Transferring To A New Tank

[katykaye]

Hiya all

I am picking up a new tank this week - it is 120L and the one I have now is 50L

Unfortunately I do not have room for both to be set up so my question is....

Can I transfer everything (including water) from the old to the new without destroying anything? And what is the safest way to do it?

Thanks

Kaye

 

[shroob]

I would just transfer the stuff you want over, no need to do all the water, though you could if you want. The important bit which you must do is swap the filter over. Or put the media into a new filter. This way you will have no need to go through a cycle. If you can try and keep the media wet with tank water (not tap).

I would think the safest way would be to put your fish in a bucket or large container, then just swap the tank over. You could add the old water if you want, but this contains very little beneficial bacteria, the vast majority is in the filter media.

 

[aaronnorth]

I did this in Nov 07 from 70l - 180l.

-I built cabinet, set up lighting filtration etc.
-I got the largest buckets possible, remove plants put a few in the bucket with fish for shelter, clear tank of all decor, siphon water out to as low as fish can survive then net them out into bucket. siphon rest of water off, move old tank and place new one, good idea to get someone washing substrate while you put it in (get 2 buckets for this) transfer substrate in old tank if you are haveing same.
- Level out substarte, create 'hills' etc to your desire then get a plate and start adding water from buckets and tap, fill 1/2 way then do your decorating.
- add fish then fill up rest of tank, switch on all appliances and use your old filter and/ or media in new filter otherwise your fish may die from cycling process.
- All that is left now is the final touches.

It took me 6h 30mins to do this and i was rushing about constantly, never stopped! I had no deaths or illnesses and have had 1 death so far (tetra 2wk ago) due to old age.

PM me for any more details.

 

[fergalthefish]

i'm going to be doing the same thing myself in the next few days, i hope it goes as smoothly as yours did aaronnorth!!