In-Fish cycling!

[Oceangirl]

here are the stats:
10 gallon set up yesterday
5 small fish (platy babies I think?)
Filter 150 B Penguin Marineland With 1 well worn (1 month+ old) Filter pad

Subst: Sand + plastic plants


I had 2 mature filter pads sitting in my main tank filter a Aquaclear 70, plus my usaul media in there. Set my new tank (10 gal) up after having to sanitize and air dry for a week. I set up the tank yesterday with fish, and then this morning took one of the pads from AC to the Penguin. I know how to do Fishless cycle and Cycle with no Mature media. So Now what to do? I have API test kit.

 

[GodFan]

Your probably cycled already. Just watch those parameters and be sure.

 

[tamtam]

You should prob be cycled or close to it. Just test your tanks, I would test both just to be sure you don't see a mini cycle in the big one too. If your levels go up passed .25 then do a water change.

Those platy if babies will be fine short term but as they grow I doubt you'll be able to keep your water quality under control. They have a pretty hefty bioload. IF they are babies though you should be fine for a little while.

 

[Oceangirl]

I don't plan on keeping them all, they were given to me. Free with purchase type deal, they are less than half the size of my pinky. maybe 3 cm or less. I plan on keeping the pretty ones and the other into the LFS for credit. actually once I cleared the plants from the bag (my purchase) I acutally have 10 little ones. goodness! I have a LFS that gives you credit. The ones that make the cut will be going in my B-day Present, a 29. Or i might be upgrading this tank to a 20. Either way they will be perfectly happy.

FYI I also read up on what a "filter squeezing" was and did that with the big white sponge in my aquaclear into a bowl then the bowl contents into the 10 gallon tank. Wish I knew to do this before I did my water change/filter clean!