New Tank? Any Advice

[omese]

i currently have 1 3ft tank in my sitting room and a 2ft in my lobby, ive been keeping fish for about 1year and was thinking of getting a 4ft to replace my 3ft.....am i to inexperienced to be dealing with a big 4ft tank? should i wait until few years to tackle a bigger tank any thoughts?

 

[ZoddyZod]

i currently have 1 3ft tank in my sitting room and a 2ft in my lobby, ive been keeping fish for about 1year and was thinking of getting a 4ft to replace my 3ft.....am i to inexperienced to be dealing with a big 4ft tank? should i wait until few years to tackle a bigger tank any thoughts?

if you have been running two tanks for a year successfully then I dont see why you aren't 'ready'. The only difference may be the species you keep as obviously you will have options of larger fish that you previously could not keep in the 2 & 3 foot tanks, but the 'science' part stays the same.

 

[omese]

thanks zoddyzodd, was gonna just transfer water and stock form 3ft into new 4ft is this veesable? also would i ahve to get an external filter for the big 4ft as opposed to the 1 internal i have?

also would the fish be stressed out because of the move?

would u reccommend it

what tanks do u have?

 

[ZoddyZod]

for the filter it depends on the liters per hour it is rated at, which make and model is it?

the fish will be a little stressed, but if the tank is set up and ready for them it will only be a short journey, so no more stressful than when they were purchased from the shop and taken home.

 

[omese]

its an interpet something, suitable for my 3ft, prob be as well getting an external filter are they easy to set up?

 

[ZoddyZod]

its an interpet something, suitable for my 3ft, prob be as well getting an external filter are they easy to set up?

again it will depend on the make & model but most of the newer ones are designed with ease of use in mind. The Fluval 305 external I use was straight-forward to install, the only bit of DIY needed was cutting the connecting hoses to the right length, but even that was simple. I've found it very easy to maintain a well. Gave it a clean yesterday and only took me a about 20mins.

If you are starting a new filter for the tank there are two ways to get it established with a bacteria colony. Either transfer the media from your current filter into the new one (should be plenty of room in a new external for sponges, ceramics from your old one) or run both filters in the tank for several months until the new one is ready.

 

[omese]

just looked on ebay looks quite good

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/AQUARIUM-FISH-TANKS-EXTERNAL-FLUVAL-305-POWER-FILTER-/370177369501?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish

no need for manual siphoning? hows that?

 

[ZoddyZod]

no need for manual siphoning? hows that?

there is a little manual pumping 'key' on top. When you have set the filter up you simply pump that until no air is left coming through the outlet pipe. Doesn't take long at all.

There are larger Fluval filters, the 405 and FX5 both process more litres per hour.

Others on here will recommend Eheim as a very good brand/manufacturer, But I have no experience with those filters.