What Would Be Least Stressful?

Flute · Mar 2, 2011

Ok, so I'm really not happy with how my tank is set up. It's messy and all over the place, and there's just too much bogwood for me to be able to clean the sand well. So I want to do a complete re-vamp in the next few days and buy some new plants too.

I'm not sure what would be least stressful on the fish; bag them all and float them in one of the other tanks around the house, or just leave them in the tank? I have done this before, and just left them in the tank, but I'm always worried that the disruption will prove too much for them. As I want to give the sand a good stir as well as get rid of any fish waste (my god are female betta poop machines!), would it be safer for them if I remove them and then re-introduce them when it all settles?

I'll also be adding new fish to the tank, so I thought a break up of territories would help stop any squabbling.

Thanks for any ideas

Jamepsss · Mar 2, 2011

You could use a plastic container. The sort you see at pound shops and syphon some of your tank water in to it. Use that to hold your fish with your heater and filter also in there and then you can take as much time as you need with your rescape.

Flute · Mar 2, 2011

I hadn't thought about that- only thing is that I have an external on the tank, not an internal. Still, I'm sure they'd be ok for a while? I work pretty quickly so they wouldn't stay in there long. I'd be a bit worried about the heater cooking them though in such a small area.

Jamepsss · Mar 2, 2011

Flute said:
I hadn't thought about that- only thing is that I have an external on the tank, not an internal. Still, I'm sure they'd be ok for a while? I work pretty quickly so they wouldn't stay in there long. I'd be a bit worried about the heater cooking them though in such a small area.

Ah, I assume you're talking about the 207 litre then? The container I used a while ago was about 60/70 litres, maybe you could find a bigger one? They'll be fine in there for a couple of hours without filter/heater. I had mine in there for 7 days while upgrading my tank so I had to use the filter/heater.

By the way, whenever I rescape I always leave the fish where they are and have never had any issues.

lilfishie · Mar 2, 2011

i take mine out when doing a large move around just so i don't squash anyone, i have a 35l Storage box that i use :good:

Flute · Mar 2, 2011

Just checked the buckets I have, and they're only 12 litres. I have had fish in there before with a heater (it was kind of an emergency rescue so I had to chance it), but I did loose one of the fish. I'm just worried that I'm pushing my luck by sticking the heater in there too.

Lilfishie, that's why I wanted to take mine out. The female betta's are such a pain in the backside that I'm constantly worried that I'm going to squish them with bogwood

I've also got a build up of algae that I want to clean off, as well as move some fish around to different tanks. Hence the added bonus that none of them will already have a claim to certain parts of the tank.

Do you think they'd be ok in the bucket without a heater for a little while? If I wrap the bucket in bubble wrap and blankets and try my best to insulate it?

Joshwainwright · Mar 2, 2011

I suppose the bucket shouldn't hurt if it isn't for too long. Just make sure it is completely clean.

Rogue4Fish · Mar 2, 2011

Get a bottle, fill it with hot water and stick it in the bucket. It'll keep the water warm whilst you need to do what you need to do.

Check that it doesn't go cold after too long though....