Moving Tank. Water Cycling?

#1
I'm looking to move my fish from a 20 litre tank to a 34 and I was hoping to do it today, though the tank isn't setup yet.

My question is, if I took some or all of the water from the 20 litre tank and used it in my 34 and put my fish in it today, will I have any problems a cycled tank wouldn't? Example: Ammonia, nitrate, nitrate?

Thanks.
 

#7
That's interesting to hear OrangeCones, as I have two plants in my tank and I had issues with Ammonia and Nitrate a few weeks ago now. I did think plants helped with that, so now that has me very confused. :S

Sorry for the late reply also, been busy with work. I still haven't setup the tank as I'm trying to work out where to put it. . .
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#8
That's interesting to hear OrangeCones, as I have two plants in my tank and I had issues with Ammonia and Nitrate a few weeks ago now. I did think plants helped with that, so now that has me very confused.
Confused about plants? Or the Ammonia/Nitrite spike?

Growing plants will not cause ammonia/nitrite spikes in an aquarium. If they are not aquatic plants or if they are not growing (rotting instead), then just like a dead fish or uneaten food, it will cause poor water conditions.

Growing plants consume ammonia first, nitrite 2nd and nitrate 3rd, if all three are present. The reason I've never experienced any ammonia/nitrite issues since growingn plants is that the plants can create what is called a 'Silent Cycle'...a new tank that can be stocked right away as they are there to consume the ammonia the fish put off. In most cases, I need to ADD nitrate to give the plants a source of nitrogen (which they get from ammonia and nitrite too).

Are you sure the plants are aquatic? Sadly, a lot of fish stores sell plants that are not.
 

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#9
Confused about the plants as there was ammonia and nitrate in my water. Yes they are aquatic plants. One is anubia, but I'm not sure what the other is. Whatever it is, it's been in the tank for months and it seems fine. Yes I've been sold so called 'water plants' before only for them to rot and stuff up my water. :/
 

Feb 27, 2009
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#10
Anubias species of plants are very slow growing for the most part. They would not aid much in the uptake of ammonia or nitrite. The best plants to help water quality on a new or overstocked aquarium are those that float, or fast-growing stem plants.