Picking Spud's new tank up tonight - instant cycling?

[Stratters]

I will have:

The original tank filter, which is going to be left full of water. The tank has healthy fish in it atm, and I can get it home and set up in under an hour. I am also going to have the rocks that are in the tank atm.

I also have a filter sponge in the Barb's Bio Orb, which is due to be changed tomorrow. I can add the old sponge, with all it's lovely bacteria, into the new tank.

I've also purchased 2 500ml bottles of Tetra Safe Start, which should be here tomorrow.

Am off to buy sand, plants, and a Spud Cave. I'd like to buy a proper test kit, if someone could recommend a good one please, bearing in mind that I'm in the UK.

Have I missed anything?

Many thanks

[bertie 83]

Api test kits are about the best you can get. You will unlikely need the safestart if you are using established filter media

[Stratters]

Great, that's what I got, an API Freshwater Master Test Kit - it's the liquid one mentioned elsewhere. Have got substrate, plants, and rocks to build the Spud Cave.

I'll keep hold of the Safestart, just in case. SO excited to be getting tank, and bringing Spud home soon.

[bertie 83]

Keep us posted. Just keep an eye on the water parameters extra closely for the first week or two,

[Stratters]

Well, the tank is home and set up immediately last night. Lovely guy, gave me loads of rock n stuff that he'd kept wet in the tank. I set it up straight away, and left it overnight.

Took my readings just now, and I have a lovely big fat zero for everything, and a ph of 7.6. We are a hard water area so I was expecting it to be around that.

Shall I leave it a bit, and risk it crashing; or shall I run out and bring Spud home and pop him straight in?

[Stratters]

Also, he has a ready made snack for when he arrives. I switched on the filter, and a load of eggs shot out. They are now happily circling the tank, caught in the filter current

[bertie 83]

I would bring him home, does your local shop sell safestart? It's handy to have to hand. With established media you should be absolutely fine though

[Stratters]

I have 2 500ml bottles of it that I ordered just in case. I'll nip out and get him; thank you, you've been really helpful

[Stratters]

[Pufferpunk]

Since the puffer you DO have (not the Congo), isn't a burrowing species, I'd thin out that sand bed to 1" or less.

[Pufferpunk]

Since the puffer you DO have (not the Congo), isn't a burrowing species, I'd thin out that sand bed to 1" or less.

[Stratters]

Will do, thank you

[Stratters]

So funny, he has 3 moss balls, and he's nudged them all into the Spud Cave, and is lying on them. His tummy has gone back to being a nice white/grey and he looks rather content lounging in his cave and watching the shrimp.

[Pufferpunk]

Mossy mattress?

[Stratters]

Mossy mattress?

Apparently so!

He looks like a rather round king, lording it over his subjects, the shrimp.

The clam has now been moved into the Spud Cave. He obviously feels it's a worthy home.