Moving Fish?

[jencm]

My husband and I are having to move very suddenly - we were supposed to be moving over the next month and a half, and that's been cut down to doing in the next week! In any case, we set up our 55 gal at the new place a couple weeks ago to relocate the occupants of our current 30 gallon to. The new tank is currently as ready as it's going to get, I've had my fish guy from the shop I use test the water..etc...well my question is this...I've got 6 neon tetras, a couple dwarf cory's, a couple small oto's and the king of the tank - the 6 inch Chinese algae eater...Should I move them gradually instead of putting the full load on the tank? I'm wondering because likely by Monday-ish the tank needs to be down and out of here...so would it be better to take over the tetras or something first and give it a day or two before I move the rest and do the moving in a couple rounds or just take them all at once? Just curious for some opinions and help on this as I at the moment can't get ahold of my fish guy since he's out of town unexpectedly... =P

 

[K-Holed]

Is there any way you can put the filter from your old tank onto your new one?

 

[kcharley]

Hi Jen,

While I am not heavily experienced with this, I've moved fish twice to a newly setup tank successfully by moving the established filter and as much water as possible from the old tank with them. I have also moved one or two fish several times to a new tank with a new filter but with medium from an established filter and water from the old tank. Each time was successful but I tested daily after the moves and was willing to do daily water changes if needed to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels at .25 or less.

What I have noticed is that I would lose some fish when doing 50% water changes where the Kh level of the established water was 1 or less and the Kh of the new water was 4 or 5. I haven't lost any fish at a water change since keeping the tank Kh at 4 or 5 and keeping the incoming water temp a couple of degrees (fahrenheit) cooler than the tank.

My point is I think you can do this successfully but I would move the filter with the fish and match the Kh. It would be a pain but if it were me I would move as much of the water as I could with the fish.

As I said, I'm not real experienced so if the experienced posters contradict me, go with their advice.

HTH.

Greg

 

[jencm]

Is there any way you can put the filter from your old tank onto your new one?

Yeah, I've actually already had an old one in the new tank, I've also taken some of my gravel from the old tank and put it in the new one as well....

 

[fatheadminnow]

Take your current filter and put it on your 55 gallon tank.

Then put all of your fish in, and it should be okay.

Transfer the filter media in tank water in a bag. 1/3 water and 2/3 air, and put the filter media in there.

Now, do the same thing with the fish. 1/3 water and 2/3 air, and put the fish in there.

How far are you moving?

-FHM

 

[jencm]

Thanks Greg...
I guess I'm just really wondering if I should move ALL the fish at once, or take some over tomorrow say and the rest in a couple days? I'm just trying to make it the best move for everyone as I can!!

Take your current filter and put it on your 55 gallon tank.

Then put all of your fish in, and it should be okay.

Transfer the filter media in tank water in a bag. 1/3 water and 2/3 air, and put the filter media in there.

Now, do the same thing with the fish. 1/3 water and 2/3 air, and put the fish in there.

How far are you moving?

-FHM

Okay...
We're literally moving a couple miles down the road, so luckily it's not a long drive or anything! I just want to get things set up best so that it's the least stress on them.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, you will be fine to transfer them all at once, with your current filter form your 30 gallon being put on your 55 gallon.

I would also double up on water dechlor for the 55 gallon tank when putting fish in there.

The less time the fish are spent being moved, the less they are going to be stressed.

-FHM

 

[jencm]

Okay, you will be fine to transfer them all at once, with your current filter form your 30 gallon being put on your 55 gallon.

I would also double up on water dechlor for the 55 gallon tank when putting fish in there.

The less time the fish are spent being moved, the less they are going to be stressed.

-FHM

Ok, sounds good! That's sort of what I thought but I wanted to make sure!!

 

[fatheadminnow]

Good luck!

-FHM

 

[jencm]

Good luck!

-FHM

Thanks!! It's just stressful enough moving the cats and a dog...much less a tank of fish! lol

 

[fatheadminnow]

Good luck!

-FHM

Thanks!! It's just stressful enough moving the cats and a dog...much less a tank of fish! lol

I bet!

I have to move my 29 gallon to the other side of the room once I get my 55 gallon, and I am not looking forward to that day at all.

-FHM

 

[jencm]

I know what you mean!! It's the only drawback to having fish I think, more work to move. Plus, it doesn't help that it's so addictive and you somehow seem to keep upgrading your tank and adding extra tanks. lol. I'm already thinking of a new setup if we keep our 30 gal...so then we'll have 2 or more to move next time. lol.

 

[kcharley]

Okay, you will be fine to transfer them all at once, with your current filter form your 30 gallon being put on your 55 gallon.

I would also double up on water dechlor for the 55 gallon tank when putting fish in there.

The less time the fish are spent being moved, the less they are going to be stressed.

-FHM

Hi Jen,

I agree with FHM. Move them all at once with the filter (keeping the media wet) and everything should be fine. I'm guessing the fish will be fine.

Greg

 

[davidjacobs7646]

What i would do is put each kind of fish in a bag with air or a bucket or something to keep them in. Use the water that they are in so they don't get a shock to new water. Then when you get to the new tank... make sure u do put them in bags with air and let the bags float so they get used to the water. Hope this helps...