Omg - Bought A Second Hand Tank Full Of Fish Help!

[coolie]

Any help appreciated in strategy to move 4ft tank with a list as long as your arm of fish.
 
I have moved my own tanks before, but not with a complete list of fish that I have not kept before. I'm feeling both excited and scared at the same time.
 
Does anyone fear cross contamination of fish when buying second hand fish from the public? Should all fish be quarantined from my other setups?
 
They are going to have a large quantity of new water in there, but a cycled filter, any issues there?
 
 

 

[the_lock_man]

If you are unsure of their health, then definitely keep them in that tank for a month or so before moving fish to your existing populated tanks.
 
With the filter, make sure the media stays wet.

 

[Wills]

Get the fish packed up into insulated buckets (with blankets, newspaper etc) or into poly boxes and forget about them for now. Get the new tank set up ASAP - since your adding mainly new water make sure you acclimatise the fish, particularly if they have been kept in bad water, the good water could shock them.
 
Then probably best to work out what you have and how much of each...
 
Wills

 

[DreamertK]

Also try testing the tank water for NH3/NO2/NO3/PH. Once you know these then you'll know how bad old tank syndrome is. Could try daily 10% or less changes, but definitely no larger than that.

 

[coolie]

That's a good idea, I'll be able to test the water in some of the fish buckets I bring back. About insulation, the place is only round the corner literally, so it shouldn't be too bad, and it's the right time of year for it.
I will keep the fish separate despite  it's tempting to get their numbers down as I think they are over-stocked.
 
 
 
Edit to say as we are on the same water main, at least some parameters will be similar like hardness.

 

[coolie]

Jeeez, the stand doesn't come with it.

 

[draxis]

I also use the LFS for a free test of everything then use my master test kit in the future. Add a new filter and keep his existing running. Over filtration and treat for disease for at least a month.

 

[coolie]

Well, the honest truth is, this setup is way better than my main display tank, and I wanted the tank, filter, lights and heater. I don't really have room for another big tank.
It's just the strategy and logistics of rehoming fish that are coming with the tank without causing stress to them. And swapping all the other bits around.
 
It will need a bit of jiggery pokery and a large amount of winging it.

 

[draxis]

Ooh i love winging it. Until you get ich like i did. Now winging makes me think i made a slight oops.

 

[coolie]

Tell me how that happened?

 

[coolie]

OK, well I got the tank  moved last night.
 
There was a heavily pregnant woman who is moving house.
The water is yellow, tank over stocked in my opinion although there's lots of people on here with that many fish.
 
The smell is like the other tank I bought second hand, I'm not sure if it's Ammonia or Nitrate, just the smell of no water changes. In my experience of planted tanks (even though I'm always complaining things aren't growing quick enough on the planted forum) the tank smells vaguely pleasant like a garden pond rich in iron.
 
Also, a bit worrying, was when she said, those tetras are about to "go" as if that was normal for fish just to "go" like that !!! ???
 
Today I have my work cut out because a friend now can't help me up the flights of stairs with the tank until this evening, and they can't stay in a bucket all day, so I will put them in a temporary tank. Any thoughts appreciated as usual.

 

[the_lock_man]

I also use the LFS for a free test of everything then use my master test kit in the future. Add a new filter and keep his existing running. Over filtration and treat for disease for at least a month.

 
Having read your post after this one, Draxis, I can understand why you say that. I would always advise not to treat for disease unless you are certain the fish are suffering from a disease. Most fish medications are basically mild doses of poison, strong enough to kill whatever disease, but weak enough to allow the fish to survive - just. There is no point poisoning a fish if it is not going to get any benefit from it.

 

[coolie]

That meant my tank smells nice, not the one I just picked up.

 

[coolie]

I opened their brand of fish food, and almost puked. The whole tank is smelling basically of gone of fish food. The damp food smell, makes me think the smell is a combination
of lack of water changes and over feeding?

 

[fluttermoth]

They're the most common things people get wrong, so it would be just as well to work on the assumption that that's right!
 
The main thing you want to worry about is 'old tank syndrome'. The old water will most likely be soft, acidic and high in nitrate, so try and add any new water as slowly as possible.