Question on new tank

[dawncollette]

Hi all, I set up a 135 gallon about 3 weeks ago with two power heads on sponges and a reaction filter with UV and one airstone running, added stress zyme each week as per the instructions. My plan is to consolidate all my discus out of the two planted 55 gallon tanks into this one tank so that they will all be together. It's barebottom painted with pebbled paint and the back is painted with kilz blue paint, copied from mike on this forum..
My question is do you think it's safe to go ahead and move all the discus to the tank, the temp is the same at 86-88 on all my tanks and ph should be exactly the same as well. I really want to put all the discus in there but want to make sure I am not doing this too soon.
Any help or advice is appreciated,
dawn

[Ryan Smith]

Dawn,

Can you just move the sponges from one of your 55 gallons into the big tank? If so, it'll be instantly cycled and you can move all the fish over. Since the new tank is bare bottom, it should be as easy as filling and adding your fish. You don't have to keep your old sponges in the tank permanently, just for a few weeks until the new sponges you have are seeded and ready to go.

Ryan

[Ryan Smith]

One other thing -- I'm not really familiar with Stress Zyme and I don't know what it's used for, I'm assuming it's a water conditioner? Either way, I would do a large water change (75% or so) the day before adding the fish. Add a couple of your existing sponges, then all the fish, and stay on top of your water changes for a couple weeks to make sure there are no problems with the cycle.

[Tropical Haven]

I totally agree with Ryan, transfer all of your sponges into the large tank with the newer ones until they are well seeded. If you only keep the new ones in there even if the are seeded, it won't be able to keep up with the bioload of all your fish.

[Graham]

Definarely transfer any existing bio-media over with you fish. The Stess-zyme contains no nitrifiying bacteria and will not have ''cycled'' the new tank.

The product contains hetertrophic bacteria that are capable of breaking down organics...sludge eaters...not the ammonia that's given off by our fish

[dawncollette]

thanks Graham and Ryan, much appreciated, will follow this advice!!!
Oh and why the large water change, I did about a 40% one two days ago even though there are no fish in there and the filters have been running??
Thanks guys!!
dawn

[White Worm]

Probably to keep down the chances of having any spike in your cycle (loss or die-out of bio). Stay on top of the water changes for the first week or so to make sure you dont get any minor nitrite/ammonia spikes. I guess the paint idea worked well? How about a pic? I'd like to see the larger version.