Filter Question

[freded]

I've had a Fluval 105 filter running on my 70 litre tank for 3/4 months now and I've got some fish happily living in that tank. I've just picked up a 2nd hand 175 litre tank which I've filled with water (using water treatment) and have had running for a few days now. The tank had been in use when I bought it so I've had the 2 fluval internal filters that came with the tank also running.

The question I've got is whether it would be ok to switch the Fluval 105 filter over to the 175 litre tank and immediately transfer the fish. The tank would then be being filtered with the Fluval 105 filter and the 2 internal filters. Given the bacterial that should have built up in the 3 filters, do you think it would be safe to transfer the fish over immediately?

 

[Chuka1212]

I'm no expert with filtration but it seems to me that you could add fish since your filter media is mature. I bought a used 30 gallon and since I got it up and running again the same day I bought it, I immediately transferred some fish and they did just fine. There were no spikes in my water parameters and the fish were as healthy as ever.

 

[freded]

One further question I've got is which of these two set-ups would be best given I've got a 380 litre tank and a 175 litre tank and the following filters to use (and the manufactures stated capacity for them):

Rena XP3 (250-600 litres)
Tetratec X700 (100-250 litres)
Fluval 105 (100 litres)
Fluval internals 3 & 4 (90-130 litres and 130-215 litres)

Assuming all filters are mature, which would be the best set-up

Set up 1

380 litre tank with Rena XP3 and Tetratec X700 filters
175 litre tank with Fluval 105 and one of the Fluval internals

Set up 2

380 litre tank with Rena XP3 and Fluval 105
175 litre tank with Tetratec X700

My thoughts re Set up 1 is that it would be ensuring the best possible filtration for my larger tank, while ensuring my smaller tank was adequately filtered (given the Fluval 105 wouldn't cope on its own and would need the internal). Set up 2 would mean I've not got the pain of internal filters but perhaps wouldn't give me the best possible filtration for the largest tank.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

 

[doresy]

Roughly speaking, the filter is cycled for that amount of fish so, if you transfer the filter into your new tank along with the fish then all should be ok. I would also transfer most of the water too, it does not hold bacteria but it would cut down on the shock stress. The fish would be best to bag up and acclimatise as with new fish.

If you transfered the filter without the fish then your bacteria would die pritty quickly (24 hours or so)

 

[backtotropical]

Yeah, sounds fine to me.

Along the same lines as Doresy's post, If you are transferring all fish and the filter, i would transfer some water too. It will give the best chance of keeping all your bacteria alive and will be less of a shock to the fish.

I'd say, take maybe 50% (or more if poss) of the water from the old tank and mix it into the new tank at the same time as moving over the filter. Also, make sure any fresh water in the new tank is properly dechlorinated as chlorine will kill off your established bacteria if they are exposed to it.

 

[freded]

Thanks for the tips. I moved the fish on Friday night and I've now got the mature Fluval 105 and the two Fluval internal filters running on the 175 litre tank and the mature Rena XP3 and the new Tetratec X700 filter on the 380 litre tank. Following the advice above, I used alot of the water from my established 70 litre tank to set up the new 175 litre tank-the fish that were moved all seem to be settling into their new home

Unfortuantely, my plans to use my 70 litre tank as a breeding tank may be quashed by the missus who is reluctant to allow me to run 3 tanks at once.