[jpmarini3]

Looking to start a small breeding tank (10-20 gallons) with a new filter. I have a well established 55 gallon tank with an Emperor 280 and an Aquaclear 70 on it...Was going to hang the new filter onto the 55 to cycle it? How long would this take? A week?
I know transferring filter media works very quickly, but the difference in filter sizes might prevent that...

 

[marshallsea]

Looking to start a small breeding tank (10-20 gallons) with a new filter. I have a well established 55 gallon tank with an Emperor 280 and an Aquaclear 70 on it...Was going to hang the new filter onto the 55 to cycle it? How long would this take? A week?
I know transferring filter media works very quickly, but the difference in filter sizes might prevent that...

Maybe 3 weeks. What about hanging your 70 on the 10-20g? If your 55 is well established it wont miss the 70.

 

[jpmarini3]

The 55 is pretty well stocked, i like to have both filters on there...

Like the idea though of the 70 on the 10 gallon..I could replace the 70 on the 55 gallon with something else and let it cycle since the 280 could carry the bioload until then.

..but if i put the 70 on a 10-gal, would that be too much water flow for the fish in there?

 

[marshallsea]

The 55 is pretty well stocked, i like to have both filters on there...

Like the idea though of the 70 on the 10 gallon..I could replace the 70 on the 55 gallon with something else and let it cycle since the 280 could carry the bioload until then.

..but if i put the 70 on a 10-gal, would that be too much water flow for the fish in there?

That might be too much, you would have to use your judgment. What about taking the media from the 70 and cramming it in the 10?

 

[Sanguinefox]

If at all possible I suggest putting the new filter into the established tank for a few weeks to let it build up. Then move it over to the other tank. As long as you have some decent fast growing plants, the two together should handle jump starting the cycle.

Personally when I start up a new tank I clone it by placing a sponge ahead of time into one of the established tanks. When the new tank is ready to go I bring the sponge and sit it in a corner of the tank on the substrate. I also take substrate from an established tank and put it into the new one, mixing it in well with the new substrate. Add plants, and usually I am able to add some fish right away. These are some options for you.

That said, an Aquaclear is pretty big with it's media area. If you can squeeze in media that goes into the new filter into the Aquaclear 70, you could let it stay there for a few weeks then bring it over to filter of the new tank.

 

[jpmarini3]

Yes i use carbon with the sponge on the bottom and bio 'rocks' on the top layer in it. Not sure exactly the size/make the small filter will be...if i go with an aquaclear i could cut a piece of the 70 sponge and put it in the small aquaclear....
any suggestions for a brand of filter for the 10 gal? would an AC 20 be enough?

 

[jentralala]

I personally like the build of my AC, I like that I can shove whatever media I want into it, and the adjustable flow is a plus. I have the foam block plus Sera Filter Wool, and a foam pre-filter.

I think an AC20 would be fine.

 

[Sanguinefox]

Yes i use carbon with the sponge on the bottom and bio 'rocks' on the top layer in it. Not sure exactly the size/make the small filter will be...if i go with an aquaclear i could cut a piece of the 70 sponge and put it in the small aquaclear....
any suggestions for a brand of filter for the 10 gal? would an AC 20 be enough?

I have missed it, but what exactly are you breeding in the 10 gallon? An actual hob filter is not always necessary for something as small as a 10 gallon. It can often times be overkill when there are other just as effective options.

 

[marshallsea]

Yes i use carbon with the sponge on the bottom and bio 'rocks' on the top layer in it. Not sure exactly the size/make the small filter will be...if i go with an aquaclear i could cut a piece of the 70 sponge and put it in the small aquaclear....
any suggestions for a brand of filter for the 10 gal? would an AC 20 be enough?

An AC 20 would be fine. You're right on about making the 70's filter fit your new housing. An established media will be more effective than hanging new media on your 55 for a few weeks. Put as much old media on your new tank as you can.

 

[jpmarini3]

Kribensis- Seen many do ok in 10 gallons as long as theyre by themselves. At most throw in some neons with them. What would be an alternative to a HOB filter?

 

[Sanguinefox]

Kribensis- Seen many do ok in 10 gallons as long as theyre by themselves. At most throw in some neons with them. What would be an alternative to a HOB filter?

Any time you are dealing with the possibility of fry, you are going to run into problems with a HOB. That can be death your fry. I would suggest doing something like a well run sponge filter.

You can get one rated for a 10 gallon tank, and hook it to an air pump that is adjustable with it's stream. You can stick that into the established tank to run for a bit so it builds up a good bacteria colony and then move it over to the 10 gallon. This prevents the possibility of fry being sucked up into an in-take and far more gentle for your fish. I would also consider doing things like very hardy plants such as Java Moss, Floating Riccia, Frog Bit, etc something that will help along filtration.

 

[jpmarini3]

True about the HOB...I may take a piece of sponge (AC insert) and cut a hole to fit the bottom of the intake tube to protect the fry.

 

[marshallsea]

True about the HOB...I may take a piece of sponge (AC insert) and cut a hole to fit the bottom of the intake tube to protect the fry.

Petco or Petsmart sells filter sponges that fit on HOB intake tubes to keep fry out.

 

[AbbeysDad]

Petco or Petsmart sells filter sponges that fit on HOB intake tubes to keep fry out.

Yep, Fluval pre-filter sponges do the trick nicely. Not only do they keep fry out, but create pre-bio filtration in the sponge as well:
.
Amazon.com: Pre-Filter Sponge 3 Pack for Fluval Edge Aquarium: Pet Supplies
.
.
The only down side is that in many situations, the sponge will need to be wrung out once or twice a week or perhaps even every other day to keep water flowing (depends).

 

[marshallsea]

Yep, Fluval pre-filter sponges do the trick nicely. Not only do they keep fry out, but create pre-bio filtration in the sponge as well:
.
Amazon.com: Pre-Filter Sponge 3 Pack for Fluval Edge Aquarium: Pet Supplies
.
.
The only down side is that in many situations, the sponge will need to be wrung out once or twice a week or perhaps even every other day to keep water flowing (depends).

Yes, mine have become completely clogged and and shut down the water flow after 2 weeks of me being lazy. But the pre-filter really does a good job of keeping my main HOB media cleaner longer.

 

[jentralala]

I bought extra AC30 foam inserts and just cut a hole in one for the intake, to keep fish from swimming up the intake (darn loaches!), mainly because I'm cheap <.< But it's worked well so far. Even stuck one on my canister intake.

 

[marshallsea]

I bought extra AC30 foam inserts and just cut a hole in one for the intake, to keep fish from swimming up the intake (darn loaches!), mainly because I'm cheap <.< But it's worked well so far. Even stuck one on my canister intake.

I love being cheap!

 

[AbbeysDad]

And as far as cycling a new filter, using media from an established tank works, but in this case, you could also squeeze/clean the sponge using tank water from the AC70 into a bucket, then into the new filter....instant cycle of sorts.

 

[jpmarini3]

UPDATE:
I set up the 10 gallon with an AC 20 filter and cut out the sponge from my established AC 70 into it - I took the rest of the AC 70 sponge and put it in the 10 gal to float. I also took some gravel from my established 55 gal and mixed it into the new tank's gravel. It started running yesterday - but the ammonia level is high today. The bio rocks in the AC 20 are new, but shouldnt the established sponge and gravel have prevented this ammonia spike?

Please let me know ASAP, i put the femaile kribensis into it feeling confident it would be ok for fish, and didn't want the bacteria from the sponge/gravel to starve without a waste source.
Thanks!