40g new setup suggestion for orandas

[aquaplantfish]

I'm not sure for goldfish, but I know hikari and new life spectrum are 2 quality brands so if they have a goldfish line of food at your LFS I'd pick that up. They'll eat almost anything really, but if you just want to get this tank started before researching a bit further, then I'd pick up some flake or floating pellets.

Many LFS's stock "bacteria in a bottle". People have mixed success with these but they claim to be able to pretty much instantly cycle a tank. You could try one of those products. Tetra SafeStart seems to have the best reviews from what I've read, but I've personally never used BB in a bottle. Is there a particular reason you don't want to remove media from the 2217?

Ok I guess I'll have to cycle fish-less, I was avoiding going in to my 2217eheim because I have to take it out and it's in a small apartment and it's just hard for me to reach but when I do take it out for cleaning its after 5 months and it's not any time soon.

 

[aquaplantfish]

No Live Sand ! That's for Saltwater tanks .

If you are doing a lot if water changes consider using Safe. It is the dry version of Prime and even more concentrated.

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Safe.html

Ok kool I'll give it a try after my prime is finish.

 

[molliwopp]

You will want at least 400 gph.

400gph? This means nothing in the way of filtration and only a flow rate and the same goes for 10x turnover, it doesnt give any sort of indication of filtration capability. A 2217 would be MORE than adequate by itself at 264gph.

Aslong as turnover reachs 4x or more its golden aslong as you have the bio media to back it up. Ive seen this 10x rule mentioned elsewhere and it's silly and only stands when seriously overstocking a tank. Filtration is about substance rather than how much water you can push through the filter. Pushing water at a slower rate through well constructed media will filter at a greater rate than simply blasting water through a poor arrangement of media at a faster rate.

For example you could have 2 Fluval u4s at 1000lph each. And one eheim 2217 at 1000lph. The eheim will do a much better job filtering the same tank than the 2 u4s even though their turnover is double that of the eheim.

OP. If you already have a 2217 on another tank like you said, why not buy another and swap half of the media with your existing filter to kick start the cycle.

 

[aquaplantfish]

400gph? This means nothing in the way of filtration and only a flow rate and the same goes for 10x turnover, it doesnt give any sort of indication of filtration capability. A 2217 would be MORE than adequate by itself at 264gph.

Aslong as turnover reachs 4x or more its golden aslong as you have the bio media to back it up. Ive seen this 10x rule mentioned elsewhere and it's silly and only stands when seriously overstocking a tank. Filtration is about substance rather than how much water you can push through the filter. Pushing water at a slower rate through well constructed media will filter at a greater rate than simply blasting water through a poor arrangement of media at a faster rate.

For example you could have 2 Fluval u4s at 1000lph each. And one eheim 2217 at 1000lph. The eheim will do a much better job filtering the same tank than the 2 u4s even though their turnover is double that of the eheim.

OP. If you already have a 2217 on another tank like you said, why not buy another and swap half of the media with your existing filter to kick start the cycle.

I just git the 2215 today, and im gonna start with 1 very young oranda goldfish, I can also add a HOB along the way.

Since I still have to shop around for a heater substrate and decor etc... Can I just start the filter on my existing tank to develop BB. And when I'm ready I can just fill up the new tank with water and then install the filter on the new tank. ?

 

[aquaplantfish]

I just git the 2215 today, and im gonna start with 1 very young oranda goldfish, I can also add a HOB along the way.

Since I still have to shop around for a heater substrate and decor etc... Can I just start the filter on my existing tank to develop BB. And when I'm ready I can just fill up the new tank with water and then install the filter on the new tank and then add the fish. ?

 

[molliwopp]

Nice, cant beat an eheim classic. The 2215 should good biologically and will also be more than capable of sustaining afew goldfish. But you may want to add a powerhead at some point because the flow might not be the greatest.

That would be the best idea.and would kick start thw filter. Jist dont cut the pipes to short for the tank its going onto.

What media came with your 2215?

 

[aquaplantfish]

Nice, cant beat an eheim classic. The 2215 should good biologically and will also be more than capable of sustaining afew goldfish. But you may want to add a powerhead at some point because the flow might not be the greatest.

That would be the best idea.and would kick start thw filter. Jist dont cut the pipes to short for the tank its going onto.

What media came with your 2215?

You won't believe what a great deal I got on the filter, I live in Toronto Canada and for the 2215 with tax it's just over $200, I got it from kijiji brand new for $140 so I got it and he never even open the box. It came with original packaging which Includes Ehfisubstrate, Ehfimech, one each carbon, fine and coarse filter pads. The pads seems to be much thicker And wider then 2213.

Oh man I forgot about the pipe size thanks for telling me that.

