New Aquarium And Fish Transfer Concerns

[Zeira]

Hi all,
 
A friend of mine has given me his fish tank because he never takes care of it, and this thing is in bad shape, as you can see below. I've decided that its better for me to buy a new 10Gallon aquarium and a new filter than it is for me to try and clean this one up, especially since it looks like some permant rust/calcification damage has occurred. The fish in the tank are guppies. Poor fish.
 
My concern is that when I introduce the fish, who have lived in this filth for over three years, to a new and clean aquarium that they will experience a shock and not survive. I am completely new to fish and have no idea what I'm doing.
 
Please help. Any and all advice would be appreciated.
 

 

[Francesjane]

Never taking care of the tank is an understatement!!! If they have survived in the tank for as long as they have then I would like to think that if you purchase a new tank and get it cycled following the instructions on the forum then they can soon be swimming in water where they can actually see where they are going, and I would have thought that so long as the tank is cycled you shouldn't have any problems transferring them to a new tank. Do you know anyone with an established tank who could give you some media to help you get started?

I am sure that some of the other more experienced fish keepers on here will also give you advice, but I would say definitely get a new tank and make their lives a little happier and realise there is a lovely world out there!!!

 

[daizeUK]

Hi Zeira,
Welcome to the forums
I think you are right to be concerned about shock from transfer to fresh water.  You can help them simply by adding fresh dechlorinated water to the tank, a little each day.  This will help them get used to fresh water slowly.
A test kit will be essential for you to understand what they are living in and to help make their transition to a new tank go smoothly.
Do these fish have a filter or heater?

 

[Shelster]

Oh my goodness, those poor fish!

+1 on Daize, please keep us posted with progress - I would be embarrassed to pass that tank on

 

[Zeira]

Thanks for your advice so far, I really appreciate it.
 
Daize, they have a filter for sure, and I can only assume that they have a heater since they need 72-ish degree water. Unless the lights in the tank serve as a heater? I am completely new to this and have no idea. The Aquarium I am looking at comes with a filter and lights, but I don't think it comes with a heater. I assume a test kit will tell me things about the water that I should try to preserve in the new environment in order to minimize shock?
 
I read an article that suggested that I take the algae covered decorations from the old tank and add them to dechlorinated water, this will help populate the new tank with the bacteria and etc that exist in their current environment. Is there anything I should do to the fresh water, aside from de-chlorinating it, to ensure that the algae/bacteria survive the transfer?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The first thing I would do is: Leave them in that tank.
 
Crazy, I know.
 
 
I'd fill the tank to the top with fresh dechlorinated water.... and dilute the water that they are currently in.  I'd do nothing more than that for a week.
 
 
Then, I'd slowly acclimate them to your tap conditions...
5-10% (and no more than that) water change every other day for 2 weeks.
 
 
This will help to acclimate them a bit, but they will still have a bit to go.
After that 20% water change after one week.
Then 30% the week after.
Increase it by 10% each week until you are changing 90% of the water.
 
 
Then, and ONLY then, move them into the new tank.  (While you are doing all this, cycle your new tank - following the directions from the article in the header at the top of the fourm).

 

[Fluval-1200]

If it was me id remove most décor, fill it up a tad with fresh water each day until full. To much at once could shock the fish, I would then carry out a gravel vac. Then do a 10% water change every day for atleast 2 weeks
I would also try and see what condition the fish are in, that looks rotten and they may have masses of illness.
 
Be interesting to know what those water parameters are with the tank like that.

 

[daizeUK]

Thanks for your advice so far, I really appreciate it.
 
Daize, they have a filter for sure, and I can only assume that they have a heater since they need 72-ish degree water. Unless the lights in the tank serve as a heater? I am completely new to this and have no idea. The Aquarium I am looking at comes with a filter and lights, but I don't think it comes with a heater. I assume a test kit will tell me things about the water that I should try to preserve in the new environment in order to minimize shock?
 
I read an article that suggested that I take the algae covered decorations from the old tank and add them to dechlorinated water, this will help populate the new tank with the bacteria and etc that exist in their current environment. Is there anything I should do to the fresh water, aside from de-chlorinating it, to ensure that the algae/bacteria survive the transfer?

