Changing Tanks

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Hey guys. Im moving a few Pacus into their new home, a 125g. I have a sand substrate and have had the tank almost full for a day with a new filter helping clean the water. I didnt fill it because I have intention of moving some of the old water into the new tank. I tested the water and everything is testing fine except I got .5 ppm ammonia. I have added a ammonia remover already.

Id like to know If I would be ok taking all the water out of the old tank and moving that water and old filter to the new tank to help it cycle. Would I be able to move the fish, 3 pacu and a pleco into the new tank also?

 

[Biulu]

Adding 'old' water doesn't help you cycling. It would be best to add the old filter (that is where the beneficial bacteria are) to your new tank. Let that run for a day or so, and test again. I think it is best not to use ammonia remover, to be able to know when your tank is cycled. Check out the pinned topic on fishless cycling!

 

[_____]

Adding 'old' water doesn't help you cycling. It would be best to add the old filter (that is where the beneficial bacteria are) to your new tank. Let that run for a day or so, and test again. I think it is best not to use ammonia remover, to be able to know when your tank is cycled. Check out the pinned topic on fishless cycling!

Thanks for the fast reply.
Thats what I wanted to do but I dont have another tank to put the fish into while I steal the filter from their tank

So moving the fish, water and filter to the new tank isnt a good idea?

 

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Oh and I have added a large rock that was in the old tank for the past few months if thats any help.

 

[Biulu]

You are saying that you have a new filter which you are using for your new tank. I suggest you put your new filter into your old tank for some time to make sure it can be colonised by the bacteria in your old tank. If you then transfer that filter to the new tank, even if it has 'new' water, you should be fine.

It means though, that you would have to postpone the transfer of your fish until your new filter is ready to be moved into the big tank.

 

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Ok so in the old filter I have 4 filter media sponges. I took two out and put them into the new tank. How long should they stay in there?