Upgrading Tank

[Hoppy]

Hiya

Our new Rena Aqualife 600 arrives tomorrow and I expect we will start the process of setting it up at the weekend.

We know that we need to rinse the Argos play-sand and also soak the new bogwood etc we have purchased.

We currently have a 60L tank (current) which has been running for over 3 years now and will not be dismantling it as it will be used as a Q tank for the new fish before we add them to the new tank. Therefore, we can't take the filter from current tank and run it alongside the new filter.


- Current tank contains 7 Cardinals, 5 Amano Shrimp, 1 Bristlenose.

- New tank will have fake plants only. Suspect we might change to 'real' ones at a much later date.

- New tank will have a HUGE shoal of Neons or Cardinals and a few more plecs.


I've read differing advice on how to make the transition but haven't done this before (obviously) so have a few questions:

1 - Should we put filter media from the current tank into the new filter or should we put media from the new filter into the current filter (with the current media) to ensure that both sponges have the bacteria. We want to avoid a mini-cycle.

2 - Will we need to add additional ammonia to the new tank to ensure that it can handle a much larger bio-load? We are aware that we shouldn't fully stock straight away as we want to avoid mini-cycles but if we add extra ammonia, would this help?

3 - Any other advice?

Can anyone out there give me an idiots guide on how to set up this new tank as we want to cause as little distress and cycles to the current tank inhabitants as possible?

Many thanks in advance

Hoppy

 

[Hoppy]

Well, the tank arrived yesterday , but, I can see the tumbleweed blowing through my thread at the moment as no-one has responded - suspect that everyone is away?

Can anyone help? We don't want to harm our fish ><||> <||><

Hoppy

 

[Gilli]

Hiya

Therefore, we can't take the filter from current tank and run it alongside the new filter.



Hoppy

I cant be of much help but surely you can run the new filter alongside the one in the old tank for a while to get it going? would also think that when you do your water changes in the old tank you could use some of that for the new tank?

There is a useful thread on cycling in this forum

www.fishforums.net/content-page/113861/Fishless-Cycling/page/0/

 

[minxfishy]

Hi, you could use your current filter in the new tank and transfer the fish immediately and also run the new filter at the same time, the old filter can handle the current bio-load, the amount of water its filtering doesnt matter. However this way it could take up to 4 weeks for the new filter to catch up with the bacteria load, and you would need to stock slowly with new fish to avoid a mini-cycle.

Alternatively, do a fishless cycle by adding ammonia to the new tank and filter and wait for the cycle to finish and then you can add 75% of your new stock immediately.

It depends on if you want to add your current fish to the new tank immediately or are happy to wait for a few weeks.

 

[tibby25731]

or you could seed your new filter from the old one? Take half of the media out and put it in the new filter. Put new media in to replace the bit you took out. Move half of your fish into the new tank immediately. Half the media should be able to handle half of the fish! Move the remaining fish in bit by bit, the new filter will be able to catch up if you do this slowly. Then when you only have one or two fish left in the old tank, buy some new fish. When you get them home, move the existing fish over. Remember not to buy more fish than the filter has been used to coping with - if you are buying a shoal to quarantine, do it bit by bit to avoid a spike. It will be a bit time consuming but at least your fish are not likely to experience a mini cycle.