Upgrading To A Larger Tank

[ClaireS]

I have a 90 litre tank with one severum and one catfish, a goeldiella eques. The severum was one of a pair but we had a problem with (I think) hole in head. The other one of the pair didn't survive but the remaining one is fine, she lays eggs on the glass quite regularly until the catfish eats them!

I have a Rio 180 that is currently empty that I want to move them into, because the 90 litre is not big enough for them. Would I need to set it up and do a full fishless cycle fora month or so? Or, could I fill it with water removed from the 90 litre tank during water changes and then start moving the filters across? What would be the best way to go about it?

Also, are severums fairly easy to pair up again? Once they are settled into the new tank I'd like to hve a pair again, so would that be possible? Thanks for any ideas!

 

[Tolak]

Your filter media is what's cycled, not your water. Depending on your frequency/quantity of water changes you should be able to move the filter or media to the larger tank, along with the fish. Your media is now handling the bio load of your 3 fish, it doesn't matter what size box of water they are in.

I would put half the water from the old tank, add the fish to the larger tank, add the remaing water from the old tank & fill the new tank with fresh water. I'm guessing the Rio 180 is a 180l tank, which would make it double your 90l. It would be no different than doing a 50% water change.

Don't forget to keep your filter media wet while switching over tanks. A small bucket or bowl works, I like to use a fish bag.

 

[ClaireS]

Yes you're right the new tank is 180 litres. The old tank is fairly mature, I think its been running for 2 years now. The pH is fairly low, 5.5 and nitrates quite high - 80ppm (although the colours on the comparison chart aren't that clear). Ammonia and nitrite are 0. So I think I'll start filling the tank with 2 buckets from water changes, and add 2 dechlorinated buckets each time. I'd like to get the water level almost full before putting the fish in so that I can run the pump & heater for 48 hours or so to make sure they work ok. I think this way I'll also be able to lower the nitrates too.