Tank Transfer

[fivespotfan]

I currently have a 65g with five 2"-4" S&C/A Cichids. I have a 200g on the way! syked but nervous about loosing fish in the transfer. I know i should use as much of the established tank water in filling 200 for good bacteria. Any suggestions on how to make a smooth transition? I plan on using the 65 as a sick tank or to isolate any fish getting ripped. I would like to avoid putchase of a third tank just to house fish until new tank is set up. Space is an issue.

Any advice us appreciated!

 

[Exile]

I did something similar. I had all my angels and corydoras in my 125gal but then I bought a 75gal and wanted to transfer them there. So I started to prepare for it a couple days before hand, I siphoned the gravel really well in the 125g then filled it back up and let it sit for 2-3 days. Then after it was all settled I devoted a entire day to making the switch. I bagged all the fish and siphoned water from the 125g to the 75g. Also took gravel straight from the 125g and dumped it into the 75g (didn't rinse it at all in efforts to preserve as much BB as possible).

The 75gal was cloudy for about a week because the new filters had to establish but I lost NO fish out of my 10 angels, 8 corydoras and 4 silver dollars.

Now obviously you are upgrading to a larger tank so I would recommend to of course bag the fish first then siphon the water from the 65g to the 200g. But more importantly try to transfer as much of the used filter media and whatever substrate you are using in the 65gal to the 200gal. If possible, definitely transfer the entire filter unit(s) of the 65gal to the 200gal so the remaining 135 gallons of new water can be cycled as quickly as possible.

Good luck.

 

[Exile]

Or quite simply setup the 200gal and keep the 65gal in operation with the fish in it. Fill the 200gal with new water and transfer as much substrate and filters/filter media as possible. DO NOT siphon water from the 65gal and remove/replace current filtration because you could cause the 65gal to cycle! If you go that route you can let the 200gal sit for a week and be almost guaranteed not to lose fish. But if the 200gal is being placed where the 65g currently sits and you can't temporarily place the 65gal elsewhere, then my above post is more relevant.

 

[xx WingZero xx]

if you aren't putting the 200 in the same place as the 65 why not just set it up n let it cycle?

 

[fivespotfan]

Thanks for the advice. I had my 65 custom built into basement wall so it was flush with finished side wall and all filtration etc. in my mechanical unfinished side of basement. the 200 will be going in same spot {obviously I need to widen hole a bit} but cannot use 65 as i need to move it. I anticipate it will be quite a long day of work but worth it in the end. I will get some pics up once done!

 

[black056mtc]

1- if you enough room put the new tank close to the old one as you can.
2- take as much water from old tank and put it in the new one
3- put some old tank water into a large container big enough for all your fish and put your fishes in there. stick an air pump in this container.
4. empty out your old tank stuff and put it aside or into your new tank.
5. remove the old one
6. move the old water from the new tank back in the old tank
7. set up the new tank
8. move the old water from the old tank in the new tank
9. add fishes and old filter and media etc...
10. add more water like a normal water change and youre done...