Moving To Larger Tank

[tony2501]

Hi

About to set up a new 4ft tank (40/50G imp) to move my existing fish into and was wondering what the best method of doing this was.

The method I was thinking of using was to run the new external filter in the old tank (20G imp) along side the existing filter, and using some/all of the existing water, gravel, plants, wood, etc… from the old tank, topping it up where needed.

The old tanks been set up for about 6mths.

I would do a water change about a day or two before the move, which I hope to do in about 3/4weeks time.

Is this advisable and/or is there a better way.

Thanks in advance

 

[karlp]

Take your fish out and put them in buckets / cold boxes with tank water.

Then transfer whatever you want to your new tank and fill with treated water. Use some of your old mature tank water if you can, but if not don't worry too much.

Then run your old filter in the new tank alongside the external or what I'd be tempted to do is take the sponges from your old filter, cut them up and add them into the external filter cannister with the new filter media and just run the new external.

Allow the water to clear and then acclimatise and add the fish.

You'll need to make sure the fish are OK in their buckets while you're transferring everything, so have a couple of heaters and airstones handy just in case it takes longer than you think. Bear in mind that the heaters have to be fully submerged for the thermostat to work.

Don't feed the fish the night before, so that the bucket water quality doesn't become a problem.

To acclimatise the fish, take some the water out of the buckets leaving a couple of inches of water; syphon water from the new tank using an air hose into the bucket and put a clamp on the air line to restrict the flow to dripping. Then drip water into the bucket over about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Then scoop the fish out of the bucket with a net and straight into the tank.

N.b, you've got to be careful with stocking levels even in buckets. Have several handy.

 

[tony2501]

Thanks for the advice Fishy Mad, never thought of using some of the old filter material, was going to be giving the old tank and filter to the girlfriend, but I suppose I could use half of it.

 

[Durbkat]

Just do what I did when I cloned my 55g. I put about 10 pounds of gravel from my long 20g into the 55g and put the plants into it since I didn't have enough in the 55g, then I put the filter from the 20g into the 55g and then about half an hour later I put the fish in (after I floated the fish in bags and poured tank water from 55g into bag). I also set the 55g up a day before doing this so the heater could heat the tank up.

 

[Marcos]

I used a new plastic dustbin when I've done this, works well as it holds around 80 litres.

 

[dthoffsett]

If you already have the new filter, start running it on the old tank now, if you're going to move the fish to the new tank in 3-4 weeks you'll have built up a good colony of bacteria in the new filter. I'd still move the old filter to the new tank for an additional week or two just to be safe. Also moving gravel and decor over will help. Water doesn't really hold much bacteria, your filter holds the most, so you really don't need to add the old tank water unless you want to. If you're planning on giving your old tank to your girlfriend, you can have it instantly cycled if you wait until she's ready to add fish before you take the old filter off your new tank, keep it wet and put it in her tank. And just remember to slowly stock your new tank to avoid a mini cycle. Good luck. Hope I didn't confuse you.