Best way to switch tanks

[timbo08]

I want your input on the best way to deal with this situation.

In about a month i will have my 125 setup and filled with water. I want to transfer all my fish to the 125 from my 65. Should i cycle the 125 and then bag all my fish and get them adjusted to the new tank or should i bag them, then syphoon all the water from the 65 to the 125 and then fill the rest with treated tap water?

The filter i would be using for the 125 would be already estabilshed, but i will be switching to sand so the substrate would have no bacteria on it. I am guessing i should cycle the new tank and then put fish in it. Let me know what you think

Also, the 125 is going in the exact spot where my 65 is now, so what would be the best way to move a stocked 65 tank?

 

[Dr Joe]

Haven't we all had this situation...

How many fish in the 65g?

How are you cycling the 125g filter? If your just running it in paralel with the 65g's filter it will be very lean since it was sharing the bio-load with the other.

Here we go...

Get two 50g plastic storage tub, place them out of the way but close-by, drain down the 65g to 20g in one tub and transfer fish to it. hang filters in the water so they don't dry out if it's going to take very long. Drain the last 20g to the other tub. With HELP, switch tanks around and refill 60g with the 20g water(it's fresher than the water the fish are in now), put fish in the 65g and topoff with aged water or atleast pretreated water. Use your favorite stress reliever (for the fish not you i.e. stress zyme) & reinstall both filters and cover.

Now on to the 125g.

Place it, level it, put your substrate in and fill with the 45g of water that the fish were last in. Let this set for 2 days stirring the sand every 20 minutes (just kidding, twice a day is fine, this will help acclimate the sand), then hook up your filter and start it going. Fill tank with aged or pretreated water and check chemistry.

Now you can do the rest two ways...

1)
Do W/C on the 65g every 3 days and take that water and put it in the 125g after draining the appropriate amount from the 125g. Do this for 2 weeks while checking the chemistry. Cycling should take place at about the 2 week mark (give or take).

2)
Do the usual fish or fishless cycling...about 4 weeks.

Addendum:

Keep towels handy to mop up spilled water so you don't slip (experience talking here).

Being good to small children and old people at least a week before doing this (and saying your prayers) could be helpful.

Never knock Karma. Karma has big teeth and a long memory.

Never offer pizza and beer till after the work is done.

If you have any questions, find someone who knows what I'm talking about 'cause I'm confused.

P.S. It worked for me several times. (but God watches over small children and idiots, so I've been covered my whole life).

Good luck and Have fun.

Dr Joe

.

 

[timbo08]

Haven't we all had this situation...

How many fish in the 65g?

How are you cycling the 125g filter? If your just running it in paralel with the 65g's filter it will be very lean since it was sharing the bio-load with the other.

Here we go...

Get two 50g plastic storage tub, place them out of the way but close-by, drain down the 65g to 20g in one tub and transfer fish to it. hang filters in the water so they don't dry out if it's going to take very long. Drain the last 20g to the other tub. With HELP, switch tanks around and refill 60g with the 20g water(it's fresher than the water the fish are in now), put fish in the 65g and topoff with aged water or atleast pretreated water. Use your favorite stress reliever (for the fish not you i.e. stress zyme) & reinstall both filters and cover.

Now on to the 125g.

Place it, level it, put your substrate in and fill with the 45g of water that the fish were last in. Let this set for 2 days stirring the sand every 20 minutes (just kidding, twice a day is fine, this will help acclimate the sand), then hook up your filter and start it going. Fill tank with aged or pretreated water and check chemistry.

Now you can do the rest two ways...

1)
Do W/C on the 65g every 3 days and take that water and put it in the 125g after draining the appropriate amount from the 125g. Do this for 2 weeks while checking the chemistry. Cycling should take place at about the 2 week mark (give or take).

2)
Do the usual fish or fishless cycling...about 4 weeks.

Addendum:

Keep towels handy to mop up spilled water so you don't slip (experience talking here).

Being good to small children and old people at least a week before doing this (and saying your prayers) could be helpful.

Never knock Karma. Karma has big teeth and a long memory.

Never offer pizza and beer till after the work is done.

If you have any questions, find someone who knows what I'm talking about 'cause I'm confused.

P.S. It worked for me several times. (but God watches over small children and idiots, so I've been covered my whole life).

Good luck and Have fun.

Dr Joe

.

Thanks Doc for the post.

