Getting a new tank

[Jen]

A firend of mine is selling me his 90 gal complete set-up (stand, filters, light and all that jazz).

It will be going into the exact same spot as my current 35 gal, and all the same fish are moving over. I can't start from scratch with cycleing, and I dont think I will be able to move all my sand over from this tank to the new one. I will be able to re-use my current filter sleeve, and probably about 75 percent of my current water.

Will this be enough to carry the bacteria over to the new tank?

What is the easiest way to transfer the fish? Should I set up my quarentine tank and have them live in that for a week, or just the day of?

I have never had to do this before, so I have no clue what to do.

Thanks

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Clean the new tank out thouroughly and simply transfer the old filter and fish to the new tank and run your old established filter alongside the new main one. I would try to save as much as old water from the old tank as posible although this isn't that nesarsary as it is the old filters established bacteria you want the most- try not to leave the old filter off for long.
After a short while(1 week i would say) the old filter will have transferred enough good bacteria to the new one to handle the waste in the tank and plus you don't have to put up with the whole cycling process.

 

[Jen]

Should I scoop up some sand in some pantyhose and put it in the new tank?

 

[nc_nutcase]

My suggestion would be to transfer as many surfaces from the established aquarium as possible. Plants, decorations, rocks, gravel/sand (in a stocking if temporary), heater, etc should all be kept in tank water and transferred to the new aquarium. Definitely put the entire old filter onto the new aquarium along with it's larger filter. The water itself doesn't host the bacteria so I wouldn't go overboard saving a ton of water, but definitely enough to acclimate your fish with.

You very well may go through a 'mini cycle' but your spikes won't be drastic. If you place all the fish from your 35 Gal into the 75 Gal and no more (for now) your bioload for the larger volume will be very low. During the first week or two you may want to do small (10%) daily (or so) water changes.

 

[Jen]

Awesome. That should be doable.

Anyother advice?