Can I Do This?

[372xp]

Got the day off work, packed kids off to school the went down to my lfs. Man dem only got a sale on p/x tanks. He's got this Betta 40 ltr,( I think) complete with new filter new heater new gravel a tub of Aquarian fish flake a white light and a blue light built in all for 40£. I want it to replace my 25 ltr male bettas tank. Thing is I already have 2 tanks, one female betta tank and the one for my male, ( and a breeding tank full of rain in the garden). My wife doesnt want me to have another tank so I havn't time or space to have the 40 ltr cycling till I am ready to swap over.
So I was thinking, why cant I transfer everything, filter, plants ,substrate, water bogwood etc from the 25ltr into the 40ltr and have the new pump running in tandem with the old untill it has enough bacteria in it to take over? The filter in the 25ltr is more than capable of handling 40 ltrs. This in theory would be just like doing a 50% water change and the only real difference is the tank would be different. Thus doing away with a lengthy cycling period.
Am I right in my assumption? I really want this upgrade and I think the wife may handle it better like this. Anyway she just shelled out for a minature long haired dachsund puppy so I think it is only fair.
Can I do this?

 

[Shaddex]

Putting your old cycled filter in to a larger tank with the same bioload (amount of fish etc) will be fine, as long as your mature filter can handle the LPH.
You wouldn't need to add the extra filter unless you wanted to use the new one eventually.
 
If you put both filters in, the beneficial Bac's will stay at the same numbers, but over time they will divide between your 2 filters.

 

[372xp]

what is LPH? There will be no extra stock so it will basicly be the same but bigger.

 

[fluttermoth]

Litres per hour
 
I would be inclined to move all your current media into the new filter, rather than running the smaller one or both; as long as the current isn't too strong for your betta.

 

[the_lock_man]

Litres per hour

 
I would be inclined to move all your current media into the new filter, rather than running the smaller one or both; as long as the current isn't too strong for your betta.

 
Yep, what she said.

 

[Liz xty]

Litres per hour
 
I would be inclined to move all your current media into the new filter, rather than running the smaller one or both; as long as the current isn't too strong for your betta.

This was the advice given to me when I was considering the same scenario (running both filters, transferring to a bigger tank etc)
I put all the old mucky filter gubbins into the new filter, half the water from the old tank and its plants (making fish catching easier) and added more fresh water to the new (larger) tank, fish caught and transferred next, followed by most of the remaining old water. As you say it's sort of like doing a partial water change and the amount of bacteria transferred to the new filter will be right for the amount of poo produced by that number of fish!
Did all that about a month ago and so far all's been good! I still haven't retrieved any of the old filter media, I think I'll wait another month before starting changing it bit by bit.

 

[the_lock_man]

Litres per hour

 
I would be inclined to move all your current media into the new filter, rather than running the smaller one or both; as long as the current isn't too strong for your betta.

This was the advice given to me when I was considering the same scenario (running both filters, transferring to a bigger tank etc)
I put all the old mucky filter gubbins into the new filter, half the water from the old tank and its plants (making fish catching easier) and added more fresh water to the new (larger) tank, fish caught and transferred next, followed by most of the remaining old water. As you say it's sort of like doing a partial water change and the amount of bacteria transferred to the new filter will be right for the amount of poo produced by that number of fish!
Did all that about a month ago and so far all's been good! I still haven't retrieved any of the old filter media, I think I'll wait another month before starting changing it bit by bit.

 
Liz, why bother changing it? If the sponges are still intact, what's the point?

 

[372xp]

I will probably keep the old filter, it can handle the LPH, as it has a spray bar which keeps the current down.
Thanks for the advice, all being well I will pick up the tank on saturday.
I think it is called a "Betta life space", can you still get them?