 

[jtez]

Can I just start the filter on my existing tank to develop BB. And when I'm ready I can just fill up the new tank with water and then install the filter on the new tank. ?

Yeah of course. That's a pretty clever way of doing it tbh.

 

[aquaplantfish]

Yeah of course. That's a pretty clever way of doing it tbh.

Ok so I'll let the new filter run for a month on my existing tank, then I can just get the fish and fill up the new tank with water in the same day?

 

[aquaplantfish]

You won't believe what a great deal I got on the filter, I live in Toronto Canada and for the 2215 with tax it's just over $200, I got it from kijiji brand new for $140 so I got it and he never even open the box. It came with original packaging which Includes Ehfisubstrate, Ehfimech, one each carbon, fine and coarse filter pads. The pads seems to be much thicker And wider then 2213.

Oh man I forgot about the pipe size thanks for telling me that and I will defiantly look in to a
Power head

 

[aquaplantfish]

What sort of heater W do need I mean it's just to stable the temp only few degrees from room temp. I was thinking of a 50w to 75w

 

[aquaplantfish]

I was recommended sand but isn't it hard to vacuum as I have white sand unless there is different kind that I don't know about

 

[molliwopp]

In a 40gallon i would go for 100w or 150w. After a month of the filter running it should have collected some bacteria but once placed on the other tank you may have a mini cycle but nothing like starting from 0 so you could add your firat few fish, i wouldnt add them all in one go though or youll have problems.

Its not hard to vac sand, Skim the top layer but even still you can just syphon it into a bucket and put it back into the tank.

 

[jtez]

Ok so I'll let the new filter run for a month on my existing tank, then I can just get the fish and fill up the new tank with water in the same day?

I'd be careful of doing this, because the new filter will have to undergo a cycle of it's own. You ~probably~ would get away with it, but I'd personally test how far cycled it is when you put it on your new tank. Eg, when you put it on the new tank, add ammonia to the tank up to 2-3ppm and see how long it takes to completely turn that ammonia into nitrate. If after 24hrs you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and some nitrates, then you should be right to add that 1 young oranda you were planning

 

[aquaplantfish]

I'd be careful of doing this, because the new filter will have to undergo a cycle of it's own. You ~probably~ would get away with it, but I'd personally test how far cycled it is when you put it on your new tank. Eg, when you put it on the new tank, add ammonia to the tank up to 2-3ppm and see how long it takes to completely turn that ammonia into nitrate. If after 24hrs you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and some nitrates, then you should be right to add that 1 young oranda you were planning

Excellent! I'll do just that
Thanks : )

 

[aquaplantfish]

Excellent! I'll do just that
Thanks : )

Are you using sand as a substrate on your profile pic ?

 

[jtez]

Are you using sand as a substrate on your profile pic ?

Not sure if you're still asking me, but I have half gravel and half sand. If I did it again I'd go all sand though. I've found it a bit easier to plant in, and it's easier to tell when it's dirty. No issues with vacuuming it either. With gravel you shove the gravel vac in to get detritus but with sand you can see exactly where detritus is and just hover above it to suck it up

Attached is a closer picture of the same tank, after a gravel vac last night

 

[molliwopp]

I'd be careful of doing this, because the new filter will have to undergo a cycle of it's own. You ~probably~ would get away with it, but I'd personally test how far cycled it is when you put it on your new tank. Eg, when you put it on the new tank, add ammonia to the tank up to 2-3ppm and see how long it takes to completely turn that ammonia into nitrate. If after 24hrs you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and some nitrates, then you should be right to add that 1 young oranda you were planning

That is definitely a good idea and what i would do. I actually almost said it myself in my post before.

But then i thought to counter it, if hes only adding one or 2 to start with it will have certainly built enough bacteria to sustain the ammonia production of the couple hes adding.

I would still add the filter and dose ammonia for alittle but you would need longer than a month on the tank to convert 3ppm, thats even if the bioload of existing tank itself is producing 3ppm.

So, seed the filter and add ammonia for a week solved.

 

[aquaplantfish]

Not sure if you're still asking me, but I have half gravel and half sand. If I did it again I'd go all sand though. I've found it a bit easier to plant in, and it's easier to tell when it's dirty. No issues with vacuuming it either. With gravel you shove the gravel vac in to get detritus but with sand you can see exactly where detritus is and just hover above it to suck it up

Attached is a closer picture of the same tank, after a gravel vac last night

Jtez what type of sand are you using or the brand name because the sand im using it's soooo granny it's called super moonlight sand white color, yours look like the one I want

 

[aquaplantfish]

Jtez what type of sand are you using or the brand name because the sand im using it's soooo granny it's called super moonlight sand white color, yours look like the one I want. Really cool tank byte way.