Tank changing

[daddio]

I'm going from 36 to a 55, problem is it's going in same spot, now was wondering even though I'm putting same tank water in 55 that just means 19 gallons of new is making up difference.Will that off set water balance that fish are use to.
Even adding chemicals as needed.

 

[tlindsey]

I'm going from 36 to a 55, problem is it's going in same spot, now was wondering even though I'm putting same tank water in 55 that just means 19 gallons of new is making up difference.Will that off set water balance that fish are use to.
Even adding chemicals as needed.

You should be fine just use your media and filter from the 36 gallon and make sure you use a good water dechlorinator such as prime. Some members don't even use the original water because there is very little beneficial bacteria or non at all.

 

[Allan01230]

use the same filter media and you could put all new water as was said use prime ! your tank should be fine

 

[duanes]

I agree with Tom.
Old water is just that, old water, and really is of no benefit to the new tank. Just using the substrate and decor will help (as long as they are kept wet during the change over), because the good bacteria are sessile, meaning they live on surfaces, not free floating in the water itself.
New water, as long as the temp is similar, and dechlorinated is much better for fish than old water filled with nitrate, pheromones, fish urine, and other semi-toxic substances excreted by the fish.

 

[skjl47]

Hello; I concur, use new water and some solid surface from the old tank. The beneficial bacteria (bb) on most any solid surface will "seed" the new setup.

While filter media is most often mentioned as a good source of the bb, there can be other surfaces. I like to use a power filter or sponge filter from an established tank without giving it a scrubbing cleaning. I will just rinse out the filter a bit in the old tank water to remove the loose stuff and leaving the biofilm in place. The bb form a biofilm on the surfaces and this film sticks fairly well. That way I have a decent colony of bb. I then put some fresh filter media into the filter body so it can begin to trap detritus.
If you feel the need to have the old filter media in the new tank it can be placed in a mesh bag and placed in the tank for a week or so.

Lots of ways to do the setup of a new tank, my suggestion is not the only way.

Good luck

 

[J. H.]

I agree with what was said above, but would like to add one thing. When adding new water, make sure it is somewhere near the temperature of the old water. A blast of hot or cold water can kill fish.

 

[#.$]

Don't forget that the gravel/substrate also houses beneficial bacteria I would move this over as well, as others have stated moving the old water is not necessary. However if you don't do water changes often and by often I mean at least once a month I would keep about half the water so to not Shock the fish since the nitrate will drop drastically

 

[skjl47]

Don't forget that the gravel/substrate also houses beneficial bacteria I would move this over as well, as others have stated moving the old water is not necessary. However if you don't do water changes often and by often I mean at least once a month I would keep about half the water so to not Shock the fish since the nitrate will drop drastically

Hello; There are two ways I use substrate (gravel in my case) in a new setup. First is just to "seed" a new tank with bb colonies. For this I give a hand full or two of the gravel a light rinse in old tank water to remove the detritus and find some way to suspend it in the new setup. That way I can remove it later for a good cleaning.

The other way is to give the old dirty gravel a thorough rinsing before placing it in the new setup. To me putting old dirty gravel into a new setup starts the new tank out with a heavy load of detritus (mulm, fish poo, decayed food bits and all).
I use two or three five gallon buckets that are only used with my tanks. I get a stick to stir the gravel with, usually an old broom handle. I use a garden hose with a nozzle set to a jet of water. I clean about a half gallon to a gallon of gravel at a time.
Put the amount of gravel into a bucket you can handle and hit it with a jet of water and then stir it up with the stick. Pour off the dirty water while it is still stirred up. Repeat until the stirred gravel is fairly clean and dump the cleaned gravel into a clean bucket.
I get that some of the bb are rinsed away as well, maybe most of it. I also get that the tap water with chlorine and/or chloramine may kill off some of the bb. I suspect that at least a few of the bb will survive in the wet gravel but the purpose is to "clean" the substrate. If you have never cleaned old tank gravel/sand the amount of detritus that can be in it may be a surprise.
I get the bb colonies for as new setup several ways. As mentioned on filter parts. Also on most any other solid surfaces that can be moved from an established tank. On snails and maybe on live plants.
I also like to keep extra sponge filters or few going in tanks for quick set up. The sponge of a sponge filter can be spilt into two parts and a half can be put into a new set up. I also throw the sponge part of such filters in the back of my HOB and let them stay there to be grabbed when I need a quick setup.

good luck