Upgrade Assistance

[mattybee]

HI all,

I have had my 55gallon tank running now for several months, and am very pleased with it. I have now caught the fish keeping bug and I am getting a 6x2x2 tank from my father in law.

I have several questions though:

1) The tank has been up and running for well over 5 years - i take it i wont have to cycle the tank again?
2)are there any preperations i need to make for my fish that are going to go in there? I am keeping his common plec (which is abut 8inches long) but not his silver arowana (selling for him here)

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated - my current stocking is in my sig

Thanks

Mattybee

 

[mrvillicus]

as far as im concerned you should be fine switching the current filter with the mature media over. Apparently the gravel harbours a few good bacteria but not much to be worth chaging the gravel too (if you have gravel). Ive just switched from my 3 ft to a 4ft, I just made sure the water temp was relatively the same and the water quality was ok. Youll be fine I should think

 

[mattybee]

mine is a 3ft and im jumping to a 6ft that has been running for the last 5 years - my filter would not cut the mustard on my new one - but I take it i will be ok using the exising one that has been running, without having to re-cycle

 

[mrvillicus]

yea you could do, or transfer the media over?

 

[hensonc4098]

If he's had fish in his tank right up to you wanting to switch your fish over to it, you shouldn't have to re-cycle, but as mrvillicus said, it may be a good idea to stuff your filter media from your old filter (or at least as much as you can fit) in with it for a month or so, just to make sure there's enough bacteria for the increased bioload.

 

[mattybee]

Thank you