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Hi, I am moving an hour away soon, one of my tanks is a 20 gallon with 5 tiger barbs and 1 rainbow shark. It has a tetra power filter and also an undergravel filter using airstones. It was set up that way when I got it but I am dying to remove the underwater gravel filter and use the power filter only. I thought when I move may be a good time to do this. BUT, is that a horrible idea for the biology of the tank? I save 80% of the same water when I move and can save the gravel. Any ideas?

Thanks alot!

ginger9899,

It sounds like your plan should work out. You save the filter, water, and gravel, so most of your beneficial bacteria should be ok.

There is another thread in here talking about changing the substrate. Look it up and you will find more information on how to keep bacteria alive. Obviously you cannot run the filter (except if you have a generator that you can take with you on the road), but you could at least hang a battery driven air pump in the container with the gravel, filter, and water to keep the stuff oxygenated.

Your fish load is also not very large, 6 fish in a 20G. This should give you some safety cushion in case the biological filtration caves in more than expected. In any way, after setting up your tank again I would suggest to keep a close eye on the ammonia readings and do larger water changes every few days for the first 2 weeks or so.

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 23-Dec-2005 08:44

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Thank you for the info! I will look for that thread you mentioned. I already have my battery operated pump with airstone ready