Moving Tank...

[LolaLouie]

I just upgraded my 90l to a 200l and I just want to confirm that the way I am changing tanks is ok as it's not really the traditional way....

1. I put all fish in a bucket.
2. Transferred old gravel, water, plants, rocks etc to new tank.
3. Filled 200l up half way with 50% old water and 50% new water.
4. Set up old filter (as it is only made for 100l I have only half filled the tank)
5. Slowly introduced fish to new tank.

That's what i've done.. now my plans for the next week are to buy the filter today, squeeze my old filter media over new filter and use what old media i can in the new filter. Then run the 2 filters alongside eachother (with 100l in the tank) and over the next week add a few litres a day of water to the tank until it is full and then remove the old filter.

Sound ok??

Any tips??

Thanks

Gemma

 

[mark.w.jones]

The amount of water in the tank will not make make any difference to the ability of the filter to cope with your current fish. Nearly all the useful bacteria will have been move across within your filter. You need to fill the tank up completely as this will provide a greater volume of water to help dilute any ammonia or nitrite spikes you may get. As you say. You should then run both filters side by side for around a month before removing the smaller one and putting as much of its media into your larger filter as you can. I would be tempted mix half of your ceramic media from your old filter with the ones in you new filter then squeeze your mature sponges over your new ones before running the both side by side. Don't be tempted to add any new stock until you have the 200l running just off of your new filter though as filter changing time can cause water quality issues which will kill sensitive newcomers.