How to set up 2nd tank (newbie)

[Phillip]

So I have about 20 guppy babies in a breeder box in my 36 gallon community tank. I’ll be way over stocked if I leave them in there as they grow up.

I plans to buy another tank to put in my daughter’s room with the baby guppies. I’ve had an extra sponge filter in the 36 for about 2 weeks now. 

1.  Can I just put that sponge filter in the new tank, add water and dechlorinate, then add fish? Do I need to add bottle bacteria? Do I need to wait a couple weeks like a normal cycle?

2. I’d like to get a new hob for the 36 and put the one I’m using now in the new tank. How can I do this without crashing the cycle on the 36? I have a sponge filter in there. Will that be enough to keep the cycle while the new hob loads up? (I have 2 sponges in there now because I plan to move one to the new tank)

[ChefConfit]

Here's what I'd do. First set up the new tank fill it then dechlorinate(or fill with water from the parents tank) then transfer 1 sponge filter and the hob. Then add the fry a day or 2 later. 

The sponge and other surfaces in your tank will house more than enough BB to maintain your cycle. 

[Phillip]

2 minutes ago, ChefConfit said:

Here's what I'd do. First set up the new tank fill it then dechlorinate(or fill with water from the parents tank) then transfer 1 sponge filter and the hob. Then add the fry a day or 2 later. 

The sponge and other surfaces in your tank will house more than enough BB to maintain your cycle. 

Thanks! Would I be able to start the new hob at the same time? I can’t think of any reason why not, just making sure. 

[ChefConfit]

Yea you can start it right away. In the new tank you might wat a prefilter sponge so that no fry get sucked in as well. I run them on all my HOBs as my course filtration

[Phillip]

Just now, ChefConfit said:

Yea you can start it right away. In the new tank you might wat a prefilter sponge so that no fry get sucked in as well. I run them on all my HOBs as my course filtration

Yup good idea. I have a prefilter in the current hob, so it’ll go in the tank with the fry. Have to remember to get one for the new hob. 

[lefty o]

42 minutes ago, ChefConfit said:

Here's what I'd do. First set up the new tank fill it then dechlorinate(or fill with water from the parents tank) then transfer 1 sponge filter and the hob. Then add the fry a day or 2 later. 

The sponge and other surfaces in your tank will house more than enough BB to maintain your cycle. 

i agree with this pretty much exactly.

[Phillip]

28 minutes ago, lefty o said:

i agree with this pretty much exactly.

Sounds like a plan! Only problem is my daughter gets a new tank and I still want my 75 🤣

[lefty o]

1 hour ago, Phillip said:

Sounds like a plan! Only problem is my daughter gets a new tank and I still want my 75 🤣

there's always next week.

[ChefConfit]

Haha I'm in the same boat! I want a new display tank, but I'm already working on my summer tub and my daughter has been asking for a betta. 

[Phillip]

1 hour ago, ChefConfit said:

Haha I'm in the same boat! I want a new display tank, but I'm already working on my summer tub and my daughter has been asking for a betta. 

Summer tub for fish? I’ve been wanting to do that.