5g transfer to a 15g

[rookiefishguy]

I'll apologize for the lengthy post in advance:

I currently have 4 small male guppies and a mystery snail in a 5 gallon tank with a 10g filter. It has Topfin White sand and is "relatively" planted. I came across a great deal for a 15g with lights, heater filter AND some softer sand. I was looking for an excuse to get rid of my 5g anyway but wanted to know what the process would be to move everything from my 5g to the 15g?

My thought process was to scoop out the guppies and snail and keep them on the side for a bit (until 15g was ready), and transfer over all the sand in the 5g (in order to take the beneficial bacteria in the sand with it). then pour in the water from the 5g AND take the 10g filter and run it in the new tank (also to maintain beneficial bacteria). from there I would just fill up the 15 gallon with dechlorinated water and acclimate the guppies and snail. Please let me know if there's potentially a better way to do this and i'll give it a try.

Second question: 15g stocking ideas. Is there any cool fish (or small school) I can add with my guppies and snail? If rehoming the guppies is needed, I have a neighbor with a guppy tank who may be willing to take them. open to explore all new options, just looking to try something other than tetras and danios as I currently have a ton in other tanks.

Summary: how do I transfer contents of 5g established tank into 15g new tank and 15g stocking ideas.

Thanks for your time!

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Summary: how do I transfer contents of 5g established tank into 15g new tank

I recently did this going from a 10g to a 20g in the same spot.

First, I took a great deal of the water out of the 10g tank and left the fish in it to lighten up the tank. I then moved the 10g tank out of the way to make room for the 20g. I scooped out the substrate from the 10g and put in the bottom of the 20g to keep the beneficial bacteria and added more substrate to cover the larger tank floor. I then started moving over the decorations from the 10g to the 20g (fake plants - no live plants).

My fish were hating me and everything about life at this point. Seriously - they are going to be STRESSED. I tried to dim the lights as much as possible in the room but they were really stressed out during the process.

Once the substrate and plants were in place, I filled up the 20g tank with new water and moved over the HOB filter and heater. During the process, I kept the filter media from the 10g tank filter wet so the beneficial bacteria wouldn't die off.

Once the new tank was full I netted the fish and put them in the 20g. This was probably the worst part of the process. I thought I had killed one of them causing some sort of fish heart attack. After I netted it and put it in the new tank it just sank to the bottom like a stone and did NOT move. I was like - crap - I killed a fish! Luckily, it recuperated fairly quickly but I clearly have a LOT to learn about the process of netting fish.

So in short, you can either move the fish into a holding area of sorts (bucket?) but I would advise against moving them twice based on my experience. Try to just drain the 5 gallon down a bit and leave the fish in place until you are ready to get them in the 15g. Just put the 5g to the side while you set up the 15g. It will eliminate some of the stress of the move for the fish.

 

[rookiefishguy]

I recently did this going from a 10g to a 20g in the same spot.

First, I took a great deal of the water out of the 10g tank and left the fish in it to lighten up the tank. I then moved the 10g tank out of the way to make room for the 20g. I scooped out the substrate from the 10g and put in the bottom of the 20g to keep the beneficial bacteria and added more substrate to cover the larger tank floor. I then started moving over the decorations from the 10g to the 20g (fake plants - no live plants).

My fish were hating me and everything about life at this point. Seriously - they are going to be STRESSED. I tried to dim the lights as much as possible in the room but they were really stressed out during the process.

Once the substrate and plants were in place, I filled up the 20g tank with new water and moved over the HOB filter and heater. During the process, I kept the filter media from the 10g tank filter wet so the beneficial bacteria wouldn't die off.

Once the new tank was full I netted the fish and put them in the 20g. This was probably the worst part of the process. I thought I had killed one of them causing some sort of fish heart attack. After I netted it and put it in the new tank it just sank to the bottom like a stone and did NOT move. I was like - crap - I killed a fish! Luckily, it recuperated fairly quickly but I clearly have a LOT to learn about the process of netting fish.

So in short, you can either move the fish into a holding area of sorts (bucket?) but I would advise against moving them twice based on my experience. Try to just drain the 5 gallon down a bit and leave the fish in place until you are ready to get them in the 15g. Just put the 5g to the side while you set up the 15g. It will eliminate some of the stress of the move for the fish.

Glad I read this before actually making the move haha was about to put my guppies in a small little bucket. So far I did the transfer and have the two filter running and the substrate and plants all made the trip! The guppies have survived the night and seem fine! my mystery snail is sitting at the top of the water though so going to have to monitor him a bit.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

So far I did the transfer and have the two filter running and the substrate and plants all made the trip! The guppies have survived the night and seem fine! my mystery snail is sitting at the top of the water though so going to have to monitor him a bit.

I am so glad all went well!