New Tank (old Tank Leak!)

[Fred37]

Hi Folks,

My elderly father has a problem with his tropical fish tank. He was given an old hexagonal glass tank (64l) which he has had set up and stocked for 3-4 months now (it finally stopped cycling about 4 weeks ago). Unfortunately the tank has developed a leak and we've noticed that the silicon sealant is peeling away from many of the internal joints. So off we trotted to our LFS to see what we could get to fix the problem but Dad spotted a new, traditionally shaped acrylic tank which he much preferred and bought it on the spot (exactly the same size as the existing tank). Since then I've managed a temporary patch of the leak - pretty ugly but effective! Now I have the joy of doing the transfer from the old to the new tank for him - by the way I'm not a fishkeeper - although learning fast ;-)
So I've read the guides to setting up new tanks and cloning and would be grateful if you could review my plan?

1) Place new tank on floor with new substrate in place - transfer water from old tank down to new tank. About halfway through this process transfer fish stock to 2 large containers that also have the existing tank water in (+ a dose of Stress Coat). First question...is it better to bag all the fish, or can they just be left free in these containers?
2) Existing filter/pump will be placed in a bucket with existing tank water.
3) Remove old tank from shelf and discard existing substrate and remaining 20% of water. Place old tank on floor next to new tank.
4) Transfer water from new tank back into old tank.
5) Place now empty new tank on shelf.
6) Add tank furniture and transfer water from old tank into new tank. Add plants from old tank.
7) Add heater and pump and switch on.
8) Top up new tank with suitably treated fresh water.
9) Net and transfer fish straight back into new tank, or depending on your answer to my question in point 1) follow the usual bag transfer procedure.
10) No artifical light for 12 hours.
11) Limited feeding for next couple of days.
12) Daily water checks for the next week.

Based on the time we take to do the existing water changes I reckon the whole process can be completed in about 2 hours, but do you think the above is a workable plan, or can you offer any other guidance?
Also, as the substrate is new do I need to do anything else for the plants?
Any help/guidance you can give would be very much appreciated as if you'll excuse the pun I'm swimming a little in the dark
Thanks in advance.

 

[loachman]

Hi Folks,

My elderly father has a problem with his tropical fish tank. He was given an old hexagonal glass tank (64l) which he has had set up and stocked for 3-4 months now (it finally stopped cycling about 4 weeks ago). Unfortunately the tank has developed a leak and we've noticed that the silicon sealant is peeling away from many of the internal joints. So off we trotted to our LFS to see what we could get to fix the problem but Dad spotted a new, traditionally shaped acrylic tank which he much preferred and bought it on the spot (exactly the same size as the existing tank). Since then I've managed a temporary patch of the leak - pretty ugly but effective! Now I have the joy of doing the transfer from the old to the new tank for him - by the way I'm not a fishkeeper - although learning fast ;-)
So I've read the guides to setting up new tanks and cloning and would be grateful if you could review my plan?

1) Place new tank on floor with new substrate in place - transfer water from old tank down to new tank. About halfway through this process transfer fish stock to 2 large containers that also have the existing tank water in (+ a dose of Stress Coat). First question...is it better to bag all the fish, or can they just be left free in these containers?
2) Existing filter/pump will be placed in a bucket with existing tank water.
3) Remove old tank from shelf and discard existing substrate and remaining 20% of water. Place old tank on floor next to new tank.
4) Transfer water from new tank back into old tank.
5) Place now empty new tank on shelf.
6) Add tank furniture and transfer water from old tank into new tank. Add plants from old tank.
7) Add heater and pump and switch on.
8) Top up new tank with suitably treated fresh water.
9) Net and transfer fish straight back into new tank, or depending on your answer to my question in point 1) follow the usual bag transfer procedure.
10) No artifical light for 12 hours.
11) Limited feeding for next couple of days.
12) Daily water checks for the next week.

Based on the time we take to do the existing water changes I reckon the whole process can be completed in about 2 hours, but do you think the above is a workable plan, or can you offer any other guidance?
Also, as the substrate is new do I need to do anything else for the plants?
Any help/guidance you can give would be very much appreciated as if you'll excuse the pun I'm swimming a little in the dark
Thanks in advance.

That's more or less it.

Set up the new tank the way you want it/where you want it first.

If you want, you can use new water for the new tank, just make sure it's roughly the same chemistry/temperature as the old water. Transferring some old water can help keep the water stats similar, but isn't required. Do a standard acclimation procedure to be safe when moving the fish.

You can use 5 gal buckets to keep the fish in if needed. I've moved fish long distances in 2.5-5 gal buckets before (12 hour trips tank to tank).

 

[Miss Wiggle]

this topic will help you

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=268550

 

[Gemmylou]

keep the old filter media in it. It has all that good bacteria you need

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, sounds good. Keeping the old filter undisturbed and always in tank water is the most important, but it can go for hours without running and the precious bacteria will still be alive and ok as long as they stay in tank water. Be sure to clean the new gravel well, as you'll want to get all the gravel dust out of it. Fish moving from open container to open container is fine, especially if its their current water and you keep and eye on keeping temperatures reasonably stable.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Fred37]

Yes, sounds good. Keeping the old filter undisturbed and always in tank water is the most important, but it can go for hours without running and the precious bacteria will still be alive and ok as long as they stay in tank water. Be sure to clean the new gravel well, as you'll want to get all the gravel dust out of it. Fish moving from open container to open container is fine, especially if its their current water and you keep and eye on keeping temperatures reasonably stable.

~~waterdrop~~

That's great, thanks to all for your help. I'll be undertaking the task this week, so wish me luck

 

[Blue Bubble]

Good Luck! I have just done it, you will be fine, its catching the wriggly little things that was the hard bit!!

 

[Fred37]

Good Luck! I have just done it, you will be fine, its catching the wriggly little things that was the hard bit!!

Just a thought......so if I'm going to use a seperate large container that contains their existing water and keep the fish in this whilst I complete the set-up and transfer to the new tank....so this will be approx 50l.....should I treat the whole 50l with Stress Coat or is this going to be overkill?
Thanks.