transporting established tank help please

[creepyoldguy]

These are peoples tanks in general. You do realize there are other things in the water? Like Ph, hardness, various chemicals, etc. What if the tap water ph is different for example?

If you actually believe that, I'd love to see you post a video of doing a 99% water change on your tanks. Unless the fish are used to it, you'll likely stress/kill everything.

You do realize that when rivers flood the ph and tempm and hardness all change right? Also, you're going to be acclimatingmthe fish to the source water. I don't normally do 100% waterchanges but the next time I do I'll video tape me changing out all water except for what is needed for the fish to swim in.

Not trying to start an argument or make you mad, but when you say you need old tank water, that is leading me to believe that you think old tank water added to new filters will cycle a tank?

 

[SimonL]

You do realize that when rivers flood the ph and temp and hardness all change right?

Evidence, or are you just assuming? When water chemistry in the wild changes, it does so slowly, over the course of days. Not instantly. If you are keeping African cichlids and your Ph and hardness are similar to your tapwater, you might be okay.

Not trying to start an argument or make you mad, but when you say you need old tank water, that is leading me to believe that you think old tank water added to new filters will cycle a tank?

Interesting, given I said nothing to support that conclusion. What I said was purely in regards to altering chemistry.

As for buying fish from an LFS...they are going from established water into established water....

 

[SimonL]

I should be clear, I'm not saying you CAN'T do it the way you guys are talking about. It's often the only option if you are moving long distances. However, given that the OP lives 5 minutes away, you might as well make the transition as easy as possible.

It's like saying "I drive without a seatbelt all the time and I'm fine". Is it true? Possibly. Is it a good idea? Probably not. I'm personally not willing to risk my fish croaking simply because I was too lazy to haul some buckets of water to a location 5 minutes away.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Rainfall happens instantly and flooding can occur in hours

 

[erk419]

Good point Simon, OP seeing how its a 5 min trip depending on lights lol, and if you have the buckets and your tank water is were is suppose to be no ammonia or nitrites takiing tank water with you isn't going to hurt anything and might even be better. The fish are already going to be stressed enough being chased around with a net finally caught put in a bucket drove to new house and put back in the tank.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[SimonL]

Rainfall happens instantly and flooding can occur in hours

What's the ph change like? Any evidence or data?

Good point Simon, OP seeing how its a 5 min trip depending on lights lol, and if you have the buckets and your tank water is were is suppose to be no ammonia or nitrites takiing tank water with you isn't going to hurt anything and might even be better. The fish are already going to be stressed enough being chased around with a net finally caught put in a bucket drove to new house and put back in the tank.

Like I said, would you feel comfortable doing a 99% water change on your own tanks unless it was absolutely necessary?

 

[erk419]

I've done 100 percent before when moving or just moving tanks. But that was quit awhile ago would I feel comfortable doing it now after what you said probally not lol.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[creepyoldguy]

SimonL- have you ever seen how dishes breeders do water changes? If your method is true, then why don't breeders send 50% of the tank water when they ship a fish half way around the country? Also, if the person is moving 5 minutes away, depending on lights, wouldn't that lead you to believe that source water is the same? Last but not least, imyou really don't think that water chemistry doesn't change with flooding and rainfall then arguing with you about to transport fish is not worth it. Your way is not wrong, but all that extra work is not necessary. It seems as though oh believe that since that's how you do it at a fish store makes it right since you e been doing it that way for x years

 

[SimonL]

SimonL- have you ever seen how dishes breeders do water changes?

Discus breeders often do huge water changes, but their fish are used to it. Many also split the water 50/50 with RO to lessen Ph and hardness.

If your method is true, then why don't breeders send 50% of the tank water when they ship a fish half way around the country?

Second thing, the ph of a fish in a bag drops dramatically during shipping from a combination of excreted waste and CO2. When fish arrive, it is necessary to re-acclimate them slowly to the desired water. This causes massive shock to the fish, often stores loose whole tank fulls of fish during the acclimation. This is exactly the thing I'm suggesting the OP avoid. A responsible fish keeper would try to match the ph of the shipment to the fishes. If you get a shipment of fish form Peru, coming in soft water, and put them in a tank of 99% new tapwater, you'll likely lose the whole batch.

Also, if the person is moving 5 minutes away, depending on lights, wouldn't that lead you to believe that source water is the same?

Source water is different from tank water. When you have an established fish tank, the Ph and hardness change (usually by lowering). Unless you have a constant drip of new water, your tank isn't going to be the same, nor should it if you have softwater fish.

Last but not least, imyou really don't think that water chemistry doesn't change with flooding and rainfall then arguing with you about to transport fish is not worth it.

So, given your total lack of evidence to support your statement, you feel I'm not worth arguing with? "Duh, cause it is" is not a valid backing for your point. You stated that water ph and hardness in the wild dramatically changes within hours on a frequent basis. I'm not saying you're wrong, simply that you provide some evidence.

It seems as though oh believe that since that's how you do it at a fish store makes it right since you e been doing it that way for x years

Correct. I have worked at several LFS for 10 years. I've moved large amounts of tanks. I've imported and acclimated tens of thousands of fish. I have experience with this. Hence why my way is better.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Haha you're right simonl. I'm done arguing with you.