transplant moss/plants from a starter/QT tank?

xadzax

Over the next few months I'll be obtaining a 55gallon tank as an upgrade to my 20gallon. In doing so, I would love to go with live plants and moss. I am most attracted to driftwood and rocks and/or substrate with the mossy look much like is done with aquascaping, but as a beginner I want to avoid the seemingly massive amount of extra equipment and expense and slowly build up.

I think I'm going to leave the 20gallon alone. It's stable, the fish are happy and healthy albeit the artificial landscaping.

So I have this 10gallon QT which I thought I could use to start building my decorations with the moss growth (Maybe 2 or 3 pieces of natural driftwood and a half dozen or so rocks of varying size). Could I use this as my growing tank and then transplant them into my 55gallon?

If that would work, I need to plan out when to place them in. I want to do a fishless cycle with the tank and then start with my Rainbowshark and very slowly add more fish.

Ideas? Insight?
Thanks guys.

Byron

Is there any reason you don't want to start the moss on the wood in the 55g? There is no problem moving aquatic lants from one tank to another, except that many will be affected if the water parameters (hardness, pH and temp), light and nutrients are different from tank to tank, as often occurs esp with old and new tanks.

As for cycling, I suggest you plant the new tank fairly well and add a few fish. With sufficient plants, there will be no discernable "cycle" thus saving weeks of fuss and mess.

Byron.

xadzax

Hi Byron,
I just figured since it's going to be a few months before I can afford the 55gallon I could get the moss and plants established on the wood and rocks.

Byron

That's fine. I have had moss growing well on wood in a tank, then when moved to another the moss turns grayish and almost (but not completely) dies off, and then slowly starts anew. But this doesn't hurt anything (except the moss). Just so you know what might occur. Different light levels can cause this, or water parameters.