Christmas morning setting up 120 taking rock and fish form 55. Question is can I put water in with coditoner trade substrate out add 20 gal of old water make sure temp is right and change over? Do I need to wait at least 24 before putting rock and fish over? My brother brought up a good point even tough it is conditoner it is still alot of chemical.
Question about changing 55 to 120
- Thread starter wareagle12
- Start date
Biggest thing is making sure temperature is stable in this case.
You already have built up BB in your substrate and your old filter media that you will be using on the new tank.
And if you use Prime, the chemical reaction to take out the chlorine/chloramine/etc... only takes about 8 minutes tops. So as long as you dose correctly (for the full 120 gallons of water), you'll be fine.
Just syphon water from your 55 gallon into a bucket/tote/whatever. Put your fish in there while you're doing your switch (you'll only need 5 gallons likely). If you can run an airstone and heater in the bucket, all the better (I've done it with and without).
Then syphon some of the 55 gallon water into the 120.
Then switch over all substrate, driftwood, etc...
Then syphon the rest of the water from the 55 gallon to the 120 gallon.
Then switch over the filtration from the 55 gallon to the 120.
Then dose the tank with water conditioner while filling it the rest of the way up with new water (match the new water temp as close as possible).
I like to run a powerhead to mix the water and water conditioner in the tank for a couple minutes with the filter(s) off to make sure all of the chlorine/chloramine is neutralized before running the filters, but different people do this differently.
Then turn on your filters, and make sure the temp. is where you want it.
Then add your fish.
Easier to say than do hahaha.....It's a pain in the butt. I hate changing tanks.
You already have built up BB in your substrate and your old filter media that you will be using on the new tank.
And if you use Prime, the chemical reaction to take out the chlorine/chloramine/etc... only takes about 8 minutes tops. So as long as you dose correctly (for the full 120 gallons of water), you'll be fine.
Just syphon water from your 55 gallon into a bucket/tote/whatever. Put your fish in there while you're doing your switch (you'll only need 5 gallons likely). If you can run an airstone and heater in the bucket, all the better (I've done it with and without).
Then syphon some of the 55 gallon water into the 120.
Then switch over all substrate, driftwood, etc...
Then syphon the rest of the water from the 55 gallon to the 120 gallon.
Then switch over the filtration from the 55 gallon to the 120.
Then dose the tank with water conditioner while filling it the rest of the way up with new water (match the new water temp as close as possible).
I like to run a powerhead to mix the water and water conditioner in the tank for a couple minutes with the filter(s) off to make sure all of the chlorine/chloramine is neutralized before running the filters, but different people do this differently.
Then turn on your filters, and make sure the temp. is where you want it.
Then add your fish.
Easier to say than do hahaha.....It's a pain in the butt. I hate changing tanks.
As others have said, just transfer the old water and filter media over to the new tank any you are set
Biggest thing is your filter media, if you transfer that and I'd say at least 60% of your old water you will be fine, just like a water change. All your benifical bacteria is your filters and that is what you need. You could also just put your filters in and add all new water, just let it cycle threw your filters, run for at least a day just to be safe. Thats what I did on my 130, my filters, new water, ran for about 15 hours and put my fish in, all was good.