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Hiya,

I would like to ask for some advice on transferring an existing tank to another bigger tank. The existing tank is my 18inch planted tank ([link=Details on tank]http://members.optusnet.com.au/quocluong/catfish.htm " style="COLOR: #E8E36D[/link]). I would like to put everything in this tank into a 50cm cube tank. I would like to ask, what is the best way to do this.

The tank currently just holds some plants, but the water is quite old. I was thinking emptying the 50cm cube, give it a quick scrub, then take all the plants and fish (out of my 18inch) and put them in buckets. Then take the water out and put them with the fish. The gravel, I would like to take it out and give it a quick wash then mix the gravel with Red Sea's gravel enricher and place it in the 50cm cube. Add some stored water from my storage water tank (currently a 4X2X2 with air pump, filter, UV sterilizer and heater, tap water is placed in and stored for a week before using the water for waters changes for other tanks) and add the filter, heater and co2 unit. Let it run for an hour or so, and then aquascape it. Leave it for another few hours and add the fish.

I dont know if this is suitable, thus asking for your advise.

Thanks
Mango

It sounds good to me, but I'd leave your fish in the bucket for as little time as possible, due to temp changes, pH changes (no co2), and not enough oxygen diffusion. If you can work all that out, then leave them in the bucket as long as you need for everything to settle in.

Good luck to ya!
matt

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Wow, that's a big project. Very cool.
Do you plan to use the 18 inch tank for something else, or are you retiring it in favor of the bigger tank? Are you installing a brand new filter in the cube tank?

The only problem I see with your plan is the short amount of time between filling the new tank and adding your fish. Even if you reuse water and gravel, with a brand new filter, you're likely to run into at least a mini-cycle that could hurt your fish if you add them too soon. So you plan to use a product like Cycle to start the bacteria in your tank? If you do seed the tank with some kind of cycle-boosting product, I would still wait at least 24 hours before adding fish. You could keep them in the 18 in. tank after you take the gravel out with their normal filter, heater, etc., and they should be fine for a day or so, or longer, until you move them. Maybe provide them with some fake plants and hiding spots and leave the lights out for security.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

Im going to use the old equipment from the 18inch. I guess it should be fine.

hope this isnt too late...

i just swapped out 100% of my substrate, i took out EVERYTHING and put new substrate and EVERYTHING back in with no casualties.

i used those big plastic storage things for the fish, along with plants, driftwood, rocks and so on, plus i plugged in my filter and heater to keep them warm and provide them with enough oxygen also to keep the basteria in the filter alive, then i battled with stinky gravel for 2 hours, and my fish were happy when they returned to the new tank. and try to save as much water from your 18 inch tank as possible

Cool, thanks. It isnt late, Im going to transferr it next weekend. Once I get my plans sorted out, it will go ahead. Is foam boxes ok to put fish in? Im thinking to fill the foam box up with 99% of the tank water and place the fish and plants in there and leave it in my room until i finish with the new tank.

Also when washing the gravel, do I use aquarium water or tap water?

Regards
Mango

But isn't the cube tank twice as many gallons as the 18 inch tank? Will your filter be powerful enough for the cube? You could always use the original filter and simply add a second one. As long as you keep the original filter submerged and running to keep the bacteria colony alive, your plan should be fine.
Enjoy the new tank!

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

The cube tank is actually 4 times as much gals as the 18inch I think it isnt enough for the tank. Im getting another filter very soon.

Sounds good, but keep the established filter in there for a few weeks, even after getting the new filter. It will help establish you bacterial colony more quickly and hopefully keep things stable until your new tank is fully developed.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

You might want to just leave the 18" tank set up while yer settin' up the cube tank...or are you putting the cube where the 18" was?

You'll probably need to get a new filter. You might want to put a new filter on when yer settin' up the cube, and then dose the tank with Cycle or Biospira when you put the fish in

Good luck

Did the transfer early this morning, actally started at 11pm last night and finished at 2am this morning. Its winter in Aus now and the tap water outside was freezing! My hands turned purple after washing tank. The cube had angels keeped in it and salt was added. Since im going to keep catfish in it, i guess i better wash it nice and clean. Placed everything in and its almost 24hrs now, the tank is only 1/4 filled because the 18inch water is only 1/4 of the new tank. The tank is much bigger now and i hardly see my fish now. Before when it comes to feeding time all the fish comes to the front, but now they just hide (scared of the moving?) and most just stay at the back where the plants are. All seems well, but now it looks like a planted tank with no fish...well only a few because of the plants and the fish loves to hide.

Image will come soon, once the tank is fixed.

Thanks all for the help!
Mango

yeah they are probably just getting used to the new tank setup, mine were fine after a few hours, and yours will be fine also. and i also had angels.

Just bought a bag of AquaClay Substrate, I washed it well and placed it under the black gravel. The water is once again murky. Thus having two layers of gravel, the clay at the bottom and the black gravel on the top. The plants should love it since its full of iron and its very soft. I've got a friend which only has the AquaClay substrate and his plants are growing nicely. But the only problem is that it is very lite and the fish dig it up. Thus i decided to add the black gravel on top. It looks quite good too

I also added more water, now its about 2/3 filled and all fish are happy. Now got to wait for the bigger filter and the water to clear.

Last edited by mangor34 at 14-Jun-2005 03:47

I have moved using the big plastic storage bins too and i had no casualtys, the plants although submerged in the same water the whole time didnt enjoy the trip very much though.. some died fully most recovered all anubias etc were fine though.

This was moving a 6x2x2, 4x1.8x1.8 and a 1.5x2ftx1ft to another location - I do not reccomend it, however it was a total sucess and far easier than first imagined.. plan well and it all just "works!" (ps. have plans b and c thought out too )

Last edited by vuduchild at 14-Jun-2005 03:17

Some photos can be viewed here ([link=http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Photo%20Booth/60614.html?05821649]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Photo%20Booth/60614.html?05821649" style="COLOR: #E8E36D[/link])