Should I transfer my catfish?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Wow, that's a lot to take in. I guess I will just wait a few more weeks then (which is what I think you said in that "essay "). I will be getting a sponge filter on Monday as well, so maybe that will help get the oxygen up. I will wait at least another 1 week as long as the conditions are stable unless a whole bunch of other people say otherwise. Thanks for taking the time to write that long response.

would there be any other ways to get my oxygen up until I can go get the new filter?
 
Wow, that's a lot to take in.
*** I feared that. I have a nasty habit of going overboard. Gotta work on it :) We all know where the proverbial road leads paved with good intentions... :)

I guess I will just wait a few more weeks then (which is what I think you said in that "essay ").
*** As stated, one week of uninterrupted zero readings should be fine.

I will be getting a sponge filter on Monday as well, so maybe that will help get the oxygen up.
*** Sponge filter that runs off of a bubbler is one of the weakest aerators. Do you think you don't have enough aeration?

Check these out, if you will:

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=39885&p=272346

http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanes...e=A+catfish+keepers+guide+to+dissolved+oxygen

http://plecoplanet.com/?page_id=829


I will wait at least another 1 week as long as the conditions are stable unless a whole bunch of other people say otherwise. Thanks for taking the time to write that long response.
*** If it is not off-putting, sure :)

would there be any other ways to get my oxygen up until I can go get the new filter?
*** Links above answer that and much more. Surface agitation and adequate, pump-driven water stirring are the most important. Of course, you don't want to stress your fish by blowing them around the tank with 5 powerheads either :) Gotta find the golden medium.
 
well I don't think that more aeration could hurt. I am getting the sponge filter just to over filter as well not just for the air. After reading those I think I should get either 2 airstones or a powerhead in addition to the sponge filter. I do however have a limited budget and cant be spending more than $50 for a powerhead. I also have a planted 30 tall (which after reading those sounds like a terrible combo) which I will need to be getting some more aeration for as well.

For either tank: what additional aeration would you recommend getting and how much?
 
All I ever to to upgrade a populus from a small tank to a larger tank is move all the fish and all the filters and not feed for a few days. Even if you are upgrading to a larger filter, just put all the biomedia from the previous filters in the new tank and do a water change on day 2 and 4 and it'll be balanced by then, especially if you just went to an understocked situation. I fear you may be overthinking this.
 
knifegill said:
I fear you may be overthinking this.
Click to expand...

Quite agreeable. Divemaster, keep this in mind.

###################################################


well I don't think that more aeration could hurt. I am getting the sponge filter just to over filter as well not just for the air.
*** if you double or triple the DO concentration in the water that is fed into your main filter, it is likely you will have doubled or tripled your MAIN filter's capacity. If not, you at least very significantly increased it. Did you read the last link? This article may seem hard to digest but forget all the numbers and the equations and science language, just focus on the conclusions in bold. This article is the best one IMO, written by a waste-water-treatment-lab director of one GB University, aka dw1305 on Planet Catfish.



After reading those I think I should get either 2 airstones ...
*** As that article says, membrane diffusers are better than ceramic.



or a powerhead in addition to the sponge filter. I do however have a limited budget and cant be spending more than $50 for a powerhead.
*** I'd ditch the sponge filter and get a powerhead . E.g., from petmountain these two are $16 and $18:

1. Marineland Maxi Jet Water Pump and Powerhead: : Maxi Jet 1200 - (Max Head 6 Feet) Sku: M90512
URL: http://www.petmountain.com/show_product/11442-526521
SKU: 526521-ML90512-M90512


2. Marineland Maxi Jet Water Pump and Powerhead: : Maxi Jet 900 - (Max Head 5 Feet) Sku: M90511
URL: http://www.petmountain.com/show_product/11442-526520
SKU: 526520-ML90511-M90511



I also have a planted 30 tall (which after reading those sounds like a terrible combo) which I will need to be getting some more aeration for as well.
*** Please read that article - it addresses this superbly too.



For either tank: what additional aeration would you recommend getting and how much?
*** There is really no recipe. A filter properly sized for your tank volume or oversized and properly used plus a bubbler=diffuser or a powerhead are usually plenty.
 
knifegill said:
All I ever to to upgrade a populus from a small tank to a larger tank is move all the fish and all the filters and not feed for a few days. Even if you are upgrading to a larger filter, just put all the biomedia from the previous filters in the new tank and do a water change on day 2 and 4 and it'll be balanced by then, especially if you just went to an understocked situation. I fear you may be overthinking this.
Click to expand...

