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I have a similar one to your link, the top up is working fine for the shrimps, my turtles are having the problem, the bottle one does not work with the turtles, not enough water, now I use the floating ball type , but the turtle is always stepping on the floating ball, so I have to get a professional type. I use this for my turtles https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.67002e8dUpFOGF&id=577391076030&_u=511ae863184e I use this for my shrimps https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.67002e8dUpFOGF&id=564431818959&_u=511ae8632159 Both pump up water from a 10L reservoir. Here is the bottle type, in a better presentation, I have 8 of them, if you want one, let me know I'll sent you free. https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z09.2.0.0.67002e8dUpFOGF&id=593406027314&_u=511ae8638984

My new tanks is operating alright, the auto top up is ok, just need to sort and test everything is ok before I go on holiday to Taiwan for 14 days. Just got my chiller in today, but they gave me some cheaper cooling block, it still works my doesn't cool do as fast, so i'm having a word with them, they also left out my order for 2 extra pelter, it seems I won't be able to sort them out, either way I will lose out. But I expected it, and buying from taobao.cn, it's a hit or miss situation.

I wasn't going to add fish until the tank was cycled. Add them to keep the cycle going. Problem is, the old filter is too small for the new tank. I figure if I keep the new filter in the old tank, after a couple of weeks or months, it would be well seasoned to work.

That's the way to do it. Put the new filter into the old tank, and leave it for a couple of weeks. Then instead of using the new filter in the the new tank, you use the old filter. Hope that makes sense. It's a swap basically.

Thanks alot for your help Simon, however I've moved most of the shrimp out of the planted co2 tank into a 50l for now. I did lose a few from the transition but lets see how they do back in ph 8 water.

That is what I have done in the past as I have 2 filters per tank (different type than above) so use the sponge from one in a new tank taken from an older tank, and leave the new sponge for the 2nd in an old running tank for a few weeks to colonise! I would guess a couple of weeks would be enough before transferring some shrimp doing this method and using plants and water also from the old tank, though do the usual nitrite/ammonia/nitrate tests first and as long as the substrate is ready/stable by then? I haven't used ammonia but just feed the tank a very small amount of shrimp food every couple of days, and usually add some assassin snails from day 1 as I have those in all my tanks anyway and they don't seem to be affected or die off? You could do the fish method you ask about, I have done this before without the fish dying, but there is always the risk it may die, or at the very least some consider it cruel??? Hope some of this may be helpful but the 'cycle' is a mythical beast to me (that is why I have stayed quiet so far....) as I have never actually seen it happen as it is supposed too.............. ammonia up/down, then nitrite up/down then nitrate up/down??? It could be because I use the same method as you are suggesting here with pre-seeded filters/water/plants etc I guess??? Simon

Glad you managed to sort out the downloading of pictures. Those are fabulous shrimps with strong colour, and such a bargain! As you say, some of the red looks almost red wine colour and a coupe of black crystals I can see. I hope the automatic water top up is working as intended and the new chiller turns up soon! I saw someone on a video (they didn't show how to make it but you could see how to make it would be easy) who made there own top up device which was total genius and so simple. I would have made one if it would ever be needed but as I am home all the time it isn't needed. Simon