Best way to start a new tank for sure. I retired a 75G and replaced with a 125G. I had 2 - canister filters I ran for years packed with bio media. Transferred those 2 filters to the new tank. No issues. I did add seachem stability just in case. I didn’t add any new fish right away to make sure the tank was cycled. All are happy in there new home!
Get video ! I keep extra sponges in my filter for this very reason. I also add some of my existing gravel from a cycled tank to a brand new tank to help out too. Never had any problems. And like you said - Light stocking to start out.
Jason, I think you should do a series on setting up various biotope aquariums. I have a 75 Amazon set up and am researching fish for a southeast asian community tank. After searching you tube I am finding very little to help me ( fortunately I have many books on fish) and I thought this would be a good idea for a you tuber
thank you for your advice. I bought a bigger longer fish tank for my guys and wanted to make sure I know how to cycle it right and make sure the benefitial baterical travels properly.
I’ve become very used to using the bacteria in a bottle for new filters for a few years now. Seachem stability has really helped cut out the guesswork and losses for myself!
Thanks for that advice, Jason. I'm getting ready to start a new tank. I'm going to be using a sponge filter from my old tank plus the substrate from the old one. I will be sure to slowly stock my tank. This video came out at the perfect time for me. ~Gina Hetlage
Movie Quote One: Helen: "Listen, if you're gonna ask me every question twice, this is gonna take a really long time." Movie Quote: "Brian: Yeah answer it." Andrew: "Answer the question, Claire." Bender: "Talk to us." Every one: "C'mon, answer the question."
Hey Jason still pretty new to fresh water cichlids. My experience is reef tanks. And I love watching your videos. I’ve learned a lot and was surprised on a few things like not using rodi for cichlid I thought rodi was the best. My tank set up Display 10 waterbox cube aio (10.9 gallon) Carib sea cichlid sand Some stones Shells Water sprite floating Filter Mechanical filter floss Argonite 1-1.5 lb bag Ceramic balls Purigen(standby not being used only have just Incase) Heater Water Live in NJ city water (soft) Tank has been set up for about 1 week Ammonia spiked done Nitrite spike kinda Nitrate around 20 will do water change when it hits 40 Currently tank water is Ph 8 Gh 140 Kh 8 *using liquid ammonia and bacteria to help with cycle Anyway I wanted to ask several questions -Can I add conditioner to the new tap water before adding to tank during water change? Or just add directly to tank before adding tap water?? Wasn’t sure if the chlorine will kill the beneficial bacteria -can I add conditioner to small water for top offs during evaporation. How many multis can I get this will be a species only tank -how is my water quality?? Seems like I’m still a little low (Gh, Kh) want to keep things simple to prevent big swings. Is there anything else I should do?? Given my current water quality. How long does the Argonite take to raise the hardness of the water? It’s been a week is this the limit or will it still get harder? If it doesn’t do I still need to add stuff?? I know you said water parameters are important but consistency is better. Also using my left over ai hd prime 16 pro do you have a setting best for the plants I decided?? Thank you
You should be able to keep a pair of Multis in a 10 gallon but you will have to remove the fry since that’s not a lot of space for them. Water looks good. Maybe some aragonite to bring up the KH and stabilize the pH in the 8s? As for dechlorinator- I just add it as the tank is filling. Light setting will depend on the types of plants and you can adjust it as needed. Hope this helps!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics oh sorry I ment aragonite I do have in the filter already that’s what is keeping my water where it’s at and again it’s only been a week since set up so not sure if the aragonite will still add more hardness to the tank. Thank you as for plants it’s just a water sprite
I’m trying to convert my 75 gallon tank from community to African cichlids (peacocks). The tank has been up and running for 2 years now, I made a diy sump out of a 29 gallon aquarium so it has plenty of mechanical and biological media. My question is, along with a water change, some cleaning and adding crushed coral to bring the ph up for the cichlids, can I just do a complete fish swap? Remove the community fish and add the cichlids in little by little over time but start the adding immediately?
