Setting up an Aquarium and putting fish in mins. later

I think that as long as your testing the water like you say your good to go.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Yep, if you test the nitrates, they're probably near 20ppm immediately. I do this all the time (just did it 2 days ago) without issues, and I usually add something from the established tank for good measure, like a rock or small piece of driftwood. The only thing I wouldn't add is algae eaters since the walls of the tank are clean.

sounds like a sound plan.I keep a sponge or two in some tanks for the same reason.Worked well when I set up a new tank for a big angel.

I find if I put plastic spawning carpets in my bare tanks, the water quality stays good for longer. I suspect it is the extra surface area for bacteria to grow on coming into play.

The only thing I would do differently is use all new prepped water, not used water from other tanks.

Tessa said:

The only thing I would do differently is use all new prepped water, not used water from other tanks.

Click to expand...

The prepped water has no good bacteria in it though? Why would you take your suggested route with "fresh" water? Thank you,

DD

Does your emergency spare tank have an ammonia source to keep the filters seeded with bacteria?

DigityDog70 said:

The prepped water has no good bacteria in it though? Why would you take your suggested route with "fresh" water? Thank you,

DD

Click to expand...

Most of the beneficial bacteria lives on surfaces in the aquarium; in the substrate, the filter, on decorations etc. There's not much, if any, just hanging around in the water column. All you'll be doing is transferring nitrates and other dissolved organics, which isn't necessary.

DigityDog70 said:

The prepped water has no good bacteria in it though? Why would you take your suggested route with "fresh" water? Thank you,

DD

Click to expand...

There is very little of the bacteria in the water itself. What I sometimes do to seed a new filter, is to place it in an established tank, then give the internal glass a good wipe down to chase some of the bacteria into the water column.

ustabefast said:

Does your emergency spare tank have an ammonia source to keep the filters seeded with bacteria?

Click to expand...

Thank you for mentioning this ustabefast as it is along the lines of the "most" important point that I did not explain very well. Yes, I do have various sources that I shall be using, e.g.: a sponge filter that has a ton of lovely fish poop all over it and that's going in the new tank as it's in the HOB and it's media that are quite well established, some rocks and I will have a nice sponge filter that I have personally kept in there for months with all sorts of lovlies as well.

I would think that the water being exposed to all of these items would have some level of good, beneficial bacteria? I didn't realize that the levels were so low, and that actual items with the bacteria were the items "in" the aquarium.

Cheers All,

DD

Amazing what a simple, inexpensive sponge filter can do for any aquarium....great to have in case of an emergency.