Transferring From A Small To A Larger Tank..

[rjsmith]

Hi,
I have a mature and very healthy 60L tank, with oversized external filter, with some Danios, White Clouds, 2 Dwarf gourami and a couple of Mollies (and some molly fry now).
I've got a nice 190L which is a day or two from being filled for the first time. Nice powerful external filter on the new one but the filter is unmatured.
Eventually the fish from the small will all go in the 190L but what's the best way for this to happen?

Should I use any water from the mature tank?
Should I put a couple of fish in to get the cycling going in the new tank? If so, who?
When should I put the plants across?

Or, I'm thinking of running the two external filters on the 190L eventually. Should I just put all the fish over and get the matured filter running on the new one as well as the new unmatured filter?

I don't want to make a mistake so any advice welcome please.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Two options. Either move all the media from the matured filter to the new one, plus all the fish, or just put the entire matured filter onto the new tank. Saves hassle and loss of bacteria.

 

[SuperColey1]

Or run the old filter alongside the new filter, and each week reduce the flow of the old one until the new one is doing the donkey work and then take the old one out.

Good luck catching the Danios.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Or run the old filter alongside the new filter, and each week reduce the flow of the old one until the new one is doing the donkey work and then take the old one out.

Well indeed, but it's an awful lot of extra time and effort. You're getting exactly the same effect in weeks less time by switching the media over.

 

[rjsmith]

Cheers for the ideas so far. The new filter is bigger than the old one so the media isn't a direct fit. I guess I could put some of the ceramic type stuff in it?

 

[OohFeeshy]

You can cut the media to size, or if it's smaller than the new stuff, stick it in anyway and pad it out a bit. Although, yes, the ceramic media alone should probably be fine if you can't fot the whole lot in.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah move the media over top it up with new, the old media is enough to support the current bio load so will continue to do so in the new tank, you'll just need to buil up stocking slowly and carefully.

make sure you do water tests for a few days afterwards cos however careful you are you can still trigger a mini cycle

 

[rjsmith]

Thanks for the advice all

 

[jamie2010]

i recently changed from a 125l to a 180l.i used the foam pads from my old filter (juwel internal) in the new external filter.i then transfered a good portion of the existing tank water to the new tank.hey presto job done
it was a bit stressfull i must say,but it all worked out great for me and the fish

 

[mr_flash]

I'm also in the process of upgrading to a larger tank. I have setup the new tank with all new filters as my smaller tank only uses a impeller.

Just transfered my 2 playta's to the new tank to get the cycle going and will slowing move the other fish over the next few months.

 

[rjsmith]

I'm also in the process of upgrading to a larger tank. I have setup the new tank with all new filters as my smaller tank only uses a impeller.

Just transfered my 2 playta's to the new tank to get the cycle going and will slowing move the other fish over the next few months.

You need a lot of patience soemtimes in htis fishkeeping game I think!
I'm losing mine waiting for my eggcrate to arrive! 1 day delivery - HaHa! Grrr!!