechanical filtration which is very important with mollies. I would get a HOB. I reccomend Tetra brand power filters. Mollies poop a lot. I would get the filter recommended for at least 30 gallons.

Good to know. I currently have a hang on one. But I don't feel like it reaches the entire tank. Is there another filter kind that I should use with it? Or do I just have a weak filter?

Yes you can use the substrate, that’s actually a really good idea. Plants are also a good idea. For the filter, you can either move the media from your current filter into the the new filter, or you can have both running at the same time for a week or two. You’ll need to monitor the tank for the first week in case of a minI cycle but even if that happens the spikes in parameters shouldn’t be too bad. I wouldn’t recommend that sponge filter you linked - that would be better for a shrimp or betta tank. Mollies are messy fish and need a hang on back filter.

I never recommend a fish/invert specifically for cleaning algae. My thought process is you should get it if you truly enjoy it for itself, and if it cleans algae that’s a bonus. Depending on the copper levels, there are water conditioners that remove heavy metals such as Seachem Prime.

I'll have to add more since I'm upgrading. Would that be a bad idea? Do I have to cycle this new tank even though I didn't cycle my first?

My filter doesn't have media unless that's the actual carriage itself?

I really love plecos and shrimp. But I worry that my cory school will override and take too much space for either. I also haven't found a dwarf pleco that is temperature combatiable with my cories. (I have pepper that like cooler water) but I have found snails...but the copper thing worries me. I also like crabs (especially the Pom-Pom freshwater one that Aquatic Arts sells) but they are sensitive to copper too...but shrimp could take care of a Molly explosion and ea t algea..but I'm worried about space.

I'd have my four balloons and 6 peppers. I think that about maxes out a 20 gallon long.

 

Long tanks can be a little tricky to filter mechanically. Two HOB filters rated for tank size works pretty well for live-bearers like mollies.

 

I'll have to add more since I'm upgrading. Would that be a bad idea? Do I have to cycle this new tank even though I didn't cycle my first?

My filter doesn't have media unless that's the actual carriage itself?

I really love plecos and shrimp. But I worry that my cory school will override and take too much space for either. I also haven't found a dwarf pleco that is temperature combatiable with my cories. (I have pepper that like cooler water) but I have found snails...but the copper thing worries me. I also like crabs (especially the Pom-Pom freshwater one that Aquatic Arts sells) but they are sensitive to copper too...but shrimp could take care of a Molly explosion and ea t algea..but I'm worried about space.

I'd have my four balloons and 6 peppers. I think that about maxes out a 20 gallon long.

You said you have an Aquaclear? It should have the media that came with the filter - foam sponge, carbon, and biomax. The sponge and/or biomax is what you would add to the new filter for a few weeks to seed the new media.
You could try some ghost shrimp to see how they do with the water since they’re super cheap. If they do ok you could get a snail or Amano shrimp. I definitely wouldn’t recommend a pleco, they poop a ton so you’d have ammonia issues pairing them with mollies who also poop a lot. I have some ghost shrimp with my panda cories and they don’t bother each other.

 

You said you have an Aquaclear? It should have the media that came with the filter - foam sponge, carbon, and biomax. The sponge and/or biomax is what you would add to the new filter for a few weeks to seed the new media.
You could try some ghost shrimp to see how they do with the water since they’re super cheap. If they do ok you could get a snail or Amano shrimp. I definitely wouldn’t recommend a pleco, they poop a ton so you’d have ammonia issues pairing them with mollies who also poop a lot. I have some ghost shrimp with my panda cories and they don’t bother each other.

My bad, I looked on the package and it's called . I have the 5-15 gallon one but I have never seen the media in it? I have this yellow part with whole that isn't a sponge...and the filter things that you can replace.

Good to know about the ammonia issues with two poopers! I'm still learning the do and don'ts of stocking.

 

It's not only about the quantity and size of fish in the tank that determines bio-load. It 's much more about how much food you have to put in the tank to keep them fed and growing. Mollies can eat for sure.

 

It's not only about the quantity and size of fish in the tank that determines bio-load. It 's much more about how much food you have to put in the tank to keep them fed and growing. Mollies can eat for sure.

Right now I have to feed my tank twice a day, because my cories are fatties. They get both pellets, leftover flakes, and dried bloodworms. I've heard peas can be good...but I haven't personally tried them. My substrate is so dark I can tell when there is leftover food and so far there hasn't been any.

 

Seldom a problem with live-bearers and cory. They will find the food.

 

I actually found out how much cories love food. My largest (I call her Dotty, bless her) decided upon herself that she wasn't being fed enough. So she started to hide food from every other cory in the tank. (She hides it under the moss balls, and the others don't realize).

I had to put more food in there for the others. She has stopped doing it since the mollies just push the moss balls out of their way to get to her hidden pile of goodies.

 

I only specifically feed my cory and BN pleco about three times a week. I throw in some sinking food at night while the swords and tetras are sleeping. Nobody is losing any weight for sure.

 

My bad, I looked on the package and it's called . I have the 5-15 gallon one but I have never seen the media in it? I have this yellow part with whole that isn't a sponge...and the filter things that you can replace.

Good to know about the ammonia issues with two poopers! I'm still learning the do and don'ts of stocking.

Yep the filter things you replace is most likely the media! The water flows through/over/around it then flows back in the tank?

 

Yep the filter things you replace is most likely the media! The water flows through/over/around it then flows back in the tank?

You mean this thing is the media?

 

You mean this thing is the media?

Yep! That’s where the good bacteria live. So when you get a new filter you can cut the blue floss off of the plastic part and stuff the blue part in the new filter, along with whatever media comes with the new one.

 

Yep! That’s where the good bacteria live. So when you get a new filter you can cut the blue floss off of the plastic part and stuff the blue part in the new filter, along with whatever media comes with the new one.

Are you sure that there is good bacteria in there? I didn't cycle this tank when I first set it up (almost a year ago now) and I replace the filter every month.

 

Well I don’t know if there’s ENOUGH good bacteria to handle the bioload of your fish, but even some is better than nothing. I’d still recommend transferring over the blue floss. Do you have a test kit or can you get one? You’ll need to watch the parameters pretty carefully in the new tank, I wasn’t aware that this tank wasn’t cycled. Going forward, instead of changing filter media just swish it around in water you’ve taken out when doing a water change.

 

Well I don’t know if there’s ENOUGH good bacteria to handle the bioload of your fish, but even some is better than nothing. I’d still recommend transferring over the blue floss. Do you have a test kit or can you get one? You’ll need to watch the parameters pretty carefully in the new tank, I wasn’t aware that this tank wasn’t cycled. Going forward, instead of changing filter media just swish it around in water you’ve taken out when doing a water change.

A year ago, I didn't know anything about cycleing when I started the tank. Some how, all of them have survived pretty well. It's why I am wondering if I should just let the new tank cycle fully by itself, and if I do let it cycle fully how do I start it? Or where do I even begin?

Can I do a fish in cycle or will this kill everything off? Can you cycle with plants? I've read so many articles it literally made my head spin.