Cycling a 29g with other media

stevef10

Ok so I have a 125 gallon tank that's been up and running for about 4 months now but just bought a new 29 gallon and want to use stuff from the old tank to help cycle the new tank. The problem is the new 29g has a HOB Aqua-Tech 20-40 (from Wal-Mart) filter and our 125g has a Rena xP3 canister filter. So what exactly should I take out of the canister filter to put in the HOB filter? Keep in mind that the HOB on the 29g is pretty small so should I take a few of the bio stars and maybe the microfiltration pad? What about gravel, is it ok to hang some in a pantyhose or something similar, will that be beneficial? Any other suggestions would be appreciated!!

p.s. I'd also like some stocking ideas, we want to try a dwarf cichlid tank so any suggestions about those and tankmates would be appreciated, thanks!

aunt kymmie

Some gravel in a nylon sock will help. It's what I did to jump start two of my tanks. Stuffed the sock with gravel and then set it down on the new tank's substrate and left it there for about two weeks.

stevef10

Ok, we put some gravel in our new tank in nylons and we added a couple of the bio stars and some of the microfiltration pad in the new filter too. We also used the tank water from the established tank and added some stability so hopefully it will cycle quickly.

stevef10

In regards to stocking, this is what we were thinking:
1 Blue ram
1 Cockatoo cichlid
1 Dwarf gourami (powder blue)
1 other dwarf cichlid
6-8 Neon tetras
2 Corydoras

Let me know how you think this will work out. We really like killifish too but not sure if they would be compatible as they are Africans. Also, we were thinking about a few medium shrimp so any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

aunt kymmie

The first thing that jumps at me off your stocking list is the two corys. They are a shoaling fish and need at minimum a trio (four to five is even better) in order to thrive.

stevef10

Here's a pic of my new 29g tank that is cycling (hopefully be done soon!!)

1077

Like your tank! and the biological material you used from the 125 will help speed the maturing process but remember,, the biological material (bacteria) needs a source of ammonia to feed on or it will die off.

JohnnyD44

Corries need to be in a school, atleast 4 or 5, like Aunt K said! Neons look ok too

stevef10

Ok so the 3 dwarf cichlids, a dwarf gourami, 6-8 neon tetras, and 4 corys. Will that be overstocked or will it be ok if we keep up with the water changes?

dramaqueen

Nice tank!