Whats the best way to move my fish from a 5 gallon tank and into 10 gallon tank?

Question

I've had the five gallon for a while and I just got the ten gallon the other day. Its all set up and I'm letting it cycle. I was just wondering the best way to move my fish.

Answer 1

Well, it is good you have the 10g set up and cycling. Problem is, you will need to remove some of that water. Think of the transfer in terms of doing a water change on your 5g. You don't just pour all the water out and then put new water back in. You only do a partial change. Take some of the water (about 1g) from the 5g into the 10g. That will get a good colony of beneficial bacteria started into the new aquarium. Replace the water that you took out of the 5g. Next part will go one way or another, this depends on how many fish you have in your 5g. After a few days, if you have 3 or 4 small fish in your 5g, remove half of the water from your 10g. Using a sterile bucket, remove all the water and fish from the 5g. Introduce some of the remainder of the water in the 10g into the bucket (about 1g). Wait 20-30 mins. Repeat this again. Using another sterile bucket, remove the rest of the water from the 10g. Put the water from the bucket with the fish into the 10g. Wait, then add some water (about 1g) that you had removed from the 10g back into the 10g. Repeat this until you have filled the 10g.

Now, if you have too many fish in your 5g, you need to slowly introduce them into the 10g. The best way is start with only 2 or 3 gallons of fresh water and add 1g from the 5g. Everyday, and 1g from the 5g and top off the 5g. Do this until the 10g is full. Then, using sterile buckets, take about 1g and 3 or 4 fish from the 5g into a bucket. Gradually add about .5g into the bucket every 20 minutes for about 2 hours. Wait another 20-30 minutes, and then add the fish and water into the 10g.

These two ways may seem time consuming, but if you care for the health and well-being of your fish, they are the best options. There are quicker ways, but not as safe for your fish. They need a gradual introduction to new water.

All of the above procedures are for freshwater fish, not saltwater.

Answer 2

Well sounds like you are pretty knowlegeable already in that you currently have the new tank cycling. To make the move less stressful for your fish transfer 1/4 to 1/2 of the water from the old tank into the new tank, this will keep the beneficial bacteria that you have already accrued in the old tank. This is essential in the cycling process. Most of the time people lose fish in a tank change due to the inbalance of both chemicals and bio-bacterias. These bacteria are needed to help to break down the fish waste properly. You may have noticed when you first introduced your fish to the 5 gallon you currently have, that a couple days later the water got a bit cloudy that is because the bacteria is not yet at the proper level and therefore unable to balance the system. If you have this problem in your move, you can purchase a liquid that can be added to your tank from a pet store to speed the cycling of these bacteria (Quick Cycle or Aqua Cycle). Also another thing to keep in mind is that many times when you have a smaller tank there is no need to have a heater. If you have tropical fish (i.e. anything but goldfish) you may need to get an aqaurium heater and thermometer for the new tank, especially in the winter months. Tropical fish are best in water from 72F - 78F degrees. Good luck!

Answer 3

Well, if both tanks have the exact same chemistry and temperature than you can move them with a net and be done in just a few minutes (assuming the fish cooperate).

If the tanks are in any way different then you will need to introduce the new water. Get a clean Tupperware, plastic sandwich baggie, or just about anything else that will hold water safely for about 10 minutes. Dunk your container into the old tank and grab a fish or two, filling it up about halfway with water. Take your container and float it on top of the new tank for about five minutes, then slowly let some of the new water into the container until your container is about 3/4 full. wait a few more minutes to let the fish get used to the new water, then submerge the container into the new tank and let the fish swim out - they should be good!

Answer 4

Leave room for most of the 5 gallon tank water in the new tank. Just make sure the water is similar temp, & just scoop them out, before the water transfer, move most of the water into the bigger tank & lower them slowly, letting the water from their scoop mix very slowly. Even though you are cycling the water, it is still clean, & you have to mix some of theirs into it to help them.

Answer 5

I had a freshwater tetra tank for years and with those fish, it is as simple as taking them in the net and moving them right away.
If you have some fish that are agressive with smaller, put them in the tank last of all, so they see the new pecking order.

Remember too, one fish per gallon of water is the healthy rule of thumb. I sometimes count neons and other tiny fish as 2 for one.

Have fun!

Answer 6

well you should have used as much of the old water as possible because it will help your fish adjust easier. get a couple of bags the pet stores give you when you get a new fish and float them in the tank for 10 min. then empty some of the water in the bag and replace it with the new water. repeat until all of the water in the bag is the new water. FIRE AWAY!!!

Answer 7

Move any territorial fish last. move the most docile fish in first and wait a couple of days between fish to help the new bacterial colony adjust easier.

Answer 8

Put them in a bucket with water in it and use the correct size net to scoop them out. You may want to use 2 nets, sometimes this works. With a cycled tank you shoud have no problem. Just handle them gently.

Answer 9

1.Take Net
2.Put net in water
3.Pick up fish wit net
4.Drop in 10-gallon tank

Easy!

Answer 10

use an aquarium net or a bag or a container that you can scoop