Move To Bigger Aquarium - Keep One Month Old Fish?

[aFishiWish]

Hello:
 
I purchased a 20 gallon tank about a month ago and followed the set-up rules, tested the water, etc. before putting any fish in the 20 gallon tank.  I debated for a while about getting a bigger tank and I think the heater that came with the tank is crap.
 
I decided to get a new 36 gallon bow tank and I'm not sure if I want to start all over or transfer the fish from the 20 gallon tank.  I started out with 3 zebra danios and they've been pretty hardy.  About 10 days later I added 3 guppies but since then two of them have died.
 
I'd like to keep the remaining fish - 2 guppies, the 3 zebra, and a Cory but I'm worried that the existing water is somewhat "tainted" by the death of the two guppies.  The guppies in general seem a little less energetic than the zebras.  The Cory is going pretty strong.
 
With the new tank I'll be using a new filter and heater but the same plants and gravel.  So the big, roundabout question - would you start over fresh or keep going with the current water and its inhabitants?
 
Thanks so much for the consideration.  I'm sure this question has been asked in one fashion or the other but I feel like this is kind of unusual due to the quick switch in tank size (about a month since initial start-up).

 

[bluesword23516]

You can use the same stuff as long as the filter can handle the new tank size. The zebra danios are much more energetic than the guppies, I have both species. Before you change tanks if you can cycle it, then great! If not take as much water as you can from the old tank.

Do you know why the guppies died?

 

[aFishiWish]

Thanks for your feedback.
 
I have no problem cycling the new tank but I'm wondering if transferring the remaining fish will be too much of a shock for them.  One thing I've discovered is the importance of the filter in the new tank and trying to bring the old one to the new one.  However, I just bought a new filter for the 20 gallon tank 3 days ago so it doesn't have much in the way of bacteria.  I also plan to return it because it is way TOO noisy.
 
I'm not sure about the guppies - those that died came from the same store but they seem to hang out at the top of the tank quite a bit.  I've read some information that what could be a cause is that perhaps the Nitrate levels are off.  I use the water conditioner and have changed the water but maybe it would be helpful to get something to test the nitrate.  Is the API Freshwater Master and Mini Test Kit a good choice for this or would someone recommend another?
 
Thanks again.

 

[Ch4rlie]

If your tank was indeed cycled, i'd suggest you can easily transfer all the filter media to the new filter as this would pretty much instantly cycle the new tank.
 
As for transferring water from old tank to new, this does next to nothing in terms of cycling a tank.
 
If you acclimatise the fish when transferring to new tank, they would then not be too shocked 
 
I would recommend you get a API FW master test kit, these are fairly decent.
 
If however you do not already have a test kit, how did you know if the tank was cycled previously?
 
And nitrate levels over 40 - 60+ ppm for any length of time, can have a an effect on stocking, if levels below 40 ppm, that should be fine as long as weekly water changes are carried out.

 

[bluesword23516]

With the water I just meant that it would be safer for the fish and easier for them rather than having to start from scratch. I would take out the new fish you buy and put them in a quarantine tank, I made the mistake of not doing that (no one told me at the store) and it has destroyed my tank twice.

 

[aFishiWish]

With the water I just meant that it would be safer for the fish and easier for them rather than having to start from scratch. I would take out the new fish you buy and put them in a quarantine tank, I made the mistake of not doing that (no one told me at the store) and it has destroyed my tank twice.

I'm confused by what you mean by putting new fish I buy in a quarantine tank.  So I set up the new tank, transfer the water, plants and decor from the old tank and then what?  Can I transfer the fish from my old tank