Well I overthink everything, that's just who I am. But a few things, 1. I am not moving all the fish from my 30 gallon just two of the thirteen. 2. My 30 filter is an HoB and my 75 filter is a canister (not that I talked about it). 3. My raphael catfish is my favorite fish as of now and I would hate to loose him.

the tank parameters have only been balanced for about 4 days now though bu if you think I'm good to move them. I would definitely do water changes like you said though.

if I do decide to move them today should I leave the lights off in the the tank they will be going in? And you think they would be fine without food for 2 or 3 days?

just trying to work out all of the details.
 
thebiggerthebetter said:
Quite agreeable. Divemaster, keep this in mind.

###################################################


well I don't think that more aeration could hurt. I am getting the sponge filter just to over filter as well not just for the air.
*** if you double or triple the DO concentration in the water that is fed into your main filter, it is likely you will have doubled or tripled your MAIN filter's capacity. If not, you at least very significantly increased it. Did you read the last link? This article may seem hard to digest but forget all the numbers and the equations and science language, just focus on the conclusions in bold. This article is the best one IMO, written by a waste-water-treatment-lab director of one GB University, aka dw1305 on Planet Catfish.



After reading those I think I should get either 2 airstones ...
*** As that article says, membrane diffusers are better than ceramic.



or a powerhead in addition to the sponge filter. I do however have a limited budget and cant be spending more than $50 for a powerhead.
*** I'd ditch the sponge filter and get a powerhead . E.g., from petmountain these two are $16 and $18:

1. Marineland Maxi Jet Water Pump and Powerhead: : Maxi Jet 1200 - (Max Head 6 Feet) Sku: M90512
URL: http://www.petmountain.com/show_product/11442-526521
SKU: 526521-ML90512-M90512


2. Marineland Maxi Jet Water Pump and Powerhead: : Maxi Jet 900 - (Max Head 5 Feet) Sku: M90511
URL: http://www.petmountain.com/show_product/11442-526520
SKU: 526520-ML90511-M90511



I also have a planted 30 tall (which after reading those sounds like a terrible combo) which I will need to be getting some more aeration for as well.
*** Please read that article - it addresses this superbly too.



For either tank: what additional aeration would you recommend getting and how much?
*** There is really no recipe. A filter properly sized for your tank volume or oversized and properly used plus a bubbler=diffuser or a powerhead are usually plenty.
Click to expand...

Just seeing this now, it's weird, it wasn't there before when I posted the post before this, I guess it takes my computer while to get new posts. Thanks for the powerhead information as well, I think I have picked one out. And after closely observing the surface of my 30 I noticed my hob with a decreased water level is really chirning up the surface water so I should be covered there whether it is heavily planted or not.
 
So both of you saying I'm overthinking this means.....I should add them tomorrow? I can't really tell sometimes. I have no problem waiting until Monday if the possibly low DO in my 75 could be a risk for those two specific fish.
either way I am nit doing it tonight..to late.
 
Here is today's. I know it's hard to see but ammonia looks like zero, nitrite zero, nitrate five if that.

image.jpg
 
TBTB: If the tests do not change Monday and you think your aeration is ok, after having read and understood the DO issues discussed above, then I see no reason not to transfer the fish... at the face value of the info given.

TBTB: Knifegill and I said suggestively that you may be overthinking it. Only you can judge.


DV: ...if I do decide to move them today should I leave the lights off in the the tank they will be going in?
TBTB: With all my catfish I only use indirect room light. Many do use tank lights. For the settling period perhaps it is better not to use it.

DV: And you think they would be fine without food for 2 or 3 days?
TBTB: Are they healthy and in good shape? If yes, even a 1 month without food won't matter much at all.

DV: just trying to work out all of the details.
TBTB: Some you can; all you can't. It's a learning process. The main questions are water quality (NH3, NO2, NO3, pH, temp, hardness, salinity), oxygenation, morphology (substrate, hiding spots, etc.), tank mates, plants or no plants. Maybe I missed something but if these are thought through and deemed good, I think one can go ahead.
 
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