Folsum prison blues.

[JJ Ligs]

Hey guys,
So I work at a park and I had set up a salt water tank for the kids at the beginning of the year which had inverts, some palys and a lone Magenta Dottyback (Pseudochromis porphyreus). Well like most of us I got the shut down order and quickly scooped out the only fish and coral, over topped off the tank and gave the crabs some extra waffers and left (I have been sneakIng in at least to top off and feed the inverts). Well I had hoped to be out of the park for only two weeks and set him up in a little fish jail which should have been fine. Unfortunately here we are a month in and a month to go. I am feeling bad for him in such a small spot I would let him go in my tank but he is true to species and not the best playmate for~well anyone! I was thinking of setting up a temporary ten gallon with a HOB so he can at least swim around. I have never done this without cycling and taking the time to make sure to “do it right” can anyone tell me if...
A) I can safety do this?
B) How to do it?

 

[Bossman]

Can you take live rock and put that into the new 10 gallon?

You could set up a new 10 gallon, put the live rock in, fresh salt water mix and you're good to go. The live rock will have the beneficial bacteria.

You can add new sand or not. I wouldn't put used sand in the new tank without rinsing.

 

[JJ Ligs]

Is that enough to keep him going ok? He is very loved by my students and they make me show him to them on every zoom class I have to keep him alive. Plus I mean he is big time mean to other fish but he is a very social fish with people so I kinda love him lol

 

[Bossman]

Yes, I've upgraded to larger tanks and did it all in one day. During the switch, I added the live rock from the tank I was running into the new tank. I like sand so put new sand in the tank.

No reason to use the old water as the bacteria is on the surface of the live rock.

Recently I set up a new nano 10 gallon. I used live rock from a couple of tanks I have and was good to go. Fish and corals in the tank the same day.

BTW, I have no skimmer on my 10 gal. It's an AIO with just some filter floss in the overflow. I do a 4-5 gallon water change once a week to manage nutrients. And change out the filter floss the same day.

 

[sfin52]

Yes, I've upgraded to larger tanks and did it all in one day. During the switch, I added the live rock from the tank I was running into the new tank. I like sand so put new sand in the tank.

No reason to use the old water as the bacteria is on the surface of the live rock.

Recently I set up a new nano 10 gallon. I used live rock from a couple of tanks I have and was good to go. Fish and corals in the tank the same day.

I set up a 55g with rock and bio media from my main tank and all was good to go. No cycle at all.

For my buddies tank that was not cycling I used biomedia from two tanks and the cycle was done the next day. Very possible not to have a cycle if done right

 

[JJ Ligs]

Great thanks guys I have run quick cycles on new tanks before in under two weeks but was hesitant on a fast one like this

 

[JJ Ligs]

Oh side note @Bossman my bristle worm ridden Purple Prince has no beard today he must have a way of getting them out of his face

 

[Bossman]

Oh side note @Bossman my bristle worm ridden Purple Prince has no beard today he must have a way of getting them out of his face

That's good to hear!

 

[JJ Ligs]

Set up letting it run over night to be safe

 

[JJ Ligs]

Its Five gallons so I hope that I threw enough rock in there

 

[Bossman]

If you have more, I would put it in. Maybe double the rock.

 

[JJ Ligs]

Dang I will have to yank my aquascape up

 

[Bossman]

Sorry, it just looks a little light on rock. If you can put one bigger piece in you'll be in better shape.

 

[Arthacker87]

maybe take him out for a bit and after you added all the fish put him back in? I added a dottyback to my tank and it did well. It was one of the last fish I added but wasn't over aggressive

 

[DeniseAndy]

You will be fine putting him in a little tank with live rock for quite some time. You could have even put him in a tank that had no live rock and monitored ammonia too. Like a qt. I like the idea of a happy little tank for him though. You should be good to go.

 

[JJ Ligs]

Sorry, it just looks a little light on rock. If you can put one bigger piece in you'll be in better shape.

I added what he had in his jail cell, some of my bio media in the back and snatched a bigger piece out of our second tank.

 

[Bossman]

That looks great!

 

[JJ Ligs]

maybe take him out for a bit and after you added all the fish put him back in? I added a dottyback to my tank and it did well. It was one of the last fish I added but wasn't over aggressive

Oh we have tried trust me. The main issue is I have a large male in my main tank who is a team player but will not tolerate him in there and that tank he was in is his original home he was evicted from for fighting everyone including the blenny. I have a long road to getting him in a tank with other fish when I do add back to the park tank. He is very social with my park kids a kilker with other fish.

 

[JJ Ligs]

That looks great!

Thanks it is weird having a bare bottom hard to scape with scraps but it is room to swim that is my main worry

 

[JJ Ligs]

You will be fine putting him in a little tank with live rock for quite some time. You could have even put him in a tank that had no live rock and monitored ammonia too. Like a qt. I like the idea of a happy little tank for him though. You should be good to go.

Yeah he is very loved by everyone who comes in and out of the park he comes right out and will go face to face with people. If he is sleeping and someone says his name he darts out to say hi! He is perfect except for the killer side with other fish. Very Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde. I felt horrible that he was in that little spot So long when he is used to a whole over 30gallons to him self. He is hiding now that he is in the five gallon which is unlike him. But I just realized I can see the reflection of my monster weather loaches in his tank and I think he is actually spooked by their size.