New Tank: Lotsa Questions!

[C & D]

Heya, I've been keepin fish for about a month now in a small 35l tank, and have become hooked. So I hopped onto Ebay and bought a new 125l tank. I am going to pick it up in 5 days and until then the current owner will keep his fish in the tank. Firstly how should I transfer my current fish into the new tank, and how soon after setting the tank up in my house(surely it isn't the same procedure as buying a brand new tank ie.cycling). Also I'd like some advice on which new fish to add to the aquarium. I currently have;
6 Neon Tetra
2 Dwarf Gourami
2 Dalmation Mollies
2 Zebra Danios
1 Leopard Danios
1 Gold Sucking Loach,
The man who I am buying the tank from says that I can have any of the fish that are currently living in the aquarium. He has a large Angelfish but I have read that it is likely that it will eat my Neon Tetra's, is this true? Also he has 2 Keyhole Cichlids which I think I will take, and Kribensis which also seem suitable. I can also choose from some Kuhli's and Corries. Has anyone got any advice on if I should take any or all of the fish available? Just one last point also, does anyone have any suggestions for any other fish to add to my aquarium?
Thanks
8)

 

[Thomas 2507]

Okay, first do a water change in your current tank, but use the water you take out to partly fill the new tank. Then fill the tank up with new water and put anything such as plants, filters or rocks in the tank. Wait for at least a week before adding any fish.

I would buy a few more danios and a few more loaches. They are shoaling fish, so would be happier in larger groups.

Hope this helps.

 

[aaronnorth]

as long as you use your filter or use the media on the new one you will be fine as this is your main supply of bacteria. Gravel will also contain a small amount. I upgraded from an 80l to a 180l a few month back so if you want me to give you any more info then just pm me. I wouldn't do a water change before swapping everything over as you will want as much water as possible. When you fill up your tank witht the old water adding that extra 90l will be like doing a massive water change anyway.

 

[celaeno]

yes, it's true that angelfish will attack and eat neon tetras, so i wouldn't take him if i were you. also, if your tank has room, you can take either the keyholes or the kribs, but not both. kribs are more aggressive than shy keyholes, so they are incompatible imo.

 

[C & D]

Oh, I'm pretty sure that the Kribs and the Keyholes are living in the tank together now. Is it possible that if they were raised together that they get on? I'll give the Angelfish a miss then. Thanks 8)

 

[backtotropical]

Hi,

You are right to give the angel a miss, it'd have the neons for breakfast.

With regard to moving fish from the old tank to the new, add all the water and all the fish from the old tank, and at the same time take the filter from the old tank and start running it on the new tank. Fill up with fresh water and you've got an instantly cycled new 125 litre.

The key point here is you need to move the established filter and the fish at the same time so the bacteria in the filter do not die. If it is not possible to run the old filter on the new tank, take all the filter media out of the old filter and put it into the new filter. Again this must be done at the same time as moving all the fish over.

There is no need to fill the tank and wait a week, or any length of time for that matter, this would achieve nothing at all.

If you can specify what filter you are using just now on the small tank, and what filter you will be using on the new tank, i can guide you through it in more detail. At the moment, i'm trying to cover all eventualities.

 

[C & D]

I'm not actually sure exactly which filter is in the 125l tank at the moment but in my small tank I have an 'Elite Stingray' Filter with foam pads inside. Is there a reason why I couldn't run both filters and then after a while remove the old filter? 8)

 

[backtotropical]

Not at all. That is ideal.

I wasn't sure if maybe the old filter wouldn't fit or something, but if it does, then running both filters is your best bet, or taking the foam pads out the stingray and putting them into the new filter would work just the same and would mean you only have 1 filter running.

As i said above, make sure you move the fish and filter over together and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[C & D]

Thanks.....Does anybody know more about whether I should have the Kribensis and the Keyhole Cichlids because I really like both 8)

 

[aaronnorth]

I'm not actually sure exactly which filter is in the 125l tank at the moment but in my small tank I have an 'Elite Stingray' Filter with foam pads inside. Is there a reason why I couldn't run both filters and then after a while remove the old filter? 8)

Yep, as backtotropical said