Moving To A New Tank!

[AshleyGracie]

I haven't posted here much in the last couple of years but I originally started here asking questions about my clown loaches. I had them in a 55 gal tank and only had one and was informed this was not good for them. So over the last year I have increased my group to 5 and tomorrow I'm picking up my new 125 gallon tank!!! I'm so excited to finally be able to give them the home they need and deserve. I have to say they have done well in my 55 gal, growing and staying very active, but I can not wait to see them when they get in their big tank!
So I have a couple of questions. On my 55 gal tank I have a Fluval C4 filter. For my new tank I splurged and got the Fluval fx6. Can I just add my old filter media to the new filter and things will be fine? The old media has been doing a good job keeping up, along with weekly water changes, but will moving it to a bigger filter/tank change things?

 

[Ninjouzata]

Yep just add the filter media from your current tank into the new filter. Should be fine but keep an eye on the levels just in case/for peace of mind
 
Please do put up pics!

 

[Fishmanic]

post some pics of the clown loachs in their new home

 

[AshleyGracie]

Will most definitely get pics asap but as of right now I have a problem. I moved everything over to the new tank (sand, water, decorations except for some plastic plants I did not want, fish) and I put my filter media in my new filter. My old tank was a 55 gal tank with a Fluval C4 filter that has been established for almost 2 years. For this period of time my readings always were ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, and nitrate 10-40ppm between weekly 30-50% water changes.
Anyway after I changed tanks I tested the water and got the 0-0-5 reading and everything was great. Fish were happy, exploring the new, BIG world that have. Next day I noticed things weren't so active, tested the water and *bang* 0.5 ppm ammonia! Still 0 nitrites and Nitrate up to 20. Did 50% water change with de-chlorinated water. That was 2 days ago and I've tested everyday since and am still getting 0.25 ppm ammonia, 0 nitrites and approx 10 nitrates and have been doing 50% water changes each day. What's going on?!?!

 

[Ninjouzata]

Sometimes moving can result in a spike, keep up the water changes and everything should be fine shortly. :c

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes; it's called a 'minicycle' and is caused by a slight die back of the bacteria; sometimes that happens when you move them.

What's your pH? If it's less than 7, you don't need to worry about that small amount of ammonia.

 

[AshleyGracie]

My PH is 7.2

 

[AshleyGracie]

And still getting the 0.25 ammonia reading today I don't like this.

 

[fluttermoth]

I really don't think you need to worry too much.
 
Are the fish behaving normally? Have you tested your tap or some bottled water and compared the tests? What dechlorinator are you using?

 

[AshleyGracie]

Fish are hiding more than usual but I think that's from the move, it has only been a few days and it took me a while to catch them duo they were pretty upset with me. My tap water comes back 0 on all 3 tests. I'm using Nutrafin aqua plus in my water (only thing that is available here) but in saying that I have an artesian well that doesn't contain chlorine or chloramine but I still add it to be safe.

 

[AshleyGracie]

I think i'm finally having break through with this issue! This mornings test it's much improved, it's not completely yellow but not dark enough to match the 0.25. This makes me feel much better. Fish are pretty happy, out a lot more. Getting back to their usually silly selves
My next step it's to re-decorate and decide if i'm going to add more fish or not.

 

[Ninjouzata]

I'm glad everything is better!
 
Whatcha thinking on doing to re-decorate? What fish do you want to add?
Can't wait to see pics

 

[Ch4rlie]

All sounds good.
 
0.25 ppm ammonia is not much to worry about, fish can cope with this small amount pretty easily, and as you probably found, no fish suffered, if at all really.
 
Think you have done everything absolutely spot on and could not do better than that IMHO. Mini cycles and spike are to be expected sometimes but all went good, well done!
 
Sounds like it was a good transition of moving everything from one tank to the other, and after a day or two, your fish will settle and explore their new larger tank.
 
Pics of your new larger tank and stocking would be cool to see.

 

[AshleyGracie]

Ok, trying to post some pictures but having a bit of trouble. I signed up on photobucket and uploaded my pictures but when I copy the link I can't paste it in my reply. I hit paste and nothing shows up!  I must be doing something wrong.

 

[Ninjouzata]

That is odd. Which link are you copying? I usually copy the direct link and hit the Imagine button (below & a teensy bit to the left of the smiley button) and put the link in there and that seems to work. >.<