Just Bought A 2nd Hand 180l Tank & Fish

[langy]

I'm completely new to the fish keeping scene and have just won myself a 180 litre Juwel and stand with 15 fish I don't know what fish are included but i'm a bit worried about the survival of them during the 35 mile journey home.

I guess the best thing to do is to get as much as the original water from the owner and transport it as well and re-introduce the fish with a bit of old water and a bit of new

What are the chances of any fish surviving and what are the best things to do to avoid shortening the lives of the little blighters.

Any tips / advise greatly appreciated.

 

[Marcos]

I think I saw that on ebay! Very nice tank.
How long will the trip take you? One of the biggest problems is going to be keeping the water at a reasonable temp. Using some cool boxes may be an option as they may hold in the heat for the journey additionally turn your car heater up!
I wouldn't worry too much about keeping all of the tank's water but you must take the filter sponges out of the Juwel filter and put them in a container of tank water in order to keep some of the bacteria alive. Once you have it all home fill the tank (you're going to need a water treatment like Aquasafe), add the filter media, get the heater plugged in (after you have filled the tank otherwise you'll smash it). Once the water temp is up to around 24-26deg C you should be able to introduce the fish. As long as the filter survives you should be in the clear.
Let us know how you get on!

 

[langy]

Cheers for the advice, i would guess the journey will take 45 mins without fish and tank and 60 mins with. I get some Aquasafe tomorrow and do as you have suggested.

Just hope the mortality rate is kept to a minimum

 

[langy]

Just as an update, i got the tank home yeterday evening , filled with water, switched the heater and filter on and the fish (still don't know what they are) are living in a polystyrene box until later on today when the water has heated up and they can return to the tank.

Just hoping that the water quality is OK, i have used the old gravel and filter was out of water for about 3 hours, so fngers crossed.

However, if someone thinks i'll become a mass fish murderer by doing this, please let me know ASAP.

TIA

Sean

 

[Bloo]

Congratulations on your new tank - they are lovely tanks indeed (I have a Juwel Vision 180)

Do you have test kits for ammonia and nitrite ? Even though this was established beforehand, you might have induced a cycle during the transportation and set-up. If not, try to get those two test and do daily tests over the next week or so to ensure that your nitrite and ammonia remain at zero at all times.
If either rise, perform a 20% daily water change until the levels have reached zero.

(Ideally you should have kept the sponges sugmerged in tank water while transporting. As this was not the case, you will almost certainly see some mini spike at least).

 

[langy]

Congratulations on your new tank - they are lovely tanks indeed (I have a Juwel Vision 180)

Do you have test kits for ammonia and nitrite ? Even though this was established beforehand, you might have induced a cycle during the transportation and set-up. If not, try to get those two test and do daily tests over the next week or so to ensure that your nitrite and ammonia remain at zero at all times.
If either rise, perform a 20% daily water change until the levels have reached zero.

(Ideally you should have kept the sponges sugmerged in tank water while transporting. As this was not the case, you will almost certainly see some mini spike at least).

I do have a test kit, so will check when i get home.

[newbie mode on] What is a 'mini spike' i'm guessing it's something to do with levels going up when they shouldn't be [newbie mode off]

 

[Bloo]

it just means your tank might go into a small cycle if some of the bacteria have died off during transport while the filter was not submerged and pumping away.

More about the Nitrogen Cyle here.

Fingers crossed all goes well

 

[Marcos]

Was you not able to keep the filter media (sponges) in tank water?

 

[langy]

Was you not able to keep the filter media (sponges) in tank water?

The peope i bought it from had already removed the water before i got there and the majority of the tank water had been poured down the drain

I'll let you know how i get on.