Converting Everything From 10g To 20g

[Phillip.M]

Ok. Next week i'm gettin a 20g tank. I have my 10g set up for 4 years and running. Now it's time that i want to strip down the tank and put everything in the 20g. i will use the gravel/filter for the 20g. I'l buy a new heater(mine's kind out of date) But however i want to mix with the gravel with Flourite(special plant fert gravel) and then coat sand above. Do you think this is a good idea? all the bacteria will still be in it. I got some ?'s though.

- Where do i put the fish while i take everything out.


- Is it a good idea mixing the gravel with Flourite and sand?


- Is it safe for the fish to be converted to a non cycled 20g? Even though the 10g was cycled for 4 years; almost perfect water; just lil bit nitrate?

Please reply; I really need your help. Contact me at Phillipwntu4v3r at aim if u want 2. Thanks.

 

[soritan]

I just did this yesterday.

I put my fish into ziplock bags and floated them in a 5 gallon I have set up. It took hours and hours for me to take care of business. I kept almost all the water from the 10 gallon so that the params would be simmilar. I also used the same filter. I removed about 99% of the substrate and replaced with a 1" layer of black gravel -- which will be mixed with laterite and sand at a later date.

If you keep your filter running or moist, you won't lose too much beneficial bacteria in it, and since you filter houses most of your beneficial bacteria, you'll only be mini cycling in the 20.

You'll be fine with the substrate. I envy you, actually. I have to wait until spring before I can wash my sand to coat my gravel.

 

[Phillip.M]

ok thanks, i got another ?. SHould i put the water from the ten g to the 20g?

 

[pokagon55]

I just did this yesterday.

I put my fish into ziplock bags and floated them in a 5 gallon I have set up. It took hours and hours for me to take care of business. I kept almost all the water from the 10 gallon so that the params would be simmilar. I also used the same filter. I removed about 99% of the substrate and replaced with a 1" layer of black gravel -- which will be mixed with laterite and sand at a later date.

If you keep your filter running or moist, you won't lose too much beneficial bacteria in it, and since you filter houses most of your beneficial bacteria, you'll only be mini cycling in the 20.

You'll be fine with the substrate. I envy you, actually. I have to wait until spring before I can wash my sand to coat my gravel.

I had that same ???. Is it ok to remove 100% of the water from a tank, would that start the cycle process over againe? My thoughts were that it would, even a mini cycle. One member said it would be ok to do this and that their tank after the move did not go through a mini cycle. But when I removed 80% of the water in a established tank there was a cycle. What are your thoughts???

 

[soritan]

ok thanks, i got another ?. SHould i put the water from the ten g to the 20g?

Sorry, I thought I answered that when I said I kept almost all the water. Since I was replacing my 10 gallon and not adding a 20, I kept as much as I possibly could to avoid having to completely cycle the 20 gallon. Keeping the water did not mean that I would avoid a cycle, the water column is not where the benefical bacteria lives. Basically, beneficial bacteria lives on things, not in water, so things like substrate, filter media, plants, ornaments, etc, is what you really really want to keep wet. Keeping the water helps make it a less drastic change, you know?

I kept my water because I wanted simmilar water parameters -- water hardness, etc. I have cryptocorenes in my tank and they really hate drastic changes in water chemistry (among other things).