Clown Knife Relocating

[ClownKnifeMommy]

I'm moving my Clown Knife to my newly set up 50 G tank at home. The lady in the LFS had some ideas, but I wasn't keen on them and most of it isn't possible.

I've set up the heater and filtration in my 50 G today. I've put fresh de-clorinated water into it. It's slowly warming up and the new filter seems to be working great (canister).
I've always run fish-less cycles in my other tanks when setting them up, and check to make sure my PH and Amonia levels are where they should be, and that they stay that way for 48 hours before adding any fish.

I was told by the lady at the LFS that I could move him without a fishless cycle if I transfer him with all of his water (highly unlikely as the tanks are a mile apart and I'm not moving a full tank) and all of his substrate (again, unlikly, that's too messy) as well as his ornamants (I guess I could do that).... she even reccomended putting his sponge from his old filter into the new filter to help speed up the good bacteria growth.
Another way I could speed things up is to move his water in peices to the new tank. I'm going to clean his tank as scheduled tomorrow, and could put the 5 G's I'm removing into the new tank?

I still stand by my fishless cycle, though I'm not sure how long a cycle could last in a tank of 50g. I've never before had a tank this big, the turnover rate through filtration is the same as my other tanks though, so now I'm just dumbfounded.
Are her idea's really normal? Should I try moving the sponge and the ornaments? How long should I wait before trying to move him??? Help!

 

[DarkEntity]

Moving water from old tank to new tank will do nothing as very little of the good bacteria is in the water column. If you want to move fish straight away the easiest solution is to clone your filter. Take 50% of the media from the filter in the old tank and put it in the filter in the new tank. Job done tank is ready to take fish.

 

[shroob]

What size tank do you have prepared for the clown knife when it outgrows the 50 gallons?

 

[ClownKnifeMommy]

What size tank do you have prepared for the clown knife when it outgrows the 50 gallons?

I don't.. not yet... the 50 was given to me, so it is a tempoary home while I figure in the next step. I've been trying to find him a home... nobody can take him, so at this point, and with tight finances til summer (I'm a waitress), he's going to live in the 50, he'll be comfortable for enough time for me to save up. And I'm obviously trying, for his sake, a little credit is much more appreciated than the sarcasm. I did not buy this fish, and I'm learning.

 

[ALEXF]

i really dont think all the water and substrate is nessacary. Once you have the 50 gallon set up (assuming your buy a bigger filter) i would have the new filter set up and place the smaller filter next to it as to transfer the good bacteria on to the new filter.