Hi! I'm new to the forum and tanks all together. I am *fostering* a 10 gallon established tank from family right now. I wanted to add 2 new fish as there were only 4 small ones in the original tank. A molly, a danio, and 2 small chinese albino algae eaters - 1 who hides inside a decorative rock and I never see. SO... New fish. A sable angle fish and a gourami - both the most passive at the store according to my fish guy (small retailer). Brought home the new fish and the Molly started attacking the gourami.
At the advice of a friend, I immediately put the molly in a breeders net (bought from Petco) to protect the gourami (but not until the gourami had a hole in its fin). Hopes were that the molly would chill out a bit... Didn't work even after 4 days he was still bashing up against the netting when the gourami swam by. I decided to add a second tank and then go brackish with the 10 gallon once the second tank was up and going.
Unfortunately, no one mentioned that I needed to cycle the 36 gallon bow front tank. BUT I didn't think molly would appreciate being stuck in a little breeders tank for 4 weeks or so inside the 10 gallon... Plus it was taking over much of the 10 gallon tank. Being that molly and danio are hearty (from what I hear), I decided to use them to cycle the new tank (some have stated to do a fish-in cycle with hearty fish). I am using rock in a net from the 10 gallon tank and a filter from that tank too in my penguin 200 filter extra filter space...
The tank has been running for 48 hours with the rock and filter from the other tank. 2 fish are now in (molly and danio) and I tested the water just now with a good liquid kit. Ammonia at .50, nitrate and nitrite both at 0ppm. The danio seems to be having a party - acting normal (has always spent most of his time swimming at the top of the tank and is doing so now). The molly is moving from level to level on the right side of the tank (away from the filter which is much stronger than the tetra filter in the 10 gal obviously) near the fake plant I put in from the other tank. They both seemed to eat when I fed them (moderately) today. Temp is the same as the 10 gallon tank. 76.
Would ya'll put the molly back in the 10 gallon in the breeders tank and leave him there until the 36 gallon is established and I can move the rest of the fish out? OR should I keep him in the 36 gallon and cycle with him? Which is more (or less) cruel? Cycling with him or keeping him confined in a small net tank in the 10 gallon? ((sigh))
And why do even the most educated of educated pet stores NOT tell you that you will need to cycle a tank
I would have done things differently had I known and had I known this molly fish was such a jerk!!! I think he just needs a little salt to make him happier!!!
Thank you for the help!
Janelle
At the advice of a friend, I immediately put the molly in a breeders net (bought from Petco) to protect the gourami (but not until the gourami had a hole in its fin). Hopes were that the molly would chill out a bit... Didn't work even after 4 days he was still bashing up against the netting when the gourami swam by. I decided to add a second tank and then go brackish with the 10 gallon once the second tank was up and going.
Unfortunately, no one mentioned that I needed to cycle the 36 gallon bow front tank. BUT I didn't think molly would appreciate being stuck in a little breeders tank for 4 weeks or so inside the 10 gallon... Plus it was taking over much of the 10 gallon tank. Being that molly and danio are hearty (from what I hear), I decided to use them to cycle the new tank (some have stated to do a fish-in cycle with hearty fish). I am using rock in a net from the 10 gallon tank and a filter from that tank too in my penguin 200 filter extra filter space...
The tank has been running for 48 hours with the rock and filter from the other tank. 2 fish are now in (molly and danio) and I tested the water just now with a good liquid kit. Ammonia at .50, nitrate and nitrite both at 0ppm. The danio seems to be having a party - acting normal (has always spent most of his time swimming at the top of the tank and is doing so now). The molly is moving from level to level on the right side of the tank (away from the filter which is much stronger than the tetra filter in the 10 gal obviously) near the fake plant I put in from the other tank. They both seemed to eat when I fed them (moderately) today. Temp is the same as the 10 gallon tank. 76.
Would ya'll put the molly back in the 10 gallon in the breeders tank and leave him there until the 36 gallon is established and I can move the rest of the fish out? OR should I keep him in the 36 gallon and cycle with him? Which is more (or less) cruel? Cycling with him or keeping him confined in a small net tank in the 10 gallon? ((sigh))
And why do even the most educated of educated pet stores NOT tell you that you will need to cycle a tank
I would have done things differently had I known and had I known this molly fish was such a jerk!!! I think he just needs a little salt to make him happier!!! Thank you for the help!
Janelle