 
Count the power cords coming out of the tank   The filter should have it's own power cord, the lights have another, the heater should have a third.  Just make sure they're not freezing in there!
 
A test kit such as the API Master Test Kit will tell you how much ammonia, nitrite and nitrate is in the water.  These substances are all toxic to fish in varying quantities.  It will also tell you the pH and hardness of your water.
 
An established tank such as this should be 'cycled' which means that there should be no ammonia or nitrite in the water.  However a neglected tank like this may suffer from Old Tank Syndrome which means the nitrates will be very high and this can cause a pH crash and kill off the beneficial bacteria which the fish need to survive.  Adding fresh water slowly as suggested will help to dilute the nitrate and bring the tank back to stability.
 
Once you know what chemical state this tank is in then we can determine if it worth moving over ornaments or filter media to the new tank in order to preserve the existing bacteria, if they are still alive.
 
As Eagle said, don't rush to get these fish into a new tank, take it slowly.  These fish will have physiologically adapted themselves to cope with conditions such as high nitrates and they will need time to adjust themselves slowly back to normality.

 

[Zeira]

I have a much better idea of what to do, now. Thank you all very much for your advice.
 
I will be picking up the tank next week and I will get a test kit. Since some of you seem pretty curious I will post the test results and I'll make sure to keep you posted on the progress. There will be pictures of the happy fish in their new aquarium in several weeks.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Zeira...
 
I want to let you know that you have a lot in front of you.  This tank is a disgrace (not your fault, certainly - you are an angel trying to help these fish out).  But, since you are so new to fish keeping, I wanted to encourage you....  Even if you are unsuccessful in this attempt to rehabilitate these fish, don't blame yourself, and don't give up fish keeping because of it.
 
 
This is a situation that many experienced fish keepers would struggle to right in such a way as to safely bring all the fish through it.  You may lose some of the fish.  You may lose all of the fish.  But, you are doing what's right, and doing the best that you can.  Don't lose sight of that.  And don't blame yourself if things don't work out. 
 
 
God bless you in your efforts.
 
 
 
I would add as well, that this tank also will have VERY high TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) because of all the feedings and lack of water changes.  So, it will be a process and the fish need time to acclimate to the decreased level of nitrate and TDS, as well as the slowly increasing pH.    This tank is a textbook case of "Old Tank Syndrome", actually it would be an 'exemplar' used in textbooks to illustrate how bad it can get. 
 
Don't add new fish, don't make major changes and don't lose hope.  Slow and steady.  The tank didn't get into this state overnight, and its not going to be straightened out over night either.

 

[Zeira]

Thanks Eagles. After reading up on cycling my new tank, and hearing the advice everyone has given me for slowly cycling clean water in to the old tank before transferring the fish, I'm starting to realize exactly how much of a process this is going to be. I had no idea how complicated an Aquarium was, at least I find the science behind it faschinating.
 
It's certainly a good thing that I like a challenge.
 
From what I understand, it looks like I'll be able to cycle the new tank while gradually exposing the fish in the old tank to changes in the water. I know its going to take a lot of patience and careful planning but I think I can manage it. Thanks for the encouragement, I promise not to be too disheartened if I can't save these fish. But I really hope that I can.

 

[Shelster]

Your tank is half full Zeira - literally! Be optimistic, at least you are giving them a chance.

Please post pics of progress

Good luck

 

[daizeUK]

Good for you!
Fishkeeping is half science, half hobby and you've dived in at the deep end!  If you have any questions along the way, we're here to help you.  Best of luck to you and the little guys!

 

[KirkyArcher]

A sure fire entry for TOTM if ever I saw one
 
for time being just fill tank up with water treated with some form of water conditioner available from any decent pet store.

 

[hobby5]

Welcome to the forums! Many wise things have been said, but there is more to this What are your intensions? Do you mainly want to save those fish? Then there is no need for a new tank. The old one can easily be cleaned. But if you plan to get serious about keeping fish, don't go for a 10Gallon tank! This is to small for most fish and will very much restrict your further development. I would recommend to start with at least 25Gallon, the more the better. Also get sand as a substrate and get real plants, no plastic!