Changing To A Larger Tank

[bitsnbobs]

I have a 19 gallon tank at the moment, which is housing all my fish, consisting of 4 x Dwarf Gouramis; 5 x Phantom Tetras; 3 x Peppered Corys; 3 x Juli Corys, 1 x Panda Cory; 7 Mosquito Rasboras and 5 Mountain Minnows - I know I'm getting overstocked so am moving them to a bigger tank. I also have a 2ft x 1ft x 1ft mature holding/quarantine tank (60 litres) housing 5 x 5 Banded Barbs who live in there.

I am collecting a 3ft x 1ft x 1ft 6 ins 33 gallon tank today and will be moving the fish from the 19 gallon tank into it. I need to keep the 19 gallon running and mature as I am planning on getting a new species for it, so will need to leave some of the fish in there - I thought the Mountain Minnows might be the best idea?

Can someone give me any advice on the best way to transfer the fish over to the bigger tank while still keeping the 19 gallon running? There is a Fluval U2 filter in the 19 gallon tank and I always keep a little Superfish Aquaflow filter running in there (I fold a Fluval sponge and pop it in) so I have a spare sponge. The 33 gallon tank will have a Fluval U4 filter, but I will need to put mature sponges in it and there is an Interpet PF2 in the holding tank.

Will it be ok to just put the mature filters in the new tank with fresh water or do I need to take some of the water out of the 19 gallon tank to put in? also do I move the fish over slowly or will they be ok to just transfer them....any advice much appreciated! thanks

 

[KittyKat]

I am collecting a 3ft x 1ft x 1ft 6 ins 33 gallon tank today and will be moving the fish from the 19 gallon tank into it. I need to keep the 19 gallon running and mature as I am planning on getting a new species for it, so will need to leave some of the fish in there - I thought the Mountain Minnows might be the best idea?

No: WCMM are active fish and do best in 3ft+, you are better off leaving the mosquito rasboras or the tetras in there as they are smaller/less active.

Can someone give me any advice on the best way to transfer the fish over to the bigger tank while still keeping the 19 gallon running? There is a Fluval U2 filter in the 19 gallon tank and I always keep a little Superfish Aquaflow filter running in there (I fold a Fluval sponge and pop it in) so I have a spare sponge. The 33 gallon tank will have a Fluval U4 filter, but I will need to put mature sponges in it and there is an Interpet PF2 in the holding tank.

Split the mature media according to the proportion of fish each tank will have (so if you move most fish to the new tank, move about 50-70% of the media to the new tank). Then top up with new media. Make sure old media is toward the start of the filter and new media toward the end.

Will it be ok to just put the mature filters in the new tank with fresh water or do I need to take some of the water out of the 19 gallon tank to put in? also do I move the fish over slowly or will they be ok to just transfer them....any advice much appreciated! thanks

Fresh (dechlorinated/dechloraminated) water is fine for the filter, but the fish might benefit from not having all their water changed in one go.. if it was me, I would increase water changes to bring parameters closer to the tap water before moving the fish, but then again, I tend to be more careful with that sort of stuff than most people.

I am surprised that you haven't had any problems with the dwarf gouramis in a 19 gallon.. normally any males would have long since been on a murder spree!

 

[bitsnbobs]

Hi Kat and many many thanks for your sound advice....firstly the Dwarf Gouramis..I have one male (Elvis 'King of the Tank' ) and 3 females (Dolly, Mo and Silver)....I have had no problems whatsoever with Elvis, hes a babe..has a little chase of the females now and again-they just swim straight back to him no bother - he is very laid back, bless him...comes to the front of the tank when its food time. Maybe I've just been lucky? the tank is very well planted though, I don't do plastic, with lots of hiding places.

I will follow your advice closely regarding changing over tanks, and will leave the Mosquito Rasboras and Tetras in the 19 gallon for now, until I get the Threadfin Glassfish I've ordered - fingers crossed they arrive.

Thanks again, much appreciated....regards Julie

 

[KittyKat]

Hi Kat and many many thanks for your sound advice....firstly the Dwarf Gouramis..I have one male (Elvis 'King of the Tank' ) and 3 females (Dolly, Mo and Silver)....I have had no problems whatsoever with Elvis, hes a babe..has a little chase of the females now and again-they just swim straight back to him no bother - he is very laid back, bless him...comes to the front of the tank when its food time. Maybe I've just been lucky? the tank is very well planted though, I don't do plastic, with lots of hiding places.

Plants are just wonderful, aren't they? I have often had very good results with fish that are normally considered "aggressive" in heavily planted tanks.. I must admit, the only dwarf gouramis I have ever had were as laid back as yours! Maybe their reputation is not that deserved..