How Long To Transfer To A New Tank

[hwoarangtag]

I have an established tank with filter running right now. However, if I get a new tank and transfer the filter over; However long should i expect before adding fish ?

THanks

 

[backtotropical]

You must transfer the fish from the established tank at the same time as transferring the filter, otherwise the bacteria in the filter will die within a matter of hours.

For adding subsequent fish, i would wait a couple of weeks and closely monitor your water conditions to make sure everything is ok.

 

[hwoarangtag]

could i fake the presence of fishes using household ammonia? as i want to make sure that nitrite can consume ammonia quick enough before i put the fish

 

[backtotropical]

You could but then would the tank holding the fish not be filterless? That would be a disaster.

If your filter is processing ammonia and nitrite properly in your established tank, then switching the filter and the fish across to a new tank shouldn't change that.

 

[rabbut]

could i fake the presence of fishes using household ammonia? as i want to make sure that nitrite can consume ammonia quick enough before i put the fish

This would be an option if you were only moving less than 25% of the exsting filters media to the new tank. If you move more, you risk putting your existing tank into a "mini Cycle", potentialy wipeing out the existing tank. If you move the whole filter over in one go, I would do the same with the fish. Most (99.9%) of the bactiria breaking down fish waste is in the filter, so so long as the whole move takes 1/2 an hour or less, the risk of harm to your fish is minimal. Keep an eye on water stats for a few days after the move, just to ensure there hasen't been a mishap.

HTH
rabbut

 

[hwoarangtag]

Thank you guys; that'll do problem now is that i dont have other fishes for the old tank then as i want to keep both

 

[backtotropical]

Thank you guys; that'll do problem now is that i dont have other fishes for the old tank then as i want to keep both

Get another filter, transfer half the established filter media and half the fish. Wala! 2 cycled tanks.

 

[Rooster]

If the filter in question has been running with the same amount as fish as you also want to transfer, then its already cycled to the required degree !!!! Just swap away .... I would transfer some of the old water too, should save a bit of shock to the fish.

 

[hwoarangtag]

So I assume that the transfer from a 30 gal to 80 gal(with fishes), with using the same filter would not be instantaneous. As far as i understood; if ammonia; nitrite reads ok for a few days; i should be ok for new fishes right?

Thanks

 

[backtotropical]

It will be instantly ok for your existing fish, in fact, if you dont transfer your existing fish at the same time as the filter, the bacteria will start to die off within hours. Definitely move all your fish at the same time as the filter.

With regard to additional fish, i would wait a couple of weeks, monitor levels in the tank just to make sure everything is ok, then start stocking slowly to avoid additional ammonia spikes.

 

[KraKen]

the bacteria will start to die off within hours.

I'm going to have to question that statement, during my fishless cycle my bacteria survived several days without adding ammonia, there were some rotting plants in my tank though, but I don't think they produced very much ammonia.

 

[backtotropical]

I dont know the circumstances of your tank so can't comment, but with no food source, the bacteria will start to die almost instantly. How long it takes to die off completely will vary from case to case because there are so many variables, but even a small amount of bacteria dying can cause a short lived ammonia spike which can kill fish.

 

[hwoarangtag]

right now; I can definately see some level of ammonia (0.25)+nitrite. I did 25 % water change. Should i keep on doing water change every day (or every other day) until its fully cycled?

Thanks,