How Do I Upgrade Tanks?

keri578 · Aug 17, 2011

I have a 10 gal currently but I'm upgrading to a 50 gal a little sooner than I planned! I only have 3 fish currently, a Molly, Platy and common Pleco which are all doing well. My current tank is nice but I'd like to get something bigger so I can add live plants and more fish and so my Plec has room to grow! What are some steps and important things I must do to make sure my new tank is just as safe as my current one? The tank I will be getting is a hand-me-down, originally used for Cichlids but it comes with all the necessary equipment like a bigger heater and more powerful filter. I think I'm going to switch to sand in my new tank. Should I start the nitrogen cycle all over again using fish food in the 50 gal and then add my new fish when it's ready or is there a way i can transfer some of the old water into it which would help? Any advice is welcome!! Thank you!

fluttermoth · Aug 17, 2011

Always try to think of your filter media as paired with the fish, not the filter or tank, so all you need to do is move the media from your old filter into the new one at the same time as you move the fish. That way you take the bacteria you need with the fish.

SchottayB · Aug 17, 2011

The filter is the main thing that keeps the 'good stuff' in. You can run the old filter in the new tank along with the new filter so it seeds the new filter if you get me.

You might get a mini-cycle, so keep checking water stats daily so you know where you stand.

Chris2 · Aug 17, 2011

This will be pretty easy since its only 10 gallons and 3 fish. Just setup the new tank (congrats on the free tank btw!), fill with water and bring it up to temp/ph to match your 10 gallon.

I would use your current filter pad/cartridges in the new bigger filter for at least a month. You should not have any problems this way, and they should fit in there behind the cartridges that are made for that bigger filter.