Hi, Ive just re-scaped my Fish Tank and filled it with new water. The tank is running on an external filter that has been running in the existed tank for 6 months plus. All of the rocks that used rocks were it, some of the sand was, all of the plants were and all of the aquasoil was also! Can I put my clean up crew in? E.g A Bristlenose Pleco and some shrimp. Thanks
Great short video! Grabbing some fritz from Fish Planet to boost the bacteria in my 20L converted from axolotl to multi tank. See you both tomorrow for pickup at GCCA :)
Thanks Jason, you just answered one of my questions. The second is can you also use koi pond filter media to boost good bacteria in a small fish tank? X
I'm setting up a new tank, 29g, and have had my 35g hex with fish for a month. Could I do a water change with nitrates at 20ppm from the 35 and add some of that water to the new tank? Along with adding the filter media. I figure it'll be min of 2 wks before I add fish. Also through in a little bit of food in empty tank to start some microbe activity?
i got a question, regarding media filter, how effective does the beneficial bacteria if the media filter is placed in dark container containing media filter? does the beneficial bacteria needs sunlight too? and how about oxygen? any effect if u oxygenated (airstone) your media filter? thanks
Luckily I keep extra filter floss stuffed in for that eventuality. I had to get my 2 gallon tank going again in a hurry when I was sent an extra Mystery snail that I didn’t have room for in main tank. 😮
I've had a sponge filter turned off sitting in an active betta tank for probably half a year, would I be okay to throw it straight into a quarantine tank (turned on this time) and pick up a bristlenose in a couple days?
Hey Jason, setting up a new 75 gal and have no access to used filter media. Went to my lfs that sells Fritz Turbo Start but it was all expired since Aug/22. They gave me bottle for free, and said feel free to try it and see if it works. Would you try it or am I wasting my time? They hope to have new stock by next week.
I had a sponge filter in my 55g for two month, moved it to a new 37g I was setting up. I added one bristlenose pleco to the tank. My ammonia spike to about 1ppm. The pleco has been in there for one day, do I need to wait a few days to see if the ammonia goes down, before any other action is taken?
I would try to water change the ammonia out now. The bacteria from the sponge filter should be able to colonize to the bioload within a few days since there are barely any fish in the tank.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I am out of town for a few days I’ll water change in two days when I’m back. Hopefully all will be well when I get back! Thank you for the quick reply!
I added cycled filter media last night, but when I tested today the readings were: ammonia 1ppm (which I'm heavily confused by unless my test is picking up chloramine in the water?) 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates, how long does it take for the cycled media to actually have an effect on the test reading?
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you, I took more media over from my established tank to see if it makes a difference. I'll test again tonight and hopefully have better results :)
When I’m cycling a new tank with added ammonia and added bacteria in the water , do I turn my filter off or leave it on . I have no fish in yet my ammonia is about 1ppm . I used a live bacteria . My filter is a hang on side with a foam filter with added cloth filter . So on or off ?
My advice - also get some fish tank water from a nearby pet shop , your tank will cycle much faster but make sure it’s the only mix of water do not mix any other sources of fish tank water with it .
How long do I live the old media from my friends tank in my new tank? It has been almost two weeks now. Also my tank has gotten so cloudy again but no huge spikes. I have had 7 fish for a week now in my 20 gallon tank. Can I just put a new filter in now and take out the old one? Thanks!!!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you!!! Anyway to help the cloudiness, maybe prime and stability will help? Also if so then should I use those every day for about two weeks since it has already been about two weeks. ..
Hi I'm new here and I'm struggling with ammonia in my tank, Petco tested my 6 day cycle water and said it was okay for me to put my first Oscar in and then two days later I went and got my second Oscar there too long
They're two in Long and are getting along I got the stuff to test the parameters and ammonia and when I did this I had 1.02 2.0 but all my other parameters seemed to be okay I have soft water, pH between 7.2 and 7.8 temperature reading 80° and I have 0-20 treats I don't believe my nitrates and registering no chlorine
Im doing the fishless cycle and its driving me crazy. Its 'my first tank. I have at least 2ppm Ammonia but no nitrites. Im also using API qiuck start. I have not done a water change since i started feeding the tank with fish food about 2 to 3 weeks. Any suggestions to help speed up the process. Im tired of watching an empty aquarium.
I didn't have the best luck with Quick Start, which is one of the reasons I started using the Fritz stuff before they were a channel sponsor. Either way - let the ammonia spike without fish. No need to water change.
Good video! There is a reputable online seller you can purchase seeded sponge filters from - I say reputable because it’s someone I also 20 years ago purchased online Angels from when I was putting myself through college breeding them. And was happy to find they are still a thriving but bigger business now.
So purchased 2 of their 5.5-inch seeded filters for my 125; it has been 5 days (I did throw feeder fish in right away, and I have 5 out of 8 now still alive). For some reason, I felt this process would be a 2-week deal. Did you also take 4-6 weeks using this method?
