Broken Tank Crisis

[Gembob]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I am new to this forum, so firstly, let me say HELLO!!!

I am having somewhat of a crisis, Yesterday my 40ltr tank cracked from one end to the other across the bottom. This is my first aquarium and it has been set up for about 6 months - running fine. So I have managed to flood my mothers house (eek)

I have:

12 x 4 week old Molly Fry
2 x Dalmation Male Molly
3 x Dalmation/Golden Molly
1 x Black Molly
1 Leach
4 x Assassin Snail.

I have managed to save about 20 litres of original water in a massive storage container, with all my fish, and set it up as a make shift tank with the filter and heater both running.

The bank balance has taken a battering today and I have purchased a whole new set up http/www.watergardeningdirect.com/acatalog/Complete-Aquarium-Kits.html#aXIJ30y

How long should I leave this tank set up? I am hoping to migrate some of the original water across when I am happy that it has settled. Should I put some Assassins in first and when water levels read right, test it with one fish at a time to minimise damage if something isn't right?!

ANY help is greatly received

Thanks in advance - Gem

 

[fluttermoth]

The most important thing is your filter bacteria. As long as you didn't let the filter completely dry out, they should have survived with no problems.

Set up your new tank, get it declorinated and up to temperature, get your aquascaping (gravel, plants etc) in, and then you can add the fish right away as long as you put ALL the old media into the new filter. This is most important, as if you don't you'll have to re-cycle the tank. Chop the old media up into pieces if you have to. Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite levels and feed very sparingly for the first few days, just to check the bacteria have transfered well and are still working.

Best of luck; I can't see you having many problems; hope your mum isn't too cross!

 

[creeker]

I would use that water, then fill the rest with treated tap water of the proper temperature, and make the switch as quick as possible. Don't forget to use a large piece of your old filter media in the new filter. You need to save those good bacteria. Don't rinse the media or anything, just put it in however you can fit it. You might have to use it instead of what comes with the new filter for a while.

EDIT: I see fluttermoth has beat me to it. I agree with her.

 

[hinterglem]

If the cycle fails (check for nitrites, as they appear before ammonia when a cycle collapses), I would recommend using Tetra SafeStart to get it going again (used to be known as BioSpira, but now no longer requires refrigeration, and is the only product available that uses the correct bacteria strains and truly provides instant cycling)

 

[Gembob]

Thank you

I have got it all up and running now and have used the correct dose of SafeStart to get it set up. The cycle has been broken as I have left the original filter & sponge in the make-shift tank with the fish in their part-time home.

What a palava!!!

I think leaving it till mid-week is the best option now, and then testing the water on Wednesday.

Every time I feel like I get somewhere with fish-keeping, something goes wrong - at least all my fish survived this disaster and I have managed to rear 12 fry with my 1st pregnancy

 

[fluttermoth]

You still need to move the old sponges to the new filter, and you need to test everyday to check for ammonia.

 

[coldcazzie]

I have got it all up and running now and have used the correct dose of SafeStart to get it set up. The cycle has been broken as I have left the original filter & sponge in the make-shift tank with the fish in their part-time home.

If you move the original filter into the new tank when you move the fish then the cycle will not have been broken. It is the filter that is cycled, not the tank.

I think leaving it till mid-week is the best option now, and then testing the water on Wednesday.

Leaving it until mid week will serve no purpose at all. Once you have established that the new tank is watertight then put the fish in it, and their old filter immediately, and they will be fine. They will be much more comfy in a bigger tank than in a tub, believe me!

The most important thing in this is to keep the filter media, that's the stuff inside your filter - sponge or rings or floss or balls or whatever it is, with the fish, because the media is what holds your good bacteria that process the toxins: either put your old filter in the tank as well as the new filter, or put all the media out of it inside the new filter, taking out the new media to make room for the old media.

 

[CrazyAirborne]

I have got it all up and running now and have used the correct dose of SafeStart to get it set up. The cycle has been broken as I have left the original filter & sponge in the make-shift tank with the fish in their part-time home.

If you move the original filter into the new tank when you move the fish then the cycle will not have been broken. It is the filter that is cycled, not the tank.

I think leaving it till mid-week is the best option now, and then testing the water on Wednesday.

Leaving it until mid week will serve no purpose at all. Once you have established that the new tank is watertight then put the fish in it, and their old filter immediately, and they will be fine. They will be much more comfy in a bigger tank than in a tub, believe me!

The most important thing in this is to keep the filter media, that's the stuff inside your filter - sponge or rings or floss or balls or whatever it is, with the fish, because the media is what holds your good bacteria that process the toxins: either put your old filter in the tank as well as the new filter, or put all the media out of it inside the new filter, taking out the new media to make room for the old media.

+1

the sponges (media) inside your old filter are all u need to start ur new tank.

 

[Gembob]

Thank you guys - You are being a massive help!

Too add to the drama I have woken up to another 23 fry swimming about today

Eeeeeeeek