My New Aquarium

[Jules H-T]

So, Upgrading Tanks!

Here is how I've gone straight from one to the other. I'm hoping for a few things to come as a result of this thread. (1) Someone wondering what to do learns from it (2) Someone who knows what they are doing tells me where not to go wrong next time (3) You enjoy it even a tiny bit as much as I did, giving my babies a new larger home!

OK, the old tank was filtered with a Fluval 2 and a Powerhead 402 UGF.

I intended to keep the Powerhead on a UGF, also obtained a Fluval 4.

Also a 200W heater. Bought a new 150W heater, and plan to run the two in the new tank on the basis that if either goes belly up there is backup.

Here is the old tank (stock in there is not the same).

 

[Jules H-T]

Here is the new home, in it's place, ready for attention. I leak tested it in the garage, and the found room next to the telly. By this time I had the Fluval 4 in the old setup for about 10 days, with the Fluval 2 and Powerhead turned down, to facilitate the growth of bacteria in the new filter.

 

[Jules H-T]

I've decided an aquarium benefits from a decent back paper. Plants, mirrors, green/blue backing don't turn me on- Jet Black it is. Surprisingly tricky to fit, my advice would be do it BEFORE you put water in so you can move the tank!

 

[Jules H-T]

In my experience, there is no treatment of tap water required. Chlorine will evaporate pretty quickly (24hrs) from any tap water. There are no Chloramines in my supply. So I stood it for a day or so with some air.

 

[Jules H-T]

Next up is a bit of preparation. Fitted a 48" and a 32" tropical lamp to the hood (leaning back on the wall), plus a strip of moonlight LEDs, and added a sh*t loads of gravel. Gravel took a lot of rinsing, using 2 buckets. I found doing small amounts lots of times is more efficient than a few big loads a few times.

 

[Jules H-T]

Now the Nitty Gritty. The idea is:

Take all the fish out of the old aquarium, transfer Fluval filtration, 75% of the old water, loosely rinse the old gravel to get rid of the crap but not the bacteria, introduce the fish again.

So step 1- fish out!

At this stage I have:

2 Clown Loach
6 Kuhli Loach
5 Leopard Danio
2 Kribensis
1 Common Plec
1 Red Line Torpedo Barb
5 Neons
1 Wood Shrimp
1 Betta

BUT only 5 Kuhlis turn up. Who that keeps these can honestly say how many they KNOW they have?!

The Red Line Torpedo Barb was a NIGHTMARE to catch, so damn quick.

 

[Jules H-T]

All fish succesfully bagged up. All species bagged, except the Red Line and the Clowns- they always chill together, and red stripe was looking stressed.

 

[Jules H-T]

Some swift land-scaping required. Got hold of a load of slate from the local Fireplace manufacturers, and made a tier in the back left out of some of it. 3 bits of bogwood, one with Java Fern sewed to it. One piece of lava rock, a piece of slate, 8ish plants.

 

[Jules H-T]

Looking a bit more ship shape. Note the crap spawning cave for the Kribs in front of the slate wall. That has since come out, and has been made into a proper cave using aquarium sealant and is drying as I type...

 

[Jules H-T]

Landscaping done, (Fluvals first, powerhead next, decor last), lights off, and in go the fish for acclimatisation...

 

[Jules H-T]

Still quite a bit of ambient light around the place. All the fish still bagged up...

 

[Jules H-T]

Release time! In this order:

Betta,
Wood Shrimp,
Kuhli,
Danio,
Neons,
Clowns,
Plec,
Kribensis.

to allow for the territorial fish to go in last and not take the place over.

This photo was take the day after, the lights stayed off for the day.

 

[Jules H-T]

The estute among you may have noticed the list back in was one shorter than the list out.

Poor Red Stripe, the Red Line Torpedo Barb, never made it.

He was so hard to catch that I know I stressed him, he tried to jump the bag when I did get him, and he was belly up by the time I came to introduce them.

RIP. Red Stripe mate, the consumate tropical fish, and the one I dedicated to my Mrs. when I first set out on the road of tropicals. Never to be replaced.

He would have loved his new home so much

 

[Jules H-T]

Hope the last post doesn't discourage posts on my strategy, I need to learn more.

I plan to add 2 or 3 more Clowns (in time a new, bigger tank is not a possibility, it's a cert), and a good stack more neons/cardinals, then that's it for now unless a good option presents itself.

I know the Betta (Jap is his name) is not particularly suited to a community, but he has another home if he starts getting hassled (which he isn't at all at the moment), so he stays for now I think.

 

[Vivienne]

Loved reading your thread - it's great to see how everyone goes about doing things. Sorry that your barb never made it though. How are all the others doing in their new tank ? What are you going to do with the old one ?