Moving an established tank

[Bubbles0815]

I am bringing home my 55gal on Sunday. I purchased it from someone that is moving out of town. It is up and running with fish until Sunday. I am also adopting some of the fish with the tank.

Here are my thoughts:
Put the fish in a bucket with water from the established tank, bring some extra water from the tank home

I dislike the gravel in there so I was going to have him pitch it when he empties it.

When I get home (only a 15 min drive) set up the tank pour the water that was already in there and add some from my other tanks. I am getting the Penguin Biowheel that has been running this tank so I'll make sure to hook that up right away too. And then add the fish

Thoughts..experiences..opinions??

 

[Bderick67]

make sure to keep the bio wheels wet to preserve the bacteria.

 

[Peanut_Power]

yeah, take any of the filter media from the penguin and stick it in the bucket with the fish. Also if you can spare it, take some media from your filters at home and put them in the tank as well. Try not to shock the bacteria with hott or cold water either.

Best of luck man! Hope it all goes smoothly for you!

 

[Bubbles0815]

Thanks me too! So when you refer to filter media, you mean the cartridge from my existing tanks? It's about that time for them to be changed. I've tested all 3 tanks here and levels are fine. I'm doing water changes tomorrow when the tank arrives then pour what i collect from each into the 55 after I have the fish and the water i brought home with it.

You guys rock by the way !!!

 

[benzjamin13]

Peanut has the right idea.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Thanks me too! So when you refer to filter media, you mean the cartridge from my existing tanks? It's about that time for them to be changed. I've tested all 3 tanks here and levels are fine. I'm doing water changes tomorrow when the tank arrives then pour what i collect from each into the 55 after I have the fish and the water i brought home with it.

You guys rock by the way !!!

Yes, by filter media I mean any sponges, cartridges, bioballs, or foam pads you may have in your filters.

Don't clean any of your filters yet otherwise you will remove some of the bacteria that you will need. Just do a water change, if you must.

Sounds like you are ready for it though. Adding all the tanks water together like that will help, but you should add some fresh water in there too, since the water from the other tanks won't neccessarily be 'pure'. LoL.

Moving tanks can be a hassle, but its totally doable!! Let us know how it goes!!!

 

[Hawkfish3.0]

Thanks me too! So when you refer to filter media, you mean the cartridge from my existing tanks? It's about that time for them to be changed. I've tested all 3 tanks here and levels are fine. I'm doing water changes tomorrow when the tank arrives then pour what i collect from each into the 55 after I have the fish and the water i brought home with it.

You guys rock by the way !!!

Honestly, I wouldn't bother with getting water from your already established tanks. Just use temperature matched tap water and a dechlorinator like Prime. If there is anything that is out of whack with the water parameters compared to the tank your picking up, it could spell trouble. Even if your water params are good, if there is something drastically different (GH, KH, pH, etc..), it may shock the fish. I agree with using established media, yes, the filter pads or if you have something in your filters along the lines of ceramic rings or Matrix, that sort of thing. Since you want to take out the gravel, which probably contains a decent amount of BB, you may want to invest in a bottle of Seachem Stability. That will help stabilize your nitrogen cycle.

 

[Bubbles0815]

Well since I'm getting the fish that were in the established tank I thought maybe bring some of their water. I was gonna do a quick water test to make sure the levels are in the same range before I mixed it with mine. Or really would it be a waste to bring anything more than the water I bring the fish home in? Tell me before I go to Home Depot and buy like 3 10 gal buckets!!!

I'm not too sure what you're saying I should do with my media. Are you saying I should run my existing filters along with the filter the it comes with; all in the 55 to cycle? I have 2x10s and 29 that I have fish in and don't plan on moving to the new tank. Can't take the filters down for too long. Is it not enough to bring water with the tank and use the same filter?

Honestly, I wouldn't bother with getting water from your already established tanks. Just use temperature matched tap water and a dechlorinator like Prime. If there is anything that is out of whack with the water parameters compared to the tank your picking up, it could spell trouble. Even if your water params are good, if there is something drastically different (GH, KH, pH, etc..), it may shock the fish. I agree with using established media, yes, the filter pads or if you have something in your filters along the lines of ceramic rings or Matrix, that sort of thing. Since you want to take out the gravel, which probably contains a decent amount of BB, you may want to invest in a bottle of Seachem Stability. That will help stabilize your nitrogen cycle.

 

[pcfriedrich]

just put the filter pads and the biowheels in the buckets you are transporting the fish in. you shouldn't need any other filter media from your other tanks, or any more water from the old tank.

the gravel you are getting rid of contains beneficial bacteria (BB). keep some of it in a nylon stocking and place it in your tank for a while (maybe a week or so) to help establish bacterial colonies in your sand.

 

[Bubbles0815]

Ok..I feel silly. Did reread the instructions and it clearly stated parts of the filter/media..duh..

I was only going to bring one bucket maybe 5 gal. Will that be enough water?

Thanks for the heads up on the gravel. Wanna keep the BB, gonna go buy some pantyhose!! lol

These are really some great ideas, things I would never have thought of. Thank you

just put the filter pads and the biowheels in the buckets you are transporting the fish in. you shouldn't need any other filter media from your other tanks, or any more water from the old tank.

the gravel you are getting rid of contains beneficial bacteria (BB). keep some of it in a nylon stocking and place it in your tank for a while (maybe a week or so) to help establish bacterial colonies in your sand.