Maybe it's time.....?

Question

So I have finally saved up enough money to upgrade to a larger tank. I was thinkng about somewhere in the range of 30 to 50 gallons, haven't shopped around yet, but that's what I am thinking. My problem is this: How do I acclimate my fish in my old tank to the new one for transfering? I don't want to leave them in the old tank and start new, so thats kinda out of the question. Also, when I do get the larger tank, is it okay to fill it with tap water *becasue I am not going to buy 30 to 40 gallon water jugs* and add a dechlorinator, such as stress coat? I am not too new to keeping aquariums, but still, better ask first, then be sorry for not asking later! One more question; how long does stress coat take to make tap water safe? Thanks!

Answer 1

What you can do is clone your tank. When setting up the new tank, put your fish in a bucket (with a heater and airstone if possible) and transfer everything from the old tank into the new tank. When transferring the gravel, try to make sure the top layer from the old tank ends up as the top layer of the new tank (most of the good bacteria in gravel live in the top layer). Also, make sure your filter media and decorations do not dry out, otherwise you'll lose that bacteria.

If you use all the old decorations, gravel, and filter(s) from the old tank and don't increase your fish load the tank shouldn't undergo a cycle (you may see a mini-cycle, just monitor for it and do a water change if you see one). I'd also use as much water from the old tank as possible. Tap water should be fine with dechlorinator (unless you have something like discus and hard water). Personally, I like Prime as a dechlorinator, it works immediately. Make sure the temperature in the new tank is the same as the temp of the old one. You can slowly add water from the new tank to the bucket the fish are in during the transfer process until they're accilmated, then you can add them safely into the tank.

Answer 2

Why don't you try "Aqua Safe" takes only about 48 hours to make the water save for your fish
If you want to have the same climate, just put your heater at the same temperature as you had your old one

If you want to use the same water, just take some of your old water and put it in the new tank


If I do a complete waterchange on my tank (what I do like once every 8-10months), I take out some water into a bucket and put the fish in there
I clean out my tank and everything that is in there, fill it up with water put in "Aqua Safe" and "Easy Balance" as directed, and put my fish back in after about an hour
I have never lost a fish after doing a complete waterchange and gravel wash
I also don't do any partial waterchanges at all
I keep my light on for 12 hours a day, and turn it off at night, (have a 30 gallon tank), a timer does the trick
I don't have my tank near sunlight
I fill up my tank once a month to the level I started the tank with, and put in "Easy Balance" once a week as directed
Don't have any problems and my fish are all happy and healthy
Keep your tank temp at 76-82

Good luck

Answer 3

Instead of filling it with tap water, why not leave it out for a day or two and then put it in(if you have enough space for lots of buckets lying around)? Dechlorinator should be fine, though. You may just transfer your fish to the other tank once it is ready- they will be just as unused to the environment as when they came to the old tank from the shop.

Answer 4

Set one bucket of water aside for when you will be changing out. Put the fish there while you transfer tanks. Be sure to put your new fish there in the bag for adjustment to temp. I just purchased from Wal-Mart tabs called Correct pH from Jungle Co for $2.48 for community tanks. I believe this will help with the chlorine and ammonia levels. At any rate....Yeah, put in the water, then the ornaments and gravel. Then the fish. You will just have to work around them.

Answer 5

This link should help:

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/

Answer 6

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