Should be good for fishies?

[Ickletas]

Have had the filter media for my new 10g build in the filter of my community tank for about a week now. If I rob some of the media from that (one of my filter pad thingys is about to give up the ghost anyways) will I "get away" with adding some teeny tiny fish next week?

 

[Galligak]

you could possibly "get away" with the tiny fish but I would keep check on the water quality and do PWCs if anything gets out of hand. I'm pretty much doing the same thing-ish, I took the media from one of my filters in my turtle tank and have it in my 7.8gal tank which is cycling currently and is on the way down after 5 days

 

[Homedog98]

Silent cycle you mean? Probably, but just let that media get nice and happy first. I'm talking a month or so.

 

[Ickletas]

If I'm honest I'm a bit scared of it lol. My other tank is a 260 litre/68 usg so any changes in there happen in a much more user friendly fashion and it was inherited so I didn't have to do any of the cycling Also to add to my distress it's my first proper planted effort as well (never let it be said I do anything by halves) so I get the feeling that it's going to be 20 questions!

 

[Ickletas]

Silent cycle you mean? Probably, but just let that media get nice and happy first. I'm talking a month or so.

Fair do's I can wait a month (I think lol) I'll just constantly re-aquascape in the meantime to while it away lol

 

[Homedog98]

If I'm honest I'm a bit scared of it lol. My other tank is a 260 litre/68 usg so any changes in there happen in a much more user friendly fashion and it was inherited so I didn't have to do any of the cycling Also to add to my distress it's my first proper planted effort as well (never let it be said I do anything by halves) so I get the feeling that it's going to be 20 questions!

Lol, tell me about it. Keep a close eye on the params and stock VERY SLOWLY, and you should be alright. When I say very slowly I'm talking 2 fish at a time, every 2 weeks lol. Gotta let that biofilter catch up.

 

[Homedog98]

Fair do's I can wait a month (I think lol) I'll just constantly re-aquascape in the meantime to while it away lol

Thats the spirit! Better safe then sorry!

 

[Ickletas]

And also I can use that time to once again consider/reconsider Galaxy Rasbora vs Chilli Rasbora Or even Phoenix Rasbora!

 

[severum mama]

So you have a filter pad for your 10 gallon filter that has been in your community tank for a week? If this is the case, I'd pop the media into the 10 gallon filter and start with a small fish load (a few small fish). Monitor and build gradually from there. I have literally done this for over 70 different tanks.

IME the beneficial bacteria that comprise the tank's biological filter and much more resilient than what they get credit for. A filter cartridge should bring over plenty of them and they'll quickly reproduce.

 

[Ickletas]

Thank you guys for the advice. The old fart has sprung it on me that we are going away this weekend so I won't be buying anything until at least Monday now as I don't want to be away if the aquatic equivalent to armageddon occurs

 

[severum mama]

Well that's no big deal then. I'd just do the swap on Monday when you return. You can dose the new tank with ammonia if you want, or chuck a raw shrimp in there, or start with a small fish load. Any of those methods will feed your bacteria but IMO it's important to start one of those methods at the time that you move over the cartridge.

 

[Ickletas]

Soooooo today is fish day!!!! Went to the lfs this morning and got me 6 celestial pearl danio and 6 (should have been 5 so I win!) amano shrimp. They've just finished acclimating ( drip method) and are in the tank. Lights are off but will post pics once they're back on

 

[Ickletas]

Well it's been a while coming but here is a pic of the tank after my final (I hope) attempt at the scape. There are 6 Amano and 6 galaxy rasbora and 6 ember tetras in there now. I don't think you can see them on the pic, will try and upload a video in a bit.