New tank question

[billysgirl4e]

I had an offer to sell my 29g and am replacing it with a 36g hexagon tank w/ an undergravel filter. My GSP is currently 3" long, and at a sg of 1.12. The aquarium is just the aquarium, hood, light, and undergravel filter. I will be keeping my decorations and crushed coral substrate. I am concerned though, as I have never had an undergravel filter (that worked!), about biological filtration, chemical filtration, oxygen levels, etc.. What else (besides a heater) will I need to keep my puff-puff happy? Do I need another filter? Will this suffice until he's big enough to switch over to marine?

[Nick]

The reason you never had an undergravel filter that worked is because all undergravel filters fail eventually. It's good for a while, but they're unsustainable, and breaking the tank down to clean them generally causes it to have to cycle from scratch, which is just as bad as when they stop working. I wouldn't use it, get a power filter that hangs on the tank, and enough downspout extensions that the intake is right over the substrate. I'd suggest using the filter from your current tank, since it will have lots of good bacteria in it.

[billysgirl4e]

Thanks for the advice, Nick. I'm going to get a new filter for it (I'm giving the girl my old one--which won't fit on my new tank), but I am using my old substrate, water, and decorations (all cycled, of course)... so, with a little extra chemical help (cycle, etc), it shouldn't take TOO terribly long.

[Nick]

Make sure your old substrate and decorations aren't ever let dry, and you should be OK. What kind of filter is your old one? You can probably use the sponge or take the pad/floss from the cartrdige and stuff them in the new filter, too.

[Pufferpunk]

I would get Bio-Spira. Cycle is junk & will hinder the cycling process of your tank. What is the SG at now? I would take the filter material out of the old filter & put what you can of it into your new one.

Get yourself ammonia, nitrite & nitrate tests & keep a close eye on those.

[billysgirl4e]

1.012. I've looked into bio-spira; noone within an hour radius of me has it. Where is the cheapest place to buy online?

[Pufferpunk]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com If you go to http://www.ebates.com & order through there, giving them my email addy, you will get 6% off your entire order & an extra $5 rebate: luluwonderdog at yahoo dot com.

[billysgirl4e]

I went to Drs Foster and Smith's website, and couldn't find it. Have they stopped carrying it?

[Pufferpunk]

I was just reading your 1st post again & at 1.012, I'm afraid you are right in the middle of FW & SW & neither B-S will be good for that bacteria IMO.

What I would do is move over everything from the smaller tank into the upgrade--substrate, decor, filtration & that will carry over enough bacteria to support your fish.

[billysgirl4e]

Thanks again!

[StormySkiez]

I went to Drs Foster and Smith's website, and couldn't find it. Have they stopped carrying it?

Bio Spira has been discontinued from DR F&S for now. As of May 2008 Elmer's Aquarium site stated the product is in the process of being reformulated.

[Pufferpunk]

I still see it FS here: http://www.aquariumplants.com/Bio_Spira_s/47.htm

[billysgirl4e]

To anyone who might live 'round Gainesville, FL - there is a store on 34th called "Aquatropics"... I don't ALWAYS agree with everything they say/do--but very good for a pet store. (I asked if they needed any help and they told me if I could walk down the aisles, name 50 fish and everything about them, I'd be hired! Teehee...makes me feel a little better - but I opted for a job where they actually NEEDED me closer to home). Anyway - I inquired if they had "bio-spira" and they said "no", however, they have the same sort of thing, which they keep in a baggie in the back. Same rules; refrigeration, etc.. For both saltwater and fresh....has worked miraculously with my tanks