Baggin Fish

[flips]

in the next few days i'll be moving my fish to a 29g from a 10g, and i'm going to follow a method i found posted on here... but i've never bagged any fish before and i'm looking for advice on how to do it.

thanks!

 

[Durbkat]

I hope you know like if its a new tank that to add only two per week. The best,easiest, and most obvious way to do is to get a ziplock bag dip it into tank to get tank water into it take your net scoop two fish out put them into bag ziplock the bag walk over to your 29 gallon tank, turn 29g tank light off, set bag in tank for 20 minutes, open bag, take another bag and scoop some tank water from 29g tank and pour into bag with fish, close bag, wait five minutes, take net and scoop fish out of bag, release them into tank, close lid andthen wait two days before turning the light back on and during the two days with the light off don't feed them because if you feed them with light off they will think that when the light is off it is safe and then they won't eat when the light is on nor will they swim around when light is on. So for example if you did this on a friday next week you would do same thing as you did the first time then repeat until you get all fish into your 29g. Also good luck.

 

[Fish_Mike]

I hope you know like if its a new tank that to add only two per week. The best,easiest, and most obvious way to do is to get a ziplock bag dip it into tank to get tank water into it take your net scoop two fish out put them into bag ziplock the bag walk over to your 29 gallon tank, turn 29g tank light off, set bag in tank for 20 minutes, open bag, take another bag and scoop some tank water from 29g tank and pour into bag with fish, close bag, wait five minutes, take net and scoop fish out of bag, release them into tank, close lid andthen wait two days before turning the light back on and during the two days with the light off don't feed them because if you feed them with light off they will think that when the light is off it is safe and then they won't eat when the light is on nor will they swim around when light is on. So for example if you did this on a friday next week you would do same thing as you did the first time then repeat until you get all fish into your 29g. Also good luck.

Actaully the reason why shouldn't feed fish when it's dark is because their metabolisms slow down and they will not eat. The food will simply rot.

 

[Luke_e]

Cheers mike, i never knew that.

 

[Durbkat]

I don't find that to be true what you said fish mike because for some reason when 3 of my regular black tetras were in my 10g I had at the beginning when I first got them two years ago I turned the light on as soon as I got them and they never ate with the light on nor did they move while the light was on then I moved them into my long 20g and they have started eating and swimming around while the light is on.

 

[Fish_Mike]

I don't find that to be true what you said fish mike because for some reason when 3 of my regular black tetras were in my 10g I had at the beginning when I first got them two years ago I turned the light on as soon as I got them and they never ate with the light on nor did they move while the light was on then I moved them into my long 20g and they have started eating and swimming around while the light is on.

All i can say is;

'what i said was fact'

 

[Durbkat]

Ok, whatever

 

[kimbowee]

How long has your 10 gal been running? Is it cycled? Is your LFS willing to give you any plastic bags they use? I personally don't like zip-lock bags as they can come open if the bag tips.

You can clone the 10 gal if it has already been cycled and be able to move all of your fish at once after acclimatizing them. For this you would want to get the 29 gal set up, filled with dechlorinated water and get the temp where you want it.
Move decorations and plants to new tank (makes catching fish easier with no obstacles) Bag all fish, then float the bags in your new tank for 20-30 minutes.
While floating your fish, move the filter from the 10 gal to the 29 gal and run both filters for at least 2 weeks. The 10 gal filter will hold the correct amount of nitrifying bacteria for the fish currently in that tank. You can also take some of your gravel from the 10 gal & put it in a stocking near the filter intake.
After the first 30 minutes of floating add 1/2 cup new tank water to the bag and float for an additional 15 minutes. Repeat.
Net fish and release into new tank. I'd leave the lights off for the first day to let them get more comfy in their new surroundings.
Don't add any new fish for at least the first week, preferably not until the 2nd week.

Hope that helps!

 

[Durbkat]

I hope you know like if its a new tank that to add only two per week. The best,easiest, and most obvious way to do is to get a ziplock bag dip it into tank to get tank water into it take your net scoop two fish out put them into bag ziplock the bag walk over to your 29 gallon tank, turn 29g tank light off, set bag in tank for 20 minutes, open bag, take another bag and scoop some tank water from 29g tank and pour into bag with fish, close bag, wait five minutes, take net and scoop fish out of bag, release them into tank, close lid andthen wait two days before turning the light back on and during the two days with the light off don't feed them because if you feed them with light off they will think that when the light is off it is safe and then they won't eat when the light is on nor will they swim around when light is on. So for example if you did this on a friday next week you would do same thing as you did the first time then repeat until you get all fish into your 29g. Also good luck.

I find this way to be better because you can let the tank cycle on its own and not rush it. Also you can get the fish settled in the correct way.

 

[kimbowee]

I hope you know like if its a new tank that to add only two per week. The best,easiest, and most obvious way to do is to get a ziplock bag dip it into tank to get tank water into it take your net scoop two fish out put them into bag ziplock the bag walk over to your 29 gallon tank, turn 29g tank light off, set bag in tank for 20 minutes, open bag, take another bag and scoop some tank water from 29g tank and pour into bag with fish, close bag, wait five minutes, take net and scoop fish out of bag, release them into tank, close lid andthen wait two days before turning the light back on and during the two days with the light off don't feed them because if you feed them with light off they will think that when the light is off it is safe and then they won't eat when the light is on nor will they swim around when light is on. So for example if you did this on a friday next week you would do same thing as you did the first time then repeat until you get all fish into your 29g. Also good luck.

