Leaky tank

[lisespieces87]

Good morning. I have an over 15 year old 32gallon biocube that has decided to start leaking. I have a new tank on the way and it will be here tommorow. How long does it need to cycle before I can add my clownfish, some snails and one lone mushroom on a piece of live rock? Can I just move the live rock from the old tank to the new tank before moving out the critters or will stiring up all the sand and moving everything around be unhealthy for them? I've never had to restart a tank. I'm probably thinking to much into it but if the tank decides to leak worse and turn into an emergency situation how can I save my lone fish and the snails?

I also bought new sand for the new tank. Unless it would be better to use the samd from the old tank.

 

[pwoody]

hi!
There’s a lot of debate about tank cycling.

Here is a quick overview of two methods (main two);

1.) first the traditional way - add sand and rocks and everything you want and start the tank running (no livestock yet). Add some fish food in each day or a shrimp or something to kickstart bacterial colonisation.
Measure nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia daily. You should see each spike and fall. When nitRITES and ammonia are at 0…you have a fully cycled tank. Start adding livestock slowly and sensibly.

2.) Set the tank up ready and start it running…dump in Fritz zyme or similar product and add livestock at the same time straight away.

Part of the debate is whether each method is beneficial long term, and weighing up the waiting time etc.

Your call which route you take but if you’re impatient and desperate, and/or trust the quick instant cycle method…go for it :)

 

[lisespieces87]

Will moving the stuff out of the old tank hurt my clownfish?

 

[pwoody]

Forgot to add, the rocks should be fine to move across, sand might cause an issue.
I would personally put inhabitants in a bucket or holding tank with flow and heat just whilst you move stuff over and test for ammonia. If the sand causes a mini cycle it could harm the fish so best keep them separate.
Alternatively see cycle option number 2 :)
You could use some of that stuff and it should mitigate any issues the sand might cause.

However, personally as I say I would separate the inhabitents and leave the tank for any cycling to happen due to shifting sand around.

 

[Üter]

Will moving the stuff out of the old tank hurt my clownfish?

if you create an ammonia spike in the process by stirring up the sand too much etc..

 

[lisespieces87]

Would a big mixing bowl work for the clownfish and his snail friends? How long is safe for them to stay in it?

 

[Üter]

Would a big mixing bowl work for the clownfish and his snail friends? How long is safe for them to stay in it?

you'll need oxygen, flow and heat.

 

[lisespieces87]

Thank you!

 

[dedragon]

I also bought new sand for the new tank. Unless it would be better to use the samd from the old tank.

it is easier to use new sand just remember to rinse it

2.) Set the tank up ready and start it running…dump in Fritz zyme or similar product and add livestock at the same time straight away.

This is the way to go ime. As long as you go slowly to not stir much up especially if it was a deep sand bed. Fritzyme 9 is also my go to for this and why i use it for qt and treatment tanks

 

[dedragon]

Would a big mixing bowl work for the clownfish and his snail friends? How long is safe for them to stay in it?

easiest is a bucket, some rock, a heater, and an air pump. If only 2 clownfish i would say they can probably live in there for weeks but best to keep it to a couple of days. I usually use fritzyme doses as well like once every 6-12 hours just to make sure ammonia doesnt spike

 

[landlubber]

people move addresses all the time which is essentially the same things as what you'r looking to do.
Transfer as much water as possible without disturbing the substrate, add it to the new tank, add the rock into the new tank, make sure to use all the existing filter media and its ideal if you add a biological booster like microbacter7 to help with stability. ditch the old substrate and start with new stuff and you're done.

 

[lisespieces87]

it is easier to use new sand just remember to rinse it

This is the way to go ime. As long as you go slowly to not stir much up especially if it was a deep sand bed. Fritzyme 9 is also my go to for this and why i use it for qt and treatment tanks

easiest is a bucket, some rock, a heater, and an air pump. If only 2 clownfish i would say they can probably live in there for weeks but best to keep it to a couple of days. I usually use fritzyme doses as well like once every 6-12 hours just to make sure ammonia doesnt spike

Could I use a hang on the back filter as the "bubbler" ?I have an extra 10 gallon tank. The filter was used as extra filtration for the biocube.

 

[dedragon]

yea that should be fine as long as it is getting enough gas exchange. You could also leave the tank a little less full so the hob splashes more when returning water to the tank, which can help add more oxygen.

 

[lisespieces87]

I will pick up a bubbler too. Just to make sure.

 

[pwoody]

I will pick up a bubbler too. Just to make sure.

Don’t want to rock the boat here - but bubblers are more ‘decorative’ than other methods. Whilst it will provide some level of oxygenation, the best method in this instance might be aiming a power head at the surface to create breaking, turbulent water at the surface. This will oxygenate the water very well :)

 

[lisespieces87]

Don’t want to rock the boat here - but bubblers are more ‘decorative’ than other methods. Whilst it will provide some level of oxygenation, the best method in this instance might be aiming a power head at the surface to create breaking, turbulent water at the surface. This will oxygenate the water very well :)

Will it work in a pinch for now? Intil I get the other tank set up and going? I live an hour away from any store that carries power heads.

 

[pwoody]

Will it work in a pinch for now? Intil I get the other tank set up and going? I live an hour away from any store that carries power heads.

how long will they be in there? If you are talking days or a week or so then anything is better than nothing. The bubbles breaking the surface should provide at least some turbulence.

 

[dedragon]

in a 10 gallon tank the hob should have enough surface agitation. You can increase that by lowering the water level like i said before. Plenty of people run nano tanks with just an hob filter. Ive used a marineland penguin hob before for qt tanks and it was fine.

 

[pwoody]

in a 10 gallon tank the hob should have enough surface agitation.

That’ll do it

 

[lisespieces87]

how long will they be in there? If you are talking days or a week or so then anything is better than nothing. The bubbles breaking the surface should provide at least some turbulence.

I have someone gonna pick one up and drop it off on their way through town later today.