Wow, Cool, Still In Shock

[chrismr]

Well, bid on a large juwel delta 300 corner tank and cabinet.... and got it for £60!!!

I know it is am older style, but still a nice tank - and compared to what I have, it is huge!!!

Could not sleep last night, thinking about how I could arrange it....

But, there will be difficulty in this... I got the tank becasue I really needed to replace all the smaller tanks with just one tank. Having one nice tank is much more enjoyable than many smaller ones.

So.....

Due to space and time constraints, I am not going to be able to leave the tank runninf for a month, so I need suggestions on best way to get the fish in the tank asap.

It is mainly a juwel 70 and a juwel 120 which I am replacing with this. I will be taking all gravel and decor from those tanks (and if not mistaken there is a lot of beneficial bacteria in the gravel) I will also place the filter media from the rekord 120 inside the filter in the 300 to get that going quicker.

Apart from that I have a second filter in the juwel tank (an internal fluval 304 - I think) which I knwo is not large enough to cope with a 300 litre tank, but has been running with pretty much the same number of fish as will be moving into the 300.

What else can I do to keep the likelihood of another cycle at bay?

 

[Bloo]

That's very exciting ! Well done - it's always great when you get a bargain !
Just make very sure all the seals are working find and check carefully for any leaks.

When it comes to setting up the new tank:
Are you using the same substrate as in your old tanks ? If not, just add new substrate to your new tank and you can add 50% fresh (dechlorinated) water. Top up with water from your other tanks and move both filters from you other tanks over to the new tank. Run them in conjunction with the filter that came with the Juwel tank (if it came with one). Or just add all your old filter media into the new filter. Transfer fish and all should be absolutely fine.
Just keep and eye on your ammonia and nitrite to ensure your tank didn't go into a mini cycle. Though I've done this process a few times and never had any problems, loss of fish, illness during this process at all.

If you are using your existing substrates (you don't have to), just transfer fish to a temporary holding tank / bucket (with heater and filter) while you transfer substrate from old tanks to new tank. Get water up with and running and transfer fish.

 

[chrismr]

Thanks for reply.

Tank currently has fish in it so am sure it is in good nick, and the guy sounds like a genuine bloke.

am sure will get through the change-over without too much hassle (I hope!!!)

I am wondering thought... would a 300 Watt heater be sufficient for a tank this size? It is currently set up for cold water so I will need to get heating (that is all though).

 

[Bloo]

Have a look at this table here (just scroll down) to calculate exactly how many watts you need. A 300W should be fine, but 2 x 150W's even better

 

[chrismr]

Thank you.

Will probably go with a single 300W... is half the price as two 150W.

 

[Bloo]

I just picked up a (practically) brand new 150W Visitherm on eBay for £7 - so keep your eyes peeled there.

 

[chrismr]

The other hald works in one of our LFSs, so will get a good price, but it is starting to look like getting the tank to me is going to cost a packet....

First guy I contacted kept pushing up the price of collection and delivery, and what was initially expensive at £90 went up to £130....

So, am now phoning around to find someone who can transport it from Stevenage to Twickenham. have only phoned one other company so far, but they reckon can do it for about £45! Just waiting to get confirmation on that.

Otherwise am going to have to start calling all over the place. £130 is just too much!

Its only 37 miles.... if had a car would not be a problem, but surely it should not cost that much to transport it for 37 miles?

 

[Bloo]

You sure you don't have a mate with an estate or van ? Or just hire a van for £40 ! and get a couple of mates to help lift and carry and buy them some beers

Good to know you'll get a good price on hardware, but just incase, these Visitherm heaters are the cheapest I've come across (brand new) and I've used that seller before. Can reccomend.

 

[Jules H-T]

You could probably hire yourself a van for half a day and pay the diesel for less than that...

 

[chrismr]

Yeah, it is beginning to seem that might be the best option. If these people who said about £45 can do it for about that then that will be my first choice. Less hassle.

Otherwise, a colleague of mine has said he will drive me if I hire a van for next weekend.

I swear I create stress for myself!

 

[morgan]

Congratulations! That is a very good deal. I paid £416 for a Juwel Rio 300. One thing though, the tank will look huge to you at first but after a while you will think "it doesn't look that big any more"! That's what's happened to me. Enjoy it though. Hope it gets to you ok.

 

[Littlelady]

Congratulations - how exciting

I am still hunting for that elusive bargain that is a bigger tank

 

[chrismr]

Here it is...

 

[chrismr]

Well, tank has arrived... It only just fit through the door....

Tank looks to be in good nic, but even though it was given a clean will probably give it another.

Going to be a couple of days before I can get it set up and move all my fish. Unless I have a sick day... no, had enough of those this year. Guess it is something to look forward to the weekend for.

Have a question though: this tank has been used for goldfish and I am going to use it for tropical. How severe a cleaning do I need to give it? Are there bacteria or stuff that goldfish have that could be harmful to tropical fish?

I will be not be using any of the filter media that was in the tank. Also, gravel and decor will be from my existing tanks.

Man, can't wait to have it set up... mostly just to clear the room it will be in because it is extremely crowded right now...

 

[Bloo]

So how much did you pay in the end to get it home ?

I would just give it a good rinse or wipe with very diluted bleach solution and then a very good rinse. If there is lime scale, you can remove this with a scourer.