Would've been a great opportunity (video) to discuss which beneficial bacteria one is gaining with this method. No mention of the nitrogen cycle. Another cotton candy video.
My 10 gallon tank has a fluval 207, and plants ,wood ,rocks etc,I want to move everything over to a 20 long.what do I have to do ,besides add 10 more gallons of water.🇨🇦
Best way to start a new tank for sure. I retired a 75G and replaced with a 125G. I had 2 - canister filters I ran for years packed with bio media. Transferred those 2 filters to the new tank. No issues. I did add seachem stability just in case. I didn’t add any new fish right away to make sure the tank was cycled. All are happy in there new home!
how were you able to keep the existing bacteria alive without fish?
Get video ! I keep extra sponges in my filter for this very reason. I also add some of my existing gravel from a cycled tank to a brand new tank to help out too. Never had any problems. And like you said - Light stocking to start out.
Jason, I think you should do a series on setting up various biotope aquariums. I have a 75 Amazon set up and am researching fish for a southeast asian community tank. After searching you tube I am finding very little to help me ( fortunately I have many books on fish) and I thought this would be a good idea for a you tuber
thank you for your advice. I bought a bigger longer fish tank for my guys and wanted to make sure I know how to cycle it right and make sure the benefitial baterical travels properly.
I’ve become very used to using the bacteria in a bottle for new filters for a few years now. Seachem stability has really helped cut out the guesswork and losses for myself!
Thanks for that advice, Jason. I'm getting ready to start a new tank. I'm going to be using a sponge filter from my old tank plus the substrate from the old one. I will be sure to slowly stock my tank. This video came out at the perfect time for me. ~Gina Hetlage
Have fun!
I was watching Joanna's Small Scapes when this popped up! 😊 Thanks, Jason!
Movie Quote One:
Helen: "Listen, if you're gonna ask me every question twice, this is gonna take a really long time."
Movie Quote:
"Brian: Yeah answer it."
Andrew: "Answer the question, Claire."
Bender: "Talk to us."
Every one: "C'mon, answer the question."
NO, I never did...... :-) Everyone's home life is unsatisfying.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics you're halfway there. You got the other movie? 😆
Someday I would like to get a 55 gallon low boy like that. It looks so awesome
They're worth it! :-)
As usual, great information!! Thank you, Jason!
Hey Jason still pretty new to fresh water cichlids. My experience is reef tanks. And I love watching your videos. I’ve learned a lot and was surprised on a few things like not using rodi for cichlid I thought rodi was the best.
My tank set up
Display
10 waterbox cube aio (10.9 gallon)
Carib sea cichlid sand
Some stones
Shells
Water sprite floating
Filter
Mechanical filter floss
Argonite 1-1.5 lb bag
Ceramic balls
Purigen(standby not being used only have just Incase)
Heater
Water
Live in NJ city water (soft)
Tank has been set up for about 1 week
Ammonia spiked done
Nitrite spike kinda
Nitrate around 20 will do water change when it hits 40
Currently tank water is
Ph 8
Gh 140
Kh 8
*using liquid ammonia and bacteria to help with cycle
Anyway I wanted to ask several questions
-Can I add conditioner to the new tap water before adding to tank during water change? Or just add directly to tank before adding tap water?? Wasn’t sure if the chlorine will kill the beneficial bacteria
-can I add conditioner to small water for top offs during evaporation.
How many multis can I get this will be a species only tank
-how is my water quality?? Seems like I’m still a little low (Gh, Kh) want to keep things simple to prevent big swings. Is there anything else I should do?? Given my current water quality. How long does the Argonite take to raise the hardness of the water? It’s been a week is this the limit or will it still get harder? If it doesn’t do I still need to add stuff?? I know you said water parameters are important but consistency is better.
Also using my left over ai hd prime 16 pro do you have a setting best for the plants I decided??
Thank you
You should be able to keep a pair of Multis in a 10 gallon but you will have to remove the fry since that’s not a lot of space for them. Water looks good. Maybe some aragonite to bring up the KH and stabilize the pH in the 8s? As for dechlorinator- I just add it as the tank is filling. Light setting will depend on the types of plants and you can adjust it as needed. Hope this helps!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics oh sorry I ment aragonite I do have in the filter already that’s what is keeping my water where it’s at and again it’s only been a week since set up so not sure if the aragonite will still add more hardness to the tank. Thank you as for plants it’s just a water sprite
Great topic and knowledge in this video. Thanks Jason!!!
