About to dirt A 55

I'm about to dirt my 55 because my platys have reproduced to about 80 total fish and need something to suck up the nitrates. Is there any tips to not kill any fish when putting them back in the tank with such a heavy bioload. Any other tip will be helpful also. Thanks.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by brosaquaticuniverse on July 27, 2011 at 3:28am

yeah a few things

have an established filter (if u wanna be safe get another filter(can be cheap and small) and establish it)

save all your old tank water

Tetra SafeStart. this is the only stuff that will cycle a tank in 24hours. must be added before u add fish.

i would do as many 95% water changes before you add old tank water and fish and safestart.

minimum 3

then when your done on your last one fill it up with the old tank water then add the safestart then add your fish.

now i wouldn't do as many water changes

30% every other day for a week and a half

then go to your normal water changes

you should be fine just if u see lots of your plants dying(not the typical die off) then increase your water changes. but i think ul be fine

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by CaliFishTanks on July 27, 2011 at 12:01pm

I have 2 established filters, 80 gallons of old water, established gravel, and amquel. I could do water changes everyday at around 50% just to be safe.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan on July 27, 2011 at 12:34pm

Yeah tetra safestart will cycle the tank really fast, but only if you add it with fish. Why do you need the old tank water? The bacteria isn't present in the water

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by CaliFishTanks on July 27, 2011 at 12:39pm

Some bacteria is but not a lot, i also have established gravel which i am going to cap the dirt with. All the fish arent adults yet, mostly all of them are a inch or under in length. Thanks everyone for the feedback so i am getting tetrasafestart. Btw Does anyone know if quickrete all purpose gravel is safe to use in a aquarium.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by aduman on July 27, 2011 at 5:27pm

I agree with brosaquaticuniverse methods. I just finish establishing my 55 gallon tank with dirt and sand. With two HOB filter and some remove some water from 40 gallon to place it in my 55 gallon. It took about 48 to 72 hours for the tank to cycle but just to be safe on the safe side I let run for two week and tested water for Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates spike.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by CaliFishTanks on July 27, 2011 at 6:01pm

The fish are already in the 55, im going to put them in a tub and add them back when im finished. I am probably going to do 50% water changes daily to keep the parameters under check

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by 3pi3j387h8gou on July 28, 2011 at 12:07am

first thing i would do is throw away the plattys

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by CaliFishTanks on July 28, 2011 at 12:18am

Thats kind of messed up man

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by brosaquaticuniverse on July 28, 2011 at 1:46am

yeah safestart im not sure but i think has bacteria in it to. it works if u add it before your fish but u must add fish soon after. the gravel will totally help. becareful with big water changes though bercause then the tank will never have a chance to establish. i personally would monitor your levels(ie amonia and nitite levels) when they are high then do the extra water change but other than that i wouldn't do extra. but sounds like you got down. good luck.

p.s. your platies will continue to reproduce. i might try to find someone that will help to take the extras of your hands. maybe for money