Help Getting New Tank Set Up

[stang8689]

I currently have a 55 gallon tank that has been set up for 6 months. I recently bought a 150 gallon with overflow and sump. What do I have to do to get my tank up to specs before transfering my fish? I have been reading up on cycling which I didnt new last time so im new at that. When the water is up to par how should I transfer the fish? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Wills]

Fish + tank water + filter (kept plugged in) all get transfered into large bucket - move old tank - put new tank in place - decorate new tank and fill with as much old water as possible - transfer filter to new tank or move existing filter media into new filter - turn new filter on and let water settle - add fish - enjoy

Wills

 

[stang8689]

well I have the new tank in a different location next to the other tank actually but it has the overflow set up should i put the rear mount ones on to start

 

[stang8689]

do I need to cycle the new tank? It is used so it has been running before or should I fill half the new tank treat it then add the 55 gallon tank water in

 

[stuuk1]

I have just done exactly the same thing. I didnt add any of my old water if im honest, I started completely fresh But put my cycled mature media in the new filter. Everything is fine so far.

So the answer to your question is no, you dont need to cycle your new tank. Just get your tank full of water (add your old water if you want) and then take the filter media from your old tank and put it in your new filter. Thats all you need to do.

Remember, you cycle your filter media, not your tank...

 

[stang8689]

well I have a totally different filter set up now with the overflow and the sump. Should I take the 4 filters I have in my old tank and put them in one of my trays that the sump filters go in or should I install the top mount filters from my old tank and let them run for a couple of weeks with my sump filters

 

[waterdrop]

Are you saying the sump was being run with fish when you got it and should have mature media already in it? If so and it was kept at least moist then you should be able to keep its bacteria alive by using ammonia and treating it exactly as if you were doing a fishless cycle. If it still has bacterial colonies then the ammonia and nitrite(NO2) tests will show to what degree its still cycled. You note the hour at which you dose 4-5ppm of household ammonia and then see how many hours it takes for the filter to clear the ammonia and nitrite to zero.

~~waterdrop~~