Thank you!
I’m trying to convert my 75 gallon tank from community to African cichlids (peacocks). The tank has been up and running for 2 years now, I made a diy sump out of a 29 gallon aquarium so it has plenty of mechanical and biological media. My question is, along with a water change, some cleaning and adding crushed coral to bring the ph up for the cichlids, can I just do a complete fish swap? Remove the community fish and add the cichlids in little by little over time but start the adding immediately?
And by immediately I mean within a couple of days of removing the old fish
If the new fish have roughly the same bioload it will be ok.
Hi, Ive just re-scaped my Fish Tank and filled it with new water. The tank is running on an external filter that has been running in the existed tank for 6 months plus. All of the rocks that used rocks were it, some of the sand was, all of the plants were and all of the aquasoil was also! Can I put my clean up crew in? E.g A Bristlenose Pleco and some shrimp. Thanks
Should be fine!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Perfect, Thank You!!!
Thank you for this video, great info.
Great short video! Grabbing some fritz from Fish Planet to boost the bacteria in my 20L converted from axolotl to multi tank. See you both tomorrow for pickup at GCCA :)
See you at the swap!
Moved over a piece of drift wood and a piece of filter media. The cycle happened surprisingly fast
Thank you for the refresher!
Do you recommend using lava rock for beneficial bacteria as matrix for a fx6 or fx2? Will it do the same?
Yes! It tends to clog easy though.
Good info. What day is your talk at aquashella? See you there
That's a great question - I'm not sure yet? :-)
Thanks Jason, you just answered one of my questions. The second is can you also use koi pond filter media to boost good bacteria in a small fish tank? X
Yes, but it might be a little risky if they media has been exposed to the outside environment?
I put new sponge filter existing tank?
Sure
I'm setting up a new tank, 29g, and have had my 35g hex with fish for a month. Could I do a water change with nitrates at 20ppm from the 35 and add some of that water to the new tank? Along with adding the filter media. I figure it'll be min of 2 wks before I add fish. Also through in a little bit of food in empty tank to start some microbe activity?
You just need the cycled filter media. There aren’t any beneficial bacteria in the water. Have fun!
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thank You!
i got a question, regarding media filter, how effective does the beneficial bacteria if the media filter is placed in dark container containing media filter? does the beneficial bacteria needs sunlight too? and how about oxygen? any effect if u oxygenated (airstone) your media filter? thanks
They don’t need sunlight, but they do need oxygen. The oxygen supplied from flow water through the filter is plenty though.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thanks for the information 👍👍👍😃, i've found all your vid are helpful. keep up the good work.
Doubt Cleared ✅ Thanks Sir
Luckily I keep extra filter floss stuffed in for that eventuality. I had to get my 2 gallon tank going again in a hurry when I was sent an extra Mystery snail that I didn’t have room for in main tank. 😮
Thank you! :))
I've had a sponge filter turned off sitting in an active betta tank for probably half a year, would I be okay to throw it straight into a quarantine tank (turned on this time) and pick up a bristlenose in a couple days?
Sure!
Awesome video!!! Thank you!!! 🎉
Thank you.I appreciate you. Love the videos. 🙏🏼
Hey Jason, setting up a new 75 gal and have no access to used filter media. Went to my lfs that sells Fritz Turbo Start but it was all expired since Aug/22. They gave me bottle for free, and said feel free to try it and see if it works. Would you try it or am I wasting my time? They hope to have new stock by next week.
It might work if it was stored in the fridge?
I had a sponge filter in my 55g for two month, moved it to a new 37g I was setting up. I added one bristlenose pleco to the tank. My ammonia spike to about 1ppm. The pleco has been in there for one day, do I need to wait a few days to see if the ammonia goes down, before any other action is taken?
I would try to water change the ammonia out now. The bacteria from the sponge filter should be able to colonize to the bioload within a few days since there are barely any fish in the tank.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I am out of town for a few days I’ll water change in two days when I’m back. Hopefully all will be well when I get back! Thank you for the quick reply!
Can you do an update on your dual 125 gallon stand. Also what would you do different?
I don't think I would do anything different for that stand. I built two of them and like them both!
