What `s The Quickest Way To Transfer My Fish To Bigger Tank

[maisy12345]

I`ve actually located and bought a bigger tank
IT`s an Aquatropic interpet 110 l from Maidenhead Aquatics in Shirley [31 inches long,13 wide and 17 high] It came with a 200 w heater , 2 lights and a filter also with a bottle of tapsafe and filter start ,all for £119 ,abbolute bargain !Went to look at the clearsil tanks in Shirley aquatics ,weren`t impressed ,they quoted total of £197,without heater,although it was for a slightly bigger tank 36x12x18,it was cheaply made and poor quality.
Can`t wait to transfer fish,the man at maidenhead said to leave the new tank running for a week with old and new filters on ,or put old media at front of new,then after a week do 20 percent water change and transfer old water over from old tank ,couldn`t understand how i could leave tank running for a week with both filters on ,or to transfer media over as fish still in old tank ,what about their filter?
Well i`ll keep you posted ,so excited,lol! Still can`t decide whether to leave fish in 28l until cycled or tranfer over,but what about the daily water changes,will the filter start ,supplied with the tank help the tank to cycle ,or is it just liquid bacteria,if so that hasn`t helped my existing tank ? Any advice appreciated about what to do.

 

[Tizer]

I think you should know what to do by now from all the posts and threads that you've made on cycling your tank

Maybe you should tell us what you think the best plan of action is then we can comment, lets see whats sunk in

 

[maisy12345]

Well,i didn`t think i could transfer fish over until my filter was cycled,am i right or wrong ?Other posters have said i can though ,that`s why i`m confused,still total newbie ,so i need all advice i can get ,not sarcasm!!

 

[Tizer]

There was no sarcasm in my post, at all

You have a couple of choices really

a) Cycle your current filter, then move it over with your fish to the new tank.
b) Move the current filter over now with the fish and carry on cycling with the new tank, being aware you may need to change a larger volume of water to bring down any toxic levels of ammonia and nitrite (although, being a larger volume of water, this may not need to be done as often as it might with a small tank)

What do you want to do? There is really no wrong or right method.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I agree... Do it the way that is best for you. If it were me, it would depend on how I plan to stock the two tanks. If I were planning on keeping the same fish in the smaller tank, then I would leave them where they are, and continue the fish-in cycle with that one, and do a fishless cycle with the big one.


If I planned to move over the fish from the small tank to the big tank, I would do it now (with the filter, since it will have SOME bacteria to work with) and continue a fish-in cycle with the bigger tank. Once that tank is fully cycled for a good while (2 months or more) then I would remove the first filter from the tank, and put it back in the smaller tank (which theoretically should be fully cycled for the smaller tank). The issue with that is that your big tank might go through a minicycle.



But, that's how I would decide. I can't tell you what YOU should do.

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Yeh exactly what I said eagle. Transfer the fish over and in a couple of months use the small tank if you want. Or if you really want, move the fish over and do a fishless cycle on the smaller tank.

Then you know both ways of cycling a tank.

Just a thought.

 

[maisy12345]

Thanks for everyones`advice,misread your post Tizer,sorry,will let you know what i decide.

 

[Athena]

Maisy, I think the guy at Maidenheads was a bit confused himself! How can you possibly run your old and new filter in the new tank for a week if the fish are in the old tank. How does he think 1) the old filter bacteria will survive without a food source and 2) the fish are to survive in the old tank without any filter? And why transfer over the old tank water? Pointless really. LOL

I think from all the posts above you can get the gist of what's best for you to do.

Anyway, whichever way you decide to do it, I hope it all goes ok.

Regards, Athena

 

[maisy12345]

Hi ,i`m at the stage now where i need to decide what to do ,`i `ve bought a product called Nutrafin cycle,which allows immediate introduction of fish http/www.petsathome.com/shop/nutrafin-cycle-120ml-31878?freeText=nutrifin+cycle&msg=MSG_SEARCH_ONE_MATCHING_PRODUCT so i`m either going to take a chance with this or add media from old tank and do water changes as i`ve been doing a fish in cycle for over 2 months now and feel that my tanks not cycling because i`m overstocked ,so if i transfer everything over it might be quicker what does everyone think of that and the nutafin cycle?

 

[mattbleasby]

If i had the time i would write out an explanation about these "Bottled Bacteria" Products. They dont work. And this is no way too cycle your tank, Your options are simple. Tranfer the fish and media over, and continue your fish in Cycle but with bigger daily changes. or... Continue your fish in cycle on your smaller tank, then when its done tranfer them over.

Simples really.

I hope somebody comes along soon to explain in more detail, But unfortunatly i have too go.

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Don't use it. Eagle done is doing an experiment with it, it's a total waste of money. Transfer your fish using the filter media from your current tank into your new one. Use fresh dechlorinated water and temperature matched the the tank and move the fish over. This is exactly how I did this moving from a 50 litre to a 125 litre.

 

[maisy12345]

Hi ,but was your 50l cycled [as my 28l isn`t cycled yet ] and if not when you transferred over did you still have to do daily water changes,also do you think it`ll cycle quicker being as the 28l was overstocked and my 110 l won`t be? Thanks for all your advice.

Also when i transfer my media,do i put the whole of the old sponge in front of the new one ,is it that simple?

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

No my 50 litre wasn't cycled. Neither is my 125 yet. It was 2 weeks ago I changed tanks. Again because my small tank was very overstocked.

It will be easier to keep levels of ammonia down in a bigger tank. As it takes longer for it to get to dangerous levels. Yeh it is more water changes, but the fish will be alot happier as it will be a bigger tank.

Hope this helps

 

[maisy12345]

Hi ,are you doing daily water changes still ,and did you put all of your old filter media infront of your new one?

 

[mattbleasby]

I think this is getting made more complicated than it should be.

It sounds too me like your desperate to get into the bigger tank As i would be.

The pros are:
-Bigger tanks are easier too manage as as said above water chemistry is alot easier too keep right.
-The fish will be happy in the bigger tank and it wont be over stocked. (over stocking will cause poor water quality)
-You will be happy as you will have your nice big tank sat there looking all pretty.

The Cons are:
- Daily water changes on a bigger tank is obviously a little more work. But welcome too Fish Keeping In the long run it will be alot better.
and if anything will get you more used too doing water changes on this tank & you will pick up little tricks too make life easier on yourself.

In order too do it, Just simply transfer them over too the new tank, Fresh water, If you want too transfer the substrate thats up too you. or you can change it.

In terms of the filter media. Transfer ALL or as much as possible of the filter media from your smaller tank (Mid Cycle) And place it infront of the new media on the new tank. This way the water will hit the "Semi" Cycled media first. And over time it will seed your new media.

I hope this helps.


Edit: Forgot too mention, A must have is a Water Testing Kit. This way you can keep ontop of those nasties like Nitrites & Ammonia