Upgrading From 30g To 55g

[LineDropper]

Hey everyone,

I'm going to upgrade from a 30g to a 55g. I have 8 cichlids that my LFS informed me would be fine in a 30g but I'm so sure it's the best setup for them. I have decided to move them to a 55g. When I do this, should I do a fishless cycle in the 55g first? Then move them and put the old filter in with new the one that has been cycled? Or, when the 55g cycles, do I just move over like 4 of the cichlids to let the filter adjust. Then 4 more after a week or so?

Any advice?

 

[Tobigara]

if you do a fishless cycle in the 55 you should fully stock the tank when it's done or some of the bacteria will die and you will have to do a quasi fish in cycle. if that make any sense

 

[ibbledibble]

is your current filter coping ok with the bioload at the moment? if it is i would say you can probably get away with setting up the new tank with both filters running and transfer the fish over straight away.
a large proportion of the bacteria needed are within your filter, so if you transfer it to the new tank, you take a lot of biofiltration with you.
run both filters together for several weeks and then remove the old filter.
keep checking your water stats during this process and for some time afterwards just to make sure everything is ok.