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i have just bought a new 40gal juwell tank to which i am going to trasfer my fish from their 26gal tank, so my plan is,set up the new tank with new washed 2mm-4mm pea gravel complete a water change (not sure how much)was thinking approx 40%, on my old tank and pour into the new tank then top up with treated tap water, let this run for approx one week then transfer the basket filter system (including all bacteria and filter medium) into the new tank as they are the same size, wait for everything to settle then add old and new plants, old bogwood and finally my stock, which consists of 1x sucking loach 1x femail plec 4x clown loaches 3x rasboras and 28x mixed guppys, so this is my master plan any help or ideas would be gratefully recieved certanly on amounts and %

Well, from recent experience with my tank, i would suggest you add the gravel, then add some gravel from your 26g to make a top layer on the gravel. The bacteria from that tank will colonize and make the cycle ultrafast! Also, put some in your canister filter, and run it immediately after the water is put in. Add the plants the same day, and either add the hardy fish, or add ammonia via fish food or liquid. Wait about a week or two then add the fish this way they will not encounter too much stress.

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Depending on your experience and knowledge it can be done all at once.
When my 4ft tank busted I saved as much water as I could. I put the water into several big plastic bin with the filter in with all the fish, gravel airstones, and the plants. It took about three weksfor the new tank to arrive as soon as it was in place I added the substrate plus a little extra, DW and let the plants float then all the fish including all those big clown loaches. All I lost was one SAE. Naturally I added all the necessary additives, pH adjuster, live bacteria, and Melafix.

I can assure I would not even thought of doing it if it looked faintly like loosing all those big CLs

It can be done

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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thanks for your help boys, i did get away with this method last time when i changed from a small 15gal to my present one,also is the 40% water change ok? as in not enough or to much.

thanks again

papasan.

The 40% water change is enough for the biger tank, as obviously the 29gal is only like 60% of the 40g. I would reccomend you add all the water, as it could have bacteria in the water column. If you are pouring the water from the 29 gallon to the 40gal, then maybe you should do a little more water. Also, like keith mentioned, use a bacteria starter like Bio-Spira, Cycle, Stress Zyme, etc.. This will speed up the cycle and make it so the cycling water isnt as full of ammonia/nitrites. Remember to use the gravel, as that is very full of bacteria, and the cartridges in the filter are too! Use the filter immediately as the nitrifying bacteria needs oxygen and flow.

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Why not just run the new filter cartridge in the old filter along with the old filter cartridge for about a solid week or two? It's my understanding that that is where the majority of your bacteria is living anyway. You shouldn't even need to transfer the same water. Once you take the new filter cartridge/media off the old tank after building a bacteria colony on it, you should be able to put it in the new filter and start transfering the fish. As long as that new bacteria colony has a source of ammonia right away (adding your fish), there should be no cycle. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong please because this is my plan for starting a 10 gallon off my existing 30 gallon in a month or two.

Hi,
Actually the bulk of the bacteria that support the Nitrogen
Cycle are inside the tank where they coat surfaces of each
grain of gravel as well as the tank surfaces and those of
any ornaments. You could set the new filter running along
side the filter on the 30G tank and run it there for a
week or two, and then transfer it to the new 10G tank.
Additionally, you can take a handful of gravel from the
30 and put it in the new tank, and between the two get a
head start on cycling the new tank.

Remember, it is the fish waste that feeds the bacteria.

You cannot just add some old gravel, and age the new filter
by running it in an existing tank, and then expect the
bacteria colonies to thrive in the new tank without some
source of ammonia to feed the growing colonies.
You will still need to do either a fish-less cycle,
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/articles/article14.html
or add some hardy fish to provide the ammonia.

Frank


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I think you can do it all at once. Mix the old gravel in with the new, or add the layer on top, add some used water, perhaps put the filter media from your existing tank in the new one. Put the plant and decorations, fill the tank and let it settle overnight. Add a few hardy fish to keep the bacteria going and then you should be ok after several days to a week without adding too much stress on the rest. I started a ten off my 29 this way a few years back and had a cycled tank within a few days. Yes, I did test twice a day for about 10 days to make sure. I did use a lot of the existing gravel and about 5 gallons from a water change. I had a large rock in there also that I transferred. One thing to remember is to keep the gravel in the running tank and just transfer it over, If it stays out too long the bacteria will die off and you'll be back at square one. Also, do a very thorough gravel vac just before to minimize the cloud that will kick up while pulling the gravel out.

thanks for all your input very much appreciated

papasan.