Moving A 30 Gallon Tank To A 65 Galloon Tank

[wwe76]

i Have a 30 gallon tank with cichlids and i also bought a 65 gallon tank what is the best and easy way to swap my 30 gl water and cichlids to the 65 gallon tank? and advice??

 

[Curiosity101]

How many fish and what species?

Also are they just going to another room on the same floor? Or going upstairs/downstairs?

 

[wwe76]

How many fish and what species?

Also are they just going to another room on the same floor? Or going upstairs/downstairs?

same floor , same room, there African cichlids i have 6 of them. i'm also adding in new gravel

 

[Curiosity101]

If it were me then as it's short term (couple of hours max), I'd find a large plastic container. A bit like a kids toy box...

Put fish and just enough water in there to keep the filter going if possible (don't know what type of filter you have), and depending on how long it'll take an air pump might be a good idea, set up the heater etc.
Then put the fish to one side, empty the old tank straight into the new one using buckets. (Unless the new one is going where the old one is?)

If it is going where the old one was then it really depends how much water you want to save. If it were me I'd just do lots of partial water changes on the run up to the tank switch. And then basically throw all the old water out which will allow you to move the tank. Once it's moved simply refil the new one, de-chlor, move equipment over (filter + heater), get tank back up to temp (warm water will help) and pop the fish back in.

Edit: Oh just incase it isn't clear, I'm suggesting lots of partial water changes to get the tank water similar to the tap water. This way you can completely refil the tank with tap water and cause no shock to the fish.

 

[wwe76]

If it were me then as it's short term (couple of hours max), I'd find a large plastic container. A bit like a kids toy box...

Put fish and just enough water in there to keep the filter going if possible (don't know what type of filter you have), and depending on how long it'll take an air pump might be a good idea, set up the heater etc.
Then put the fish to one side, empty the old tank straight into the new one using buckets. (Unless the new one is going where the old one is?)

If it is going where the old one was then it really depends how much water you want to save. If it were me I'd just do lots of partial water changes on the run up to the tank switch. And then basically throw all the old water out which will allow you to move the tank. Once it's moved simply refil the new one, de-chlor, move equipment over (filter + heater), get tank back up to temp (warm water will help) and pop the fish back in.

Edit: Oh just incase it isn't clear, I'm suggesting lots of partial water changes to get the tank water similar to the tap water. This way you can completely refil the tank with tap water and cause no shock to the fish.

thanks

is there a good website that will explain this kind of thing, swapping tanks over one to another?

 

[Curiosity101]

Dont think so.

Pretty much trial and error, learning by asking how others have done it, and a bit of common sense.

Some people bag fish up to do a tank transfer, but you can imagine how much hassle transferring say...a fully grown oscar would be in a bag. It would be much easier in a tub. For you it might be easier for you to bag as they are smallish fish? But...unless you're good at catching and bagging it could be far more effort than it's worth when you can go to your local diy shop and buy one of those tubs for like £5.

With the tubs you can set up the heater and filter and air pump etc which is a benefit when you may be taking awhile sorting the tanks out. Bagged fish would be easier to transport to different rooms and up/down stairs, but that's why I asked. Cause the downside to bagged fish is that you can't keep constant temp, ammonia builds up, and overall it's more stressful.

 

[wwe76]

Dont think so.

Pretty much trial and error, learning by asking how others have done it, and a bit of common sense.

Some people bag fish up to do a tank transfer, but you can imagine how much hassle transferring say...a fully grown oscar would be in a bag. It would be much easier in a tub. For you it might be easier for you to bag as they are smallish fish? But...unless you're good at catching and bagging it could be far more effort than it's worth when you can go to your local diy shop and buy one of those tubs for like £5.

