Intimidated

[mislisa]

just a note on posting images... i use photobucket.com, where i upload all of my pictures and then link to them. photobucket is nice as it has the image links already there for you, you just have to copy & paste them.

 

[KittyKat]

If they differ (say a lower ph in the existing for one example,) then I would bag the fish and do a mix in small amounts of the new water over a 30 minute period, then net and drop. The filter would then follow the fish to the new tank.

Unless the difference is so minuscule that it will not affect the fish anyway, this will not be enough time for acclimatisation.

That's excellant Kittykat but if I'm transferring from my own water to my own water is it still necessary?

The point is that you might not be transferring between the same water. Water parameters in a tank change after the tap water is added. For example, nitrification acidifies the water, denitrification does the opposite. In an ideally balanced tank, the GH, KH and pH will not change from the tap water parameters, but I have never seen a tank like this. I have 4 freshwater tanks right now and every one has different water parameters which are different from my tap water. The difference between the highest and lowest GH and KH readings is around 10 degrees (179 ppm), which is a lot.
If you do large (50%+) water changes every few days, then your tap and tank water parameters are probably similar, but if you do a more normal 20-25% water change once per week, they're almost guaranteed to be different. Without KH, GH and pH test kits, it is impossible to tell. If you properly drip acclimatise, then you don't need to tell because you'll be taking all the precautions anyway.

Another point is my water is very hard so I have an artificial softener. I have a tap of drinking water that contains no lime and a tap for general use such as cleaning, cooking etc that contains a little lime and I'm unsure about the salt content for either. I use the general use tap for my aquaruim. Do you reckon this is ok?

What species do you keep? Different ones have different requirements, but as a general guideline, soft water species tolerate hard water much better than hard water species tolerate soft water.

My ph is 8.2. Must admit I don't know what kh is.....

At that pH, it's probably high. I would guesstimate at least 8 degrees. Normally, high pH means hard water.

 

[Fintastic!]

Kittykat, you're wonderful! Thanks a million for that. However I have a huge problem. I've just noticed that my fluval 2 filter in my 10 gal has stopped working. I don't know how long it's been off for. I'v switched on the airstone and positioned it near the filter hoping the bacs get some oxygen. What will I do!!!!!!! Will I fill up the Rio even though it's not planted yet and not all the sand is in and put the fish in??? Hhhheeellllpppppp!!!!!! I'll post this in the emergency section too in case no one sees it.

 

[Tizer]

take off the casing that holds the sponges and put the head back under water, switch on the plug and use your finger to kick start the impeller under water. its probably gunked up, use a cotton bud the clean around it if necessary. my fluval 2+ does it every few months.

 

[Fintastic!]

Well Tizer I've filled the bloody new tank and went to the old one to get the media out and when I took it out it started bloody working again. My house is in uproar. Will I just make the switch today, putting the fluval running alongside my rio one? I know I can't add more fish than I have for a good while but I don't mind that.

 

[creeker]

Well Tizer I've filled the bloody new tank and went to the old one to get the media out and when I took it out it started bloody working again. My house is in uproar. Will I just make the switch today, putting the fluval running alongside my rio one? I know I can't add more fish than I have for a good while but I don't mind that.

Sounds like you're ready to make the switch, so why not?

 

[KittyKat]

If the Fluval has a tendency of not working, why not just move all the Fluval media into the new filter?

p.s. remember that seeding by running in parallel will take around 6 weeks and 4 weeks is the absolute minimum.

 

[Fintastic!]

Yes Kittykat, I'll do that rather than run two filters. How long til I can add more fish? I'm in no hurry but just so I know. Can I also run this quickly by you guys? I added tetra aquasafe dechlor to my new tank, volume 180 litres. It says add 5 mls for every 10 litres but when I got enough to treat 160 litres in I ran out of it. Will it suffice or do I need to add more? Thanks so much!

 

[KittyKat]

I would recommend that you wait for at least three weeks with perfect water readings before adding any new fish, after that wait two weeks of perfect water readings in between adding new fish.

It should suffice, but it's better to add more, especially if your water contains chloramine as opposed to chlorine.

 

[Fintastic!]

Thanks a million for your help Kittykat!

Sorry, another quick question! Can I just put my 2 sponges from my old filter into a space between the sponges in my new filter and hey presto!? I'll have to fold them over a bit.

 

[creeker]

Thanks a million for your help Kittykat!

Sorry, another quick question! Can I just put my 2 sponges from my old filter into a space between the sponges in my new filter and hey presto!? I'll have to fold them over a bit.

That will work.

 

[Fintastic!]

Thanks again guys!

 

[CezzaXV]

Some excellent advice so far.

Just wanted to say there's no need to be intimidated. Most stuff isn't as complicated as we make it sound sometimes, and of course feel free to ask here if there's anything you're unsure of. We've all been in your shoes at one point or another.

 

[Fintastic!]

Thanks a million Cezza!