Tank Upgrade

[newtankgirl]

Hi,
I have had a beginners 70 litre tank and have just upgraded to a 190 litre. I have an increasingly huge plec ( ok wish i had found the advice on JUST how big they get and on advice given in fish shops before now!) A parrot fish and approx 15 others- ranging from neons to rainbows ( sorry that sounds awful - i did say i was a begeinner please forgive!)

So can't be doing too badly as they have all survived in the 18 months they have been with me but they have finally got their larger home. My question is the best way to transfer as I will obviously be using only 70 litres of old fishy water, the rest will be treated tap water. The filter media is different so hence no bacteria. Should I run it for a time as with brand new aquariums before introducng them or is it ok to put them straight in? I have had advise from the shop but would welcome advise from you experts.
Thank you x

 

[newtankgirl]

Hi,
I have had a beginners 70 litre tank and have just upgraded to a 190 litre. I have an increasingly huge plec ( ok wish i had found the advice on JUST how big they get and on advice given in fish shops before now!) A parrot fish and approx 15 others- ranging from neons to rainbows ( sorry that sounds awful - i did say i was a begeinner please forgive!)

So can't be doing too badly as they have all survived in the 18 months they have been with me but they have finally got their larger home. My question is the best way to transfer as I will obviously be using only 70 litres of old fishy water, the rest will be treated tap water. The filter media is different so hence no bacteria. Should I run it for a time as with brand new aquariums before introducng them or is it ok to put them straight in? I have had advise from the shop but would welcome advise from you experts.
Thank you x

When i say experts i mean anyone who has done this before and hasnt had any fishy casualties

 

[newtankgirl]

Hi,
I have had a beginners 70 litre tank and have just upgraded to a 190 litre. I have an increasingly huge plec ( ok wish i had found the advice on JUST how big they get and on advice given in fish shops before now!) A parrot fish and approx 15 others- ranging from neons to rainbows ( sorry that sounds awful - i did say i was a begeinner please forgive!)

So can't be doing too badly as they have all survived in the 18 months they have been with me but they have finally got their larger home. My question is the best way to transfer as I will obviously be using only 70 litres of old fishy water, the rest will be treated tap water. The filter media is different so hence no bacteria. Should I run it for a time as with brand new aquariums before introducng them or is it ok to put them straight in? I have had advise from the shop but would welcome advise from you experts.
Thank you x

When i say experts i mean anyone who has done this before and hasnt had any fishy casualties

Ok tank coming tomorrow! I need some help here! Please some one must have some advice for me! Dougal ( my plec) is counting on you

 

[nukeonekitty]

If I were you I would take filter media from the first tank and put it in the new tank hence cloning the bacteria. It would be a bad idea to use a brand new filter and put that whole bio load in all at once. You would have A LOT of fishy casualties.

 

[newtankgirl]

If I were you I would take filter media from the first tank and put it in the new tank hence cloning the bacteria. It would be a bad idea to use a brand new filter and put that whole bio load in all at once. You would have A LOT of fishy casualties.

Ok thanks. Only thing is that they are different makes so they dont fit - i have been using jewell filter sponges - maybe cut them up and put them in new filter unit??

 

[LisaLQ]

You do realise you'll have to rehome your plec at some point, and your BPs? A 190 isn't big enough for either, I'm afraid. It's a shame you couldn't get a second hand bigger tank for them instead of the 190.

Good on you for upgrading though, even though it wont make any difference really plec or parrot wise, the other fish will love the extra space Unless that parrot eats them anyway

 

[newtankgirl]

You do realise you'll have to rehome your plec at some point, and your BPs? A 190 isn't big enough for either, I'm afraid. It's a shame you couldn't get a second hand bigger tank for them instead of the 190.

Good on you for upgrading though, even though it wont make any difference really plec or parrot wise, the other fish will love the extra space Unless that parrot eats them anyway

Well yes, but im kind of attached to him.... I do realise that at some stage both will get too big and at that point obviously I will find them a more comfortable home! I could have got a bigger tank but that would have also involved getting a bigger flat ... Only one of us can afford new home right now I did obviously get bad advice when i got them - they were both much smaller and I was told that my existing tank would be fine... next time i restock i'll re-visit this forum! Re parrot - he does like cherry barbs ( more bad advice..) but gets on fine with neon tetras.. Starnge but true! Thanks for your help x

 

[nukeonekitty]

About the filter media not fitting you can also squeezing the media and stuff with ooze out and SOMETIMES that will work for cloning.

 

[newtankgirl]

About the filter media not fitting you can also squeezing the media and stuff with ooze out and SOMETIMES that will work for cloning.

Sorry not understanding - can you clarify, thanks x

 

[Irf]

Ok thanks. Only thing is that they are different makes so they dont fit - i have been using jewell filter sponges - maybe cut them up and put them in new filter unit??

Yes, this would do it. The other thing you can do is to fit your new filter into your old tank and run it in parallel for a few weeks - but I guess you haven't time for that.

Irf.

 

[newtankgirl]

Ok thanks. Only thing is that they are different makes so they dont fit - i have been using jewell filter sponges - maybe cut them up and put them in new filter unit??

Yes, this would do it. The other thing you can do is to fit your new filter into your old tank and run it in parallel for a few weeks - but I guess you haven't time for that.

Irf.

Thanks - i try cutting them up then - can't run parallel cos old one is internal fixed jewell filter and new is external. Thanks for your help though, fingers crossed!

 

[LisaLQ]

I think they meant squeeze the gunk (well, you know what I mean) out of your original filter into your new one to help seed it Worked for us!

 

[newtankgirl]

I think they meant squeeze the gunk (well, you know what I mean) out of your original filter into your new one to help seed it Worked for us!

ok that sounds a good idea - i'll try that x

 

[nukeonekitty]

Yeah that is what I meant, sorry for the typo.

Yeah just squeeze the media and stuff with come out that looks nasty and smells bad, but that is the stuff you want in the new filter!

 

[Irf]

I think they meant squeeze the gunk (well, you know what I mean) out of your original filter into your new one to help seed it Worked for us!

I don't think this is what is meant at all. The gunk that is squeezed out of a filter is not the bacteria you are trying to get established. This is just the solid particulate waste that the filter has cleaned out of your tank. This is usually a combination of plant matter, food and poo. As far as I know, if you do this you will simply start a new cycle, albeit with some decomposing material.

The correct thing to do is to actually take the filter sponges out of the old filter, cut them to shape and then put them into the new filter. When doing this, bear in mind the following:

• never wash the sponges in tap water - only use tank water
• do not let the sponges dry out - the bacteria will die
• keep the all other sponges in tank water while you are cutting each of them

Hope that helps,

Irf.