I
iluvfish
Guest
when I go to convert from UGF and CC to wet/dry filter and live sand - what should I do with the fish,etc in my tank? Do I need to let the new setup cycle again before I put them back in??
lesleybird
Active Member
Hi, I would convert to the wet/dry first and let it get established with all the good amonia and nitrite reducing bacteria for about six weeks before you change the bottom out to live sand. You don't want to do the other first as the established bacteria colony in your wet/dry will help to prevent a harsh cycle in the tank. It may still go thru a mini-cycle when you change out the CC. When you clean your wet/dry, only clean part of the biomaterial at a time and only wash them with salt water....not chlorine water. You don't want to kill the good bacteria. I have heard that some people divide bioballs up in sections with net material and only clean one section at a time. Also get yourself a bottle of cycle bacteria to add extra bacteria to help prevent the tank from cycling as much. The live sand will also help. Hopefully you have a lot of cured live rock.....this will help too. Watch your amonia and nitrates often during the first month or two and have water on hand to do some partial water changes if the levels start to go bad on you. You may need to do more frequent water changes for a while, but if you are not over stocked you fish should be ok. I would place my fish in those five gallon buckets with an airstone and the lid partially covering to keep the fish from jumping out while you switch out the CC. Don't try to cram them all into one bucket! Make sure you keep the live rocks wet too.
Good luck, Lesley
Good luck, Lesley
I
iluvfish
Guest
One slight problem - the wet/dry I have has been sitting in a garage with ??mice?? for some time. I think I will have to use chlorine and wash the whole thing to prevent contamination from that won't I?
Does anyone know of a good site for wet/dry filter setups? Or other types?
Does anyone know of a good site for wet/dry filter setups? Or other types?
lobstergrabber
Member
I don' think you have to worry about using chlorine as much as you think.make up a solution of about 5 parts water 1 part bleach and scrub it out if you think it really needs it. As soon as you are done scrubbing it rinse it out 2 or 3 times and leave it out in the sun. The chlorine that is left over should evaporate quickly.
Rich
Rich
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
I don't think you have to worry about the clorine or the mice. Using the 1/5 or 1/4 bleach is a good idea and a two or three good rinses with straight water will remove the clorine. Even if you had some mouse waste, the saltwater would sterilize it and the wet/dry would decompose it.
lesleybird
Active Member
Hi, Chlorine is ok for the initial cleaning....just ment to watch it once you get the good nitrifying bacteria growing on it you don't want to kill it off. If you use bleach to clean I would rinse it very well and place some antichlorine liquid sold at fish stores to make tap water safe (a couple of times the reccomended dosage) to the final rinse water and let it sit for about an hour to make sure you neutralize all the chlorine bleach. That stuff is kind of difficult to remove the residue without this. I know a guy who maintains tanks for a living cleans the large rocks in fresh water tanks with diluted chlorox and then soaks them in an antichlorine liquid in water. I would be careful using any type of detergent as residues may harm the fish. Good luck, Lesley
I
iluvfish
Guest
Thanks All! But I'm still confused about something. Let's say I convert the UGF to wet/dry. Then in 6 weeks or so, when I want to change to sand-will it be okay to leave the fish in a 5 gal bucket? The gal at the LFS said that if I convert from UGF and CC to this, that I have to let the whole tank cycle again without fish. Is this true? I am so confused!!!
Amy
Amy
I
iluvfish
Guest
By the way - I do have some invertebrates in this tank as well. Thanks! Amy