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Hi everyone,

I'm in need of assistance. I have a 40g US tank and I am upgrading to a 80g US. I currently house in the 40g 5 juvenile discus about 2-3in, 1 BGK and 7 cardinal tetras. How do I change over to the new tank? Do I just grab everyting from the 40 and dump it in to the 80? Or do I have to cycle the 80 and then put the fishes in? I also have Bio-Spira. How much will that help me out? Any questions you can answer I would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

If you plan on using the same filters on the 80 the tank sould be cycled as long as you don't scrub everything and install new filter cartriges. If you are going to use new filters run them both (new and old) for a few weeks to allow bacteria to colonize the new filter.

If you are using undergravel filters set up the 80 with the new undergravel and transfer your gravel as the first layer of substrate.

The way I'd do it is fill as many buckets as you can with water from the 40 and put the fish in them.

Transfer all the stuff you are going to use from the 40 to the 80 and finish whatever set-up is left. Then put the water and fish in the tank, top it off and fire it up.

Since the bioload is no larger the bacteria should be able to keep up right from the start but test daily anyway.

Have fun, Mike

normally, i would just dump the whole lot in the new tank (not particulary orthadox, i know) but seeing as you have discus, i would do the slow approch, take a few of your hardiest fish (or buying some) and let the tank cycle properly first. seed it with some of your old tanks gravel, some old filter media ect and test regulary untill it's cycled and introduce the rest if the fish slowly

congrats on the new tank

How much of the substrate on my old tank can I safely pull out without disturbing the bacteria? I have a ceramic cave about 1ft long, if I pull that out an put it in the 80 along with a handful of gravel, will my 40g still be ok?

A handful of gravel isn't going to help much at all... However since you have biospira there should be much less worry. The main thing is that as your switch the tanks the bacteria needs to be kept fed in order to not die off on you. I agree that special care should be taken considering the discus. If you have the filters for the 80g run them on the 40 for 3-4 weeks to make sure they're fully seeded. If the move needs to happen ASAP then move old filters to new tank with the hardier of the stock then flip flop the filters once the new filters are full of bacteria.
The biospira should take care of the cycling for you by itself, if it's been kept properly.

^_^

*Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*

One more question. I bought 2 emperor 400 hob's and a sponge filter. Is that too much filtration or am I ok? I just want to make sure my discus are in great shape. I want to breed them eventually. I am even making my own beefheart mix.

There is no such thing as too much filtration. Too much current maybe but if that's the case you can fix it with obstacles and baffles.

Wish I had a new 80, Mike

Luis,

If you can, you should treat the change as the oppurtunity to do a massive water change for your discus. If you use your existing filters, you should not need to cycle your new tank.

I would:
1. Siphon or scoop out your gravel and ornaments. Clean it well and reuse it in the 80. Existing filtration should help to clear the murk that now exists in your 40.
2. Ensure that your water parameters are as close as possible between the tanks. Double check temp, pH, gH, kH and TDS.
3. Shift your seeded filter(s) from the 40 to the 80. No need for biospira and your existing filter will fully seed new filters in two weeks or less.
4. Add discus, salt to taste!

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright