Upgrading Tropical Fish Tank

[Missleton]

We have a tropical fish tank of size 60 L, currently containing a few cardinal tetras, platies, zebra loach, and one male siamese. We have had the tank for 2–3 years, and after learning various lessons (like not over-feeding) it now seems to be a reasonably successful tank. The platies have had many babies, but our local fish store is happy to take the excess off us to help us contain the numbers (we currently have 4 adults and just now 2 new babies). The family owner is our middle daughter, but I help her a lot with this and now have to do so more since she is now away part of the year at university.

We are going to upgrade to a 120 L tank, in part because we suspect we might have a leakage, and in part because our daughter is keen to expand the hobby. So I have some questions ...

1. I understand from elsewhere on this forum that we can start using the new tank straight away provided we transfer the current filter system to the new tank until the new filter system has built up its own bacteria. Can I check that this is right, and also that the period of time for running both filter systems together is again about 6 weeks?

2. Should we transfer most of the water in the smaller tank and top up with dechlorinated water? Or can we start with completely new water? Or on the other hand, should we build up new water slowly?

3. Should we start with new gravel or re-use the gravel in the small tank?

4. When we set up the first tank, we didn't really know what we were doing other that following advice from the store and books. Upgrading gives us a new start. Does anyone have any tales of things they did differently when upgrading? I don't quite know what I am asking for here, other than perhaps someone will have something we wouldn't have thought of.

Thanks for any comments.

 

[minnnt]

We have a tropical fish tank of size 60 L, currently containing a few cardinal tetras, platies, zebra loach, and one male siamese. We have had the tank for 2–3 years, and after learning various lessons (like not over-feeding) it now seems to be a reasonably successful tank. The platies have had many babies, but our local fish store is happy to take the excess off us to help us contain the numbers (we currently have 4 adults and just now 2 new babies). The family owner is our middle daughter, but I help her a lot with this and now have to do so more since she is now away part of the year at university.

We are going to upgrade to a 120 L tank, in part because we suspect we might have a leakage, and in part because our daughter is keen to expand the hobby. So I have some questions ...

1. I understand from elsewhere on this forum that we can start using the new tank straight away provided we transfer the current filter system to the new tank until the new filter system has built up its own bacteria. Can I check that this is right, and also that the period of time for running both filter systems together is again about 6 weeks?

2. Should we transfer most of the water in the smaller tank and top up with dechlorinated water? Or can we start with completely new water? Or on the other hand, should we build up new water slowly?

3. Should we start with new gravel or re-use the gravel in the small tank?

4. When we set up the first tank, we didn't really know what we were doing other that following advice from the store and books. Upgrading gives us a new start. Does anyone have any tales of things they did differently when upgrading? I don't quite know what I am asking for here, other than perhaps someone will have something we wouldn't have thought of.

Thanks for any comments.

Hi there.

1. I would use the mature media from the filter you currently have running in your 60L in the filter for the new tank.

2. Use 100% fresh dechlorinated water. As long as it is of the same temperature then you should be fine.

3. That is completely up to you, if you fancy a change then do it. Maybe look at sand which will open up new avenues of fish you can keep such as Cory's.

4. Only thing i can suggest is to look at other peoples tanks and see if there is something you like. If you haven't explored live plants, then look into these and maybe some kind of different scape.

Good luck!!

 

[Blubble37]

1. Yes, there are 2 options, transfer the old filters media into the new filter, and put the old filter in with the new one - i went for this method as IMO it gives more filtration.

2. Never do this, just do it like a huge water change

3. Up to you - so little of the bacteria actually live on the gravel anyway that it wouldnt matter that much.

4. Never replace any of your filter media unless it is carbon - in which case you should get rid of the carbon and use another foam

It's just to make more money out of you

 

[Harlequins]

1. I understand from elsewhere on this forum that we can start using the new tank straight away provided we transfer the current filter system to the new tank until the new filter system has built up its own bacteria. Can I check that this is right, and also that the period of time for running both filter systems together is again about 6 weeks? Yep you can either put the cycled filter into the tank with the new one,or if the new filter is big enough,especially if its an external,you can transfer all the media in the new filter without the need to run both

2. Should we transfer most of the water in the smaller tank and top up with dechlorinated water? Or can we start with completely new water? Or on the other hand, should we build up new water slowly?You could do either,when i upgraded a few weeks ago i used all the existing water into the new tank,put the fish in and then topped up the rest of the tank with fresh dechlorinated water(same has doing a 50% w/c),this saved the need of acclimatising the existing fish to the fresh water,

3. Should we start with new gravel or re-use the gravel in the small tank?its surprising how much muck will be in the existing gravel,and has theres little bacteria in there,i would opt for new substrate,have you ever thought about sand?,imo a lot easier to keep clean than gravel

4. When we set up the first tank, we didn't really know what we were doing other that following advice from the store and books. Upgrading gives us a new start. Does anyone have any tales of things they did differently when upgrading? I don't quite know what I am asking for here, other than perhaps someone will have something we wouldn't have thought of.Has mentioned,think of what scape you would like,live plants/bogwood/slate etc makes a tank look better imo,also has i mentioned decide on what substrate you would like,if you want corys in the future then sand is the way to go,basically once you transfered the fish/filter into the new tank,keep an eye on the stats for a while,just in case

Thanks for any comments.

By the way - welcome to the forum

Edited to add more to point 4 when thinking of upgrading,go for the biggest size tank you can afford and fit in where you want it to go,many peeps buy small(incl myself ) and end up upgrading several times with bigger tank each time

 

[Missleton]

Many thanks everyone, from my daughter and I. Comments are very helpful and give us confidence with the upgrade. The new tank will arrive on Thursday!

 

[minnnt]

Sounds fantastic, hope you can share some pictures with us!!

 

[Missleton]

Sounds fantastic, hope you can share some pictures with us!!

Will do!

 

[Aqua Tom]

Just Curious, any thought on what 120 Litre tank you will be getting?

 

[Missleton]

Just Curious, any thought on what 120 Litre tank you will be getting?

Hi. We are getting a Fluval Roma 125 Aquarium. Seemed to get enough reviews, at least from people with the same sort of aspirations as ourselves, and is reasonably priced with a sensible looking cabinet.

 

[minnnt]

Very good tank, i have one and can't fault it in the slightest. Good tank for growing live plants i found!

 

[B C M]

I'll second that, same tank as mine too!