Adding Filter From Established Tank

[Fishkeeper2004]

Why dont you put all the media from filter into the new filter and just leave it in there,topping up with new media . Thats what I would do !

Forgive me for being thick when it comes to filters, but how exactly would I do that? Remember I need the filter to be complete so when I sell the old tank its all complete and functional.

 

[Tolak]

You don't have to leave it running without fish at all. Actually, the sooner you have fish in there to keep feeding ammonia to the bacteria in the media, the better. As long as the media is wet, the nitrifying bacteria is good for a few hours before it starts to die off.

If it's time for maintainance, clean the filter, if not, just keep the media wet. It is a good time to clean it, as you have it removed from the tank. I cleaned mine, it was time.

Gotta throw in a few pics, pics are fun, here's pre-29 gallon;

This one I just swapped out the top tank;

Stack of new tanks;

Stack of old tanks;

New tanks set up;

It took a few hours, the most time consuming thing was catching a tank full of convict fry, those youngsters are quick!

Tolak

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

So I am actually doing the wrong thing waiting 24 hours, and it would be better to add the fish immediately as when I add the filter from the old tank?

 

[jacquie]

Yes add the fish immediately or else the bacteria in the filter will start to die off!
Do you have to sell the old filter with a sponge/filter wool/- cant the person buying the tank and filter buy a replacement?

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Yes add the fish immediately or else the bacteria in the filter will start to die off!
Do you have to sell the old filter with a sponge/filter wool/- cant the person buying the tank and filter buy a replacement?

I would rather sell as a whole now I know what im doing with this whole bacteria thing. How quickly will the bacteria start to die off, and how many hours would it be before its totally gone. (Or doesn't that happen)

 

[jacquie]

I am afraid I am unable to give you an answer on how quickly the bacteria will die off - all I know is that the bacteria need the fish waste to increase in number, and the amount of bacteria is proportional to the number of fish. I have been told myself that they can survive for 'several hours' if just kept wet, but do not know if this would be in the region of 4,8,12,or 24
When moving fish and filters around I have tried to do it as quickly as I could, and the longest my filter has been away from its fishy environment has been 4 hours when moving house, and all was ok.
HTH

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Well mine has been about that and now I have added the first batch of community fish, but I don't want to do them all at the same time as you shouldn't introduce them in more than 6's right.. or wrong?

I know I am using a used filter media, so that should mean they can all be added at the same time ok?

 

[Tolak]

If you are using the same media from the original tank, and the same fish from the original tank, only switching the tank that holds the water, you can add them all at once, provided you kept the media wet, & didn't have it without a source of ammonia for longer than a few hours. This is totally different from adding new fish to an established tank. The only thing that is changing is the container that holds the water, everything else is the same.

Tolak

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

If you are using the same media from the original tank, and the same fish from the original tank, only switching the tank that holds the water, you can add them all at once, provided you kept the media wet, & didn't have it without a source of ammonia for longer than a few hours. This is totally different from adding new fish to an established tank. The only thing that is changing is the container that holds the water, everything else is the same.

Tolak

Right ok, but I did use new water, which has been cycling in the tank for 5 days. Then I added the filter and now I have started adding the fish, will this all be Ok?

 

[Tolak]

Water doesn't cycle, media & other objects such as gravel hold nitrifying bacteria which converts ammonia to nitrite & nitrite to nitrate. They little bit of bacteria the water holds has nothing to do with the cycling process.

The 3 tanks I switched had 100% fresh water added, Prime to dechlor, then fish & related equipment. All within an hour or so. You should be fine as long as the media has had a source of ammonia.

Tolak

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Ok thanks, I think the filter was in the new tank for around 4-5 hours before I started adding the fish, this should be OK right?

 

[Tolak]

Should be fine, especially since you are going to a larger size tank with the same bio load on a filter that has been handling that bio load. Any small amount of bacteria that has died will quickly regrow. From what I understand the bacteria doesn't quite die off at first, just goes sort of dormant. It quickly replenishes itself.

Tolak

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Should be fine, especially since you are going to a larger size tank with the same bio load on a filter that has been handling that bio load. Any small amount of bacteria that has died will quickly regrow. From what I understand the bacteria doesn't quite die off at first, just goes sort of dormant. It quickly replenishes itself.

Tolak

Ok thanks for all your help, all fish I added have lasted the night so thats always a good sign.

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

Most fish are now extremely active, and look completely at home in the new tank. However, I have noticed my sword and one of my smaller platys don't seem too lively, and seem to be hiding away resting. Did this happen with your tank, or do you think there may be something wrong?