Hey Guys,
I'm new here. Lots of good info in this forum.
I have an 80g fw community tank. Anyway, I recently moved, and unfortunately my fish did not survive the 5 hour drive to the new place. So bummed .
So, I am in the process of pretty much starting over. I have a Fluval 405 canister filter, which I still have the old media, but the bacteria in there must have died off since my unknowing wife drained the water in it before we moved.
I was able to keep the substrate (Eco-Complete) wet and in the tank during the trip, so maybe there is some bacteria living in the gravel?
Based on this circumstance, am I truly starting over with the cycle, or is it possible that enough bacteria remained in the gravel to help the cycle along? I guess I should just test the water to truly find out.
Also, I started what I would call a new cycle last Wednesday (8/26) by filling the tank up and getting the filter going again. I would like to start adding some live, low light plants. Is it too early to start adding plants? Does the tank have to be cycled for plants to survive, or is the cycling in the interest of the fish only?
Thanks.
T Fades
I'm new here. Lots of good info in this forum.
I have an 80g fw community tank. Anyway, I recently moved, and unfortunately my fish did not survive the 5 hour drive to the new place. So bummed .
So, I am in the process of pretty much starting over. I have a Fluval 405 canister filter, which I still have the old media, but the bacteria in there must have died off since my unknowing wife drained the water in it before we moved.
I was able to keep the substrate (Eco-Complete) wet and in the tank during the trip, so maybe there is some bacteria living in the gravel?
Based on this circumstance, am I truly starting over with the cycle, or is it possible that enough bacteria remained in the gravel to help the cycle along? I guess I should just test the water to truly find out.
Also, I started what I would call a new cycle last Wednesday (8/26) by filling the tank up and getting the filter going again. I would like to start adding some live, low light plants. Is it too early to start adding plants? Does the tank have to be cycled for plants to survive, or is the cycling in the interest of the fish only?
Thanks.
T Fades