Upgrading To A Bigger Tank, How That Affects The Cycle?

[Elena]

My current tank is 40 litres I am upgrading to a new 90 litre tank. I'm planning on transferring everything at first so It doesn't affect the cycle too much. I'll be using the same gravel, same filter and moving my plants over. Eventually I would like to replace the filter and the gravel I'm just wondering when it would be safe to do so and how much changing tanks will affect the cycle if I do it this way? Any other advice on upgrading tanks would be appreciated and when and how should I move the fish?
 
Thank you

 

[Wills]

When ever I have upgraded a tank just move all the equipment over to the new tank with the fish - you can change the substrate though, minimum amounts of bacteria are in there.
 
Its the same fish, same poop and the same bacteria to deal with it just more water
 
Ive gone from a 33 liter to a 125 liter like that then 125 to 240 and then 240 to 512 liters
 
Wills

 

[Gruntle]

More water is always good, it dilutes any problems (nitrites, ammonia) and gives you more time to fix any issues.
 
When you get your new filter, either shift all the media from your old filter into the new one, or leave them both running for quite a while, bacteria will colonise the new filter eventually, but just taking the old filter away is not a good idea.  Of the two options, moving the media is the best, if at all possible. Chop things up if you have to.
 
I'd suggest if you are changing the gravel, do it when you change the tank, if there's any bacteria in your gravel it will be right on the surface where it gets oxygen, the move will stir up the gravel and your bacteria will most likely end up further into the substrate and not survive.
 
And the other advice I can give is watch your water parameters once you have shifted to make sure you don't end up in a mini-cycle.

 

[fluttermoth]

And the other advice I can give is watch your water parameters once you have shifted to make sure you don't end up in a mini-cycle.

Totally agree!

OP; when you do any major tank moves or overhauls, make sure you fast the fish for two or three days beforehand (so they'll be producing less waste) and feed sparingly and test often for a week or so afterwards

 

[Elena]

Thanks for all the info, the move seems to be going ok so far, have my old and new filter running along side each other, can't wait to add some new fish but I'll wait a good month before I do that.