I find this way to be better because you can let the tank cycle on its own and not rush it. Also you can get the fish settled in the correct way.

I don't know how many times you have been told this, but tanks don't just cycle on their own. Try reading up on the cycling process. Its at the top of the Beginners Section under Beginner FAQ topics and guides.

If you are cloning a tank it is nothing like a new tank. All of the required nitrifying bacteria is present in the filter already.

Just because its what you did or what worked for you doesn't mean that its correct.

Flips, if you would like additional info you can use your assistant and search for the word "cloning." It may help you get a better idea of how the process works.

 

[Durbkat]

Well if a tank can't cycle in two weeks with no fish then why have over 30 members said thats the thing to do since you don't put fish in harms way and it can build up by putting gravel and stuff in their, only very few have said take the filter from your previous tank and run it in the new tank. That would be just to much current.

 

[kimbowee]

Well if a tank can't cycle in two weeks with no fish then why have over 30 members said thats the thing to do since you don't put fish in harms way and it can build up by putting gravel and stuff in their, only very few have said take the filter from your previous tank and run it in the new tank. That would be just to much current.

I don't know which 30 members you are listening to. Every post I have read that talks about leaving a tank with no fish in it, its because they are doing a fishless cycle. Its called a "fishless cycle" meaning without fish but you are adding ammonia daily to the tank to mimic the fish waste. The process is called the Nitrogen Cycle.

If you search the forum for "cloning" you will find that most people suggest moving the filter from the old tank to the new tank if all inhabitants are also moving to the new tank. If they are not moving then the general suggestion is to take the new filter and run it on an established tank for at least 2 weeks to establish the nitrifying bacteria. Most, if not all, of the nitrifying bacteria actually live in the filter, not the gravel. If you would like to join the debate Durbkat here is a thread talking specifcally about bactera & where it lives http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=111335

It is not too much current. I have successfully cloned tanks myself using the suggestions from this very forum.

Like I said before, Just because its what you did or what works for you, it doesn't mean its correct.

 

[kimbowee]

I have done a search on "cloning" and this is what I came up with. The oldest link is from mid-August.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...1716&hl=cloning

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...5121&hl=cloning

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...5888&hl=cloning

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...8392&hl=cloning

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...9253&hl=cloning

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...3512&hl=cloning

 

[flips]

wow... ha ha... thanks for all the replies everyone! i will need to move all the fish at once, as i will be cloning the tank and using the filter from the 10g alongside the new one for the 29g for a week or 2. so i can't leave any fish in the 10g without a filter i'm going to follow this method: my new aquarium, condensed photo diary that Jules H-T used, to hopefully avoid any cycling in the new tank at all.

i'm getting the tank today...

thanks for your help - wish me luck

 

[rdd1952]

I just finished changing the sand in my 29 gallon and can offer some advice on what to do since I had to move all my fish out to a temp tank (actually a 16 gallon tub) and then back into the same tank (completely scrubbed clean with new sand). I ended up only moving about 10 to 15 gallon of the old water over to the new tank and used fresh water to finish filling it. If your 10 gallon has been running for a while and is cycled, you should be fine to just move that filter over for the first 2 or 3 weeks. Here is what I would do:

1. The 2 days before you move them, do a 25% water change each day. That will serve 2 purposes, getting the tank pH closer to the tap pH and also get clean water in the tank so when you move it over you won't be putting dirty water in the new tank.
2. Set the 29 gallon along with new substrate and any decorations and plants (even those from the 10 gallon if you are moving any over).
3. Test the pH of your 10 gallon and of your tap water to see how far apart they are. If they are within .4 of each other, you won't have any problems at all.
4. If there are any plants or decorations left in the 10 gallon, take them out so it is nothing but water and fish.
5. Start moving the water from the old tank to the new one. Lower the 10 gallon to about 2" of water. The fish will be much easier to catch that way.
6. Net your fish and move them directly into the new tank. The water is what they just came out of so there is no need to bag and float them (very stressful). It is also easier to catch them if you have 2 nets. You can herd them with one right into the second one.
7. If the tank pH is within .4 of the tap pH, you can go ahead and fill up the tank. Just make sure the temperature of the water you are adding is within a degree of the water in the tank. If there is more than .4 difference, add 5 gallon of water now (about 15 gallon in tank now) and then add another 5 gallon every 30 minutes to and hour until the tank is full. Just make sure the thermometer is in the tank (will have to put it down low enough to be in the water) and turned on so that the tank temp doesn't drop too much before the tank is full.
8. Once there is enough water in the 29 gallon to safely run your filters, start both the new filter and the one that was on the 10 gallon. Run both of them together for 2 or 3 weeks and then you should be able to safely remove the one from the 10 gallon. Another option, depending on what type filters you have, is to move all the media from the 10 gallon filter to the filter on the 29 gallon and just run it. Obviously, check for ammonia and nitrite during this time frame and after you take the other filter off the tank just to make sure you don't experience a mini cycle.
9. If at all possible, leave the lights off on the 29 gallon tank the entire time to ease the stress on the fish. Don't turn the lights back on until the next day.