I added cycled filter media last night, but when I tested today the readings were: ammonia 1ppm (which I'm heavily confused by unless my test is picking up chloramine in the water?) 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates, how long does it take for the cycled media to actually have an effect on the test reading?
Should be almost instantly if added to a new tank and that tank is lightly stocked.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you, I took more media over from my established tank to see if it makes a difference. I'll test again tonight and hopefully have better results :)
When I’m cycling a new tank with added ammonia and added bacteria in the water , do I turn my filter off or leave it on . I have no fish in yet my ammonia is about 1ppm . I used a live bacteria . My filter is a hang on side with a foam filter with added cloth filter . So on or off ?
Leave it on all the time.
Happy Friday
For the filter media, can you use the sponge filter media from a HOB filter?
Sure
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thank you!
My advice - also get some fish tank water from a nearby pet shop , your tank will cycle much faster but make sure it’s the only mix of water do not mix any other sources of fish tank water with it .
Actually, the water itself does not hold any beneficial bacteria. It is connected to surfaces.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics would it help if I drop 2 bio rings into the tank ?
when adding a used sponge filter to a new aquarium do you use it or just leave the used filter in the new tank?
I usually just leave it in the new tank.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics okay, well I actually ran the air though it does this mess the cycle up, do I need to do anything since I did that?
?
How long do I live the old media from my friends tank in my new tank? It has been almost two weeks now. Also my tank has gotten so cloudy again but no huge spikes. I have had 7 fish for a week now in my 20 gallon tank. Can I just put a new filter in now and take out the old one? Thanks!!!
I usually leave it in for at least 4-6 weeks.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you!!! Anyway to help the cloudiness, maybe prime and stability will help? Also if so then should I use those every day for about two weeks since it has already been about two weeks. ..
Can you use the polish pad from another tank ?
Definitely
Hi I'm new here and I'm struggling with ammonia in my tank, Petco tested my 6 day cycle water and said it was okay for me to put my first Oscar in and then two days later I went and got my second Oscar there too long
They're two in Long and are getting along I got the stuff to test the parameters and ammonia and when I did this I had 1.02 2.0 but all my other parameters seemed to be okay I have soft water, pH between 7.2 and 7.8 temperature reading 80° and I have 0-20 treats I don't believe my nitrates and registering no chlorine
This will help along with Fritz turbo start.
ua-cam.com/video/5l-POiCc0dI/v-deo.html
Im doing the fishless cycle and its driving me crazy. Its 'my first tank. I have at least 2ppm Ammonia but no nitrites. Im also using API qiuck start. I have not done a water change since i started feeding the tank with fish food about 2 to 3 weeks. Any suggestions to help speed up the process. Im tired of watching an empty aquarium.
I didn't have the best luck with Quick Start, which is one of the reasons I started using the Fritz stuff before they were a channel sponsor. Either way - let the ammonia spike without fish. No need to water change.
thanks@@PrimeTimeAquatics
I keep a spare sponge filter in my sump, because I hate waiting!
Great idea!
How long do you keep the old filter in the new tank?
At least 4-6 weeks
How long do you keep the filter in the new tank?
At least four weeks
OK cool thanks!
How do you store equipment from a old tank ?
I just let it dry
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you
awesome vid
Nice vid
Good video! There is a reputable online seller you can purchase seeded sponge filters from - I say reputable because it’s someone I also 20 years ago purchased online Angels from when I was putting myself through college breeding them. And was happy to find they are still a thriving but bigger business now.
Who is the seller?
@@starry4656 Angelsplus
So purchased 2 of their 5.5-inch seeded filters for my 125; it has been 5 days (I did throw feeder fish in right away, and I have 5 out of 8 now still alive). For some reason, I felt this process would be a 2-week deal. Did you also take 4-6 weeks using this method?
If you quarantine then life cycle for thinks like ich should be considered as well.
I’m blanking on the name of the fish @ 1:45. Can anyone help me out?
Julidochromis ornatus!
Would've been a great opportunity (video) to discuss which beneficial bacteria one is gaining with this method. No mention of the nitrogen cycle. Another cotton candy video.
I've done a few of those :-)
The likes and the views are not adding up 🤣
Sometimes the numbers don't track properly early on :-)
My 10 gallon tank has a fluval 207, and plants ,wood ,rocks etc,I want to move everything over to a 20 long.what do I have to do ,besides add 10 more gallons of water.🇨🇦
How long do I have to wait to transfer fish over
Thanks anyways,no one knows this answer