Moving Goldfish

[Dorri]

My daughter needs to upsize her gold fish to a bigger tank with a bigger filter stleast to a 30 gal. Her goldfish are 4 years old and established. My question if she buys a bigger tank with a new bigger filter, can her fish go through an ammonia shock as won't this be similar to starting a totally new tank. Can she avoid this or make the transition easier for her fish? I think the filter she has now is only about 20 gals. Can she use the old filter and somehow get the new one started to establish the bacteria in it?

 

[minxfishy]

If you transfer the current filter into the new tank and run it alongside the new filter for at least 4 weeks, this will be fine and should avoid any ammonia/nitrIte spikes as the current filter holds enough bacteria to cope with the fish waste load and will allow the new filter media to grow sufficient bacteria to cope with the fish, after 4 weeks or so, you can remove the current filter or leave them both running, always better to have more filtration than not enough and goldfish are high waste producers.

An alternative, is to remove the media (sponge, bio balls etc) from the current filter and place them directly into the new filter, often called cloning that way you dont need to run two filters.

 

[bae1994]

just like to point out just incase

when running the fiilters alongside for 4 weeks the fish need to be in the tank with them

just making sure you know

 

[Honeythorn]

How many goldfish does she have, and what body shape are they? ( fancy round bodies or bubble eyes ect, or normal ones like comets and shubunkins )

I say this because 30 gals can barely, and I mean barely support ONE goldfish. They require a lot of swimming space as they are effectively pond fish, even fancies due to the size they get to ( in warm climates such as Japan fancies are kept in outdoor ponds ) .

If you're going to upgrade to a bigger tank, it's actually cheaper in the long run to get the absolute biggest tank you have space for.

A pair of goldfish need at least 50 gallons even if they are still relatively small ( around 4-6 inches or so ) over time they will double in size and will need that space to be able to grow properly.

It's great your daughter is upgrading. Many people don't bother and end up with stunted fish with much shortened lifespans ( they can live to over 20 years old ) .

 

[Dorri]

How many goldfish does she have, and what body shape are they? ( fancy round bodies or bubble eyes ect, or normal ones like comets and shubunkins )

I say this because 30 gals can barely, and I mean barely support ONE goldfish. They require a lot of swimming space as they are effectively pond fish, even fancies due to the size they get to ( in warm climates such as Japan fancies are kept in outdoor ponds ) .

If you're going to upgrade to a bigger tank, it's actually cheaper in the long run to get the absolute biggest tank you have space for.

A pair of goldfish need at least 50 gallons even if they are still relatively small ( around 4-6 inches or so ) over time they will double in size and will need that space to be able to grow properly.

It's great your daughter is upgrading. Many people don't bother and end up with stunted fish with much shortened lifespans ( they can live to over 20 years old ) .

Thanks, I'm not sure what kind of goldfish she has? While they are much bigger than my goldfish, they aren't anywhere that big yet? I will pass this message on to her and tell her to get a bigger tank off the bat...I agree why bother going through umpteen tanks.

Thanks for the replies...I will print this info out for her, it's very helpful.

Thanks for the replies...I will print this info out for her, it's very helpful.

 

[mini_matt]

If you transfer the current filter into the new tank and run it alongside the new filter for at least 4 weeks, this will be fine and should avoid any ammonia/nitrIte spikes as the current filter holds enough bacteria to cope with the fish waste load and will allow the new filter media to grow sufficient bacteria to cope with the fish, after 4 weeks or so, you can remove the current filter or leave them both running, always better to have more filtration than not enough and goldfish are high waste producers.

An alternative, is to remove the media (sponge, bio balls etc) from the current filter and place them directly into the new filter, often called cloning that way you dont need to run two filters.

when you take away the second filter could this not cause a spike? as there would be so much less filter bacteria?