So Two 50g tubs and alotta towels. So drain 20 gallons in each tub and put fish in one tub and then refill the 65g tank the rest of the way with pretreated tap water. So then i put the drained water from the two tubs into the 125? Just making sure.

What about buying Bio-Spira? Could i fill up the 125 with the 40 gallons of water from the 65 and then the rest of the way with treated tap water. Add the Bio-Spira and be set in a week after testing for everything?

 

[Dr Joe]

That wiil work too.

Bio-spira maybe a week - maybe more.

 

[Lil_Stinker]

Consider this if a faster move is desired

Note: 65g is about 50% of 125g

3 tubs

a) Drain 50% of tank into tubs
b) Complete this weeks water change as usual
c) Prep sand put tubs with tank water from step a
-----> filter / powerhead water if possible stir a couple times a day...
d) wait a week
e) Drain the 65 into a 50g tub till near full (do not vacuum)
f) Put fish & filters in tub. (not sure what filters you have)
g) Drain the remaining water to the next tub (do not vacuum)
h) Put anything in the 2nd tub you will be re-usung
i) Move the tanks
j) Put everything in the 125 including water and stuff from steps g&h
-----> except the fish, filter & water from tub in steps e&f.
k) Fill the 125 to about 1/2 with conditioned temp adjusted water.
-----> stress reliever, if desired
l) Move the water, fish & filter from steps e&f to the 125.
j) Top off tank with conditioned temp adjusted water.

You have just done this weeks 50% WC in the 125
You have minimal bacrteria in the sand
You have reduced the bioload input to the tank by 50%.


The established filter should have no problem keeping up while the BB seeds & grows in the sand, as the addition of ammonia to the tank has been reduced by 50%

Other than the sand prep, all done in one day.

I calmly await my bashings

 

[dr_sudz]

Hey stinker, that works for me!! I think the math works out on that.

 

[Dr Joe]

Consider this if a faster move is desired

Note: 65g is about 50% of 125g

3 tubs

a) Drain 50% of tank into tubs
b) Complete this weeks water change as usual
c) Prep sand put tubs with tank water from step a
-----> filter / powerhead water if possible stir a couple times a day...
d) wait a week
e) Drain the 65 into a 50g tub till near full (do not vacuum)
f) Put fish & filters in tub. (not sure what filters you have)
g) Drain the remaining water to the next tub (do not vacuum)
h) Put anything in the 2nd tub you will be re-usung
i) Move the tanks
j) Put everything in the 125 including water and stuff from steps g&h
-----> except the fish, filter & water from tub in steps e&f.
k) Fill the 125 to about 1/2 with conditioned temp adjusted water.
-----> stress reliever, if desired
l) Move the water, fish & filter from steps e&f to the 125.
j) Top off tank with conditioned temp adjusted water.

You have just done this weeks 50% WC in the 125
You have minimal bacrteria in the sand
You have reduced the bioload input to the tank by 50%.


The established filter should have no problem keeping up while the BB seeds & grows in the sand, as the addition of ammonia to the tank has been reduced by 50%

Other than the sand prep, all done in one day.

I calmly await my bashings

He didn't say he was in a hurry.

Now...

OK......You asked for it....

Otherwise good job.

Dr Joe

.

 

[Lil_Stinker]

Hey stinker, that works for me!! I think the math works out on that.

Its one of those been there dont that scenarios

I use a similar tecnique to start a new tank.

Say I am getting a new 55g. for someone (or myself)

I use penquin 350b in all my 55s for a reason
I double my filter cartridges in 2 existing 55s
they accept 2 per side...

When setup day comes I pull 15~20 g each from the 2 tanks & put it in the new tank, top off with 15g of pre-conditioned.

Then I move 2 cartredges from the other tanks filters to the new one.

Stock it the same day, completely cycled filter, and a 30% water change.

If its not going to be at my house, I move the water in 10 3/4 filled 5g buckets in the back of my van.
and YES I do keep at least 10 5g buckets with covers at all times.

 

[gomezladdams]

"bag them, then syphoon all the water from the 65 to the 125 and then fill the rest with treated tap water"
sounds like a plan move fast keep the media wet run the filtration on the current tank on the new tank for a month or so,good to go

 

[Lil_Stinker]

OK......You asked for it....

Otherwise good job.

Dr Joe

.

Didnt you notice? I copied it exactly from your post May 2005