With the tubs you can set up the heater and filter and air pump etc which is a benefit when you may be taking awhile sorting the tanks out. Bagged fish would be easier to transport to different rooms and up/down stairs, but that's why I asked. Cause the downside to bagged fish is that you can't keep constant temp, ammonia builds up, and overall it's more stressful.

should i run my new 65 gallon tank for few days before i add my fish in there or should i just do it one shot, i just dont want to make my fish stress out by switching them. i mean i leave my 30 gallon tank running with my fish temp until my 65 gallon tank is ready to go.

 

[Curiosity101]

I explained how to avoid stressing the fish....

So I'm confused as to what you're asking?

Why would you need to run it for a few days? Are you not moving the old filter across?

 

[wwe76]

I explained how to avoid stressing the fish....

So I'm confused as to what you're asking?

Why would you need to run it for a few days? Are you not moving the old filter across?

i have a 50 gallon filter and a 20 gallon filter, so to understand right from what u were saying should i just move my filters and heater and also my current water from my 30 gallon tank? since it has its own bacteria.

and also i shouldn't change my filters again correct?

i'm adding coral gravel but the problem is with that as soon i will add water into the 65 gallon tank the whole tank will be cloudy cause i add the fish in it might die?

 

[Curiosity101]

Step by step

In the week running up to the tank switch...
Change 20-30% of your water every day for fresh dechlorinated tap water. This will make your tank water stats very similar to the tap water stats.

The night before...
If you have enough buckets etc rinse all your substrate.

On the day of the move...
Fish into box with some water, put heater and (if poss) filter in the box aswell. This will keep the water warm, O2 levels high and ammonia levels low. If you can't get them in the box then even if they aren't switched on they need to stay wet. You could also put them in a seperate bucket of water if neccesary.

Next...Empty old tank enough that you can move it out of the way without risking cracking it.

Next...Set up new tank where you want it.
Wash gravel (if you haven't already)
Set up new tank with gravel, rocks and tap water, add warm water to try to get it to roughly the same temp as the box the fish are in(using thermometer on the tank to get it correct). (Tip: when adding water put a saucer or ceramic bowl on the bottom of the tank. Pour water onto the saucer/bowl as opposed to directly onto the gravel. This will help stop cloudiness)
Dechlorinate.
Move across the heater from the fishes box and plug in.
Move across the biggest filter and plug in, preferably stick lots of filter floss in it to try and clear as must cloudiness as possible.
Depending on how long the fish have been in the box, and how cloudy the water is you could leave it an hour to settle but it should be fine.

Finally,
Move the fish into the new tank, move them along with the water they were in. (So don't forget to allow for the volume of the water in the box when you're filling the main tank.

I would estimate it taking to a max of 3 hours to do if you pre-wash the gravel.

 

[bellmcc]

Hi...I've done just what you are doing a few times. All I did was try and get the closest I could to get the same temp. of tap water into the bigger tank,minus the amount in the smaller tank. Add the chlorine remover and I have the liquid bacteria that is added even after a water change.
Don't rinse the filter or anything else,just to keep all the bacteria you can. Then I bag the fish,add the water from the other tank then float the fish for 20 min. Then you're good to go!

 

[wwe76]

Hi...I've done just what you are doing a few times. All I did was try and get the closest I could to get the same temp. of tap water into the bigger tank,minus the amount in the smaller tank. Add the chlorine remover and I have the liquid bacteria that is added even after a water change.
Don't rinse the filter or anything else,just to keep all the bacteria you can. Then I bag the fish,add the water from the other tank then float the fish for 20 min. Then you're good to go!

so you think its best to bag them and add them into the 65 gallon? Will it stress them out? and how about the current water from my 30 gallon tank?

 

[wwe76]

Hi...I've done just what you are doing a few times. All I did was try and get the closest I could to get the same temp. of tap water into the bigger tank,minus the amount in the smaller tank. Add the chlorine remover and I have the liquid bacteria that is added even after a water change.
Don't rinse the filter or anything else,just to keep all the bacteria you can. Then I bag the fish,add the water from the other tank then float the fish for 20 min. Then you're good to go!

one more question how about if my tank is cloudy from my coral gravel i 'm going to put in?