Water Test Readings Too High

[WILDER]

Also don't forget to check ph, as with the tank cycling the ph might be different from the other tank, good luck.

 

[Jue]

Also don't forget to check ph, as with the tank cycling the ph might be different from the other tank, good luck.

How much of a difference in ph should I be worried about (if they are different when I do the test)?

 

[WILDER]

If there is a difference you will have to climatise them in a bucket adding the tank water gradually till it matches.

 

[Jue]

If there is a difference you will have to climatise them in a bucket adding the tank water gradually till it matches.

Me again

The water change is done on the big tank, and I've just finished the ph tests. Looking at them, the small tank with the fish in at the moment is 7.5 and the new tank is 8. Is this too big of a difference to not be safe to just move them into? How long is it safe to leave them in the bucket with the old tap water whlist adding the new (cos obviously they won't have a heater in there? AND do you think I will be able to do this tomorrow night or am I running out of time. I'm just worried that if I can't do the acclimatising or if the water isn't up to temperature until tomorrow night am I likely to have lost any of them?

I promise there won't be too many more questions. I think I've fried my head now as I just went to put the coffee jar in the fridge instead of the milk

 

[WILDER]

Sorry, ask as many questions as you like we are not bothered, put the heater from the little tank in the bucket as it could take about one and half hours to two to climatise them.

 

[Jue]

Sorry, ask as many questions as you like we are not bothered, put the heater from the little tank in the bucket as it could take about one and half hours to two to climatise them.

I think I will have to climatise them tomorrow night then as I'm pretty certain that I'm not going to be able to do it tonight as the temperature is nowhere near the same as the other tank - large tank currently at 24; small tank at 28 degrees. I don't think that the heater works that quickly on heating the water up either so it probably won't be up to temperature until sometime tomorrow anyway.

Should I add the new tank water to the old in the bucket about a litre at a time. The bucket holds about 10 litres so I'm not sure how much of the old water I should put them in to start with.

 

[WILDER]

Fill the bucket less than half way, then keep adding the new tank water not a litre to much about half a litre about every 30 minutes.

 

[Jue]

Fill the bucket less than half way, then keep adding the new tank water not a litre to much about half a litre about every 30 minutes.

Will the ph test kit work accurately as soon as I've added half a litre of new tank water or should I leave it for 10 mins or so before I test it?

 

[WILDER]

Test it every half hour before you add some more tank water that what i do, don't want to rush it as they can get ph shock.

 

[Jue]

Test it every half hour before you add some more tank water that what i do, don't want to rush it as they can get ph shock.

That's the last thing I want to do to them after everything else. Well I've got the new tank all up and running. I've just got to swap the filters over. Do you think that I should leave the filters in the old tank with the fish until I'm ready to transfer the fish over or would it be ok to do it now? I've put 22ml of Amquel in there, which should be the right amount for a 180litre tank and that acts as a dechlorinator amongst other things so hopefully that should help as well.

They will think they are in a fishy mansion, because of the size of it compared to the old tank.

 

[WILDER]

I wouldn't risk adding the filter to the new tank the bacteria could die off even though there isn't alot , transfer it over when you put them in the bucket.
Don't forget though the tank will still be cycling, but bigger tanks are more forgiving with water quality.

 

[Jue]

I'll leave it until I move them over then. I'm just hoping that this works, although I'm certain it can't be any worse for them than what they are in now.

Do you think that the fish would be ok in there for the 2-3 weeks it will take for the small tank to complete its fishless cycle? That's the bit I'm dreading - knowing my luck something will go wrong with that as well. Still, at least the fish won't be at risk if it does!

 

[WILDER]

I thought get that tank cycling straight away with a fishless cycle before the other stats get high in the other tank, only other option would be to take the fish back to the lfs and do a fishless cycle, or lend some goldfish off the lfs which some let you do and use them to cycle the bigger tank, if you decide to take the fish back.

 

[WILDER]

I bet you don't know if you are coming or going, long time since i've had to cycle a tank, as i have goldfish and are big waste producers so when i set a tank up just had to take some of there sponges.

 

[Jue]

I thought get that tank cycling straight away with a fishless cycle before the other stats get high in the other tank, only other option would be to take the fish back to the lfs and do a fishless cycle, or lend some goldfish off the lfs which some let you do and use them to cycle the bigger tank, if you decide to take the fish back.

I think I'll start the fishless cycle as soon as I've got the fish transferred over into the bigger tank. Then hopefully when its done (which I'm guessing will be 2 or 3 weeks) I'll transfer them back over to the smaller tank. Then I can start all over again on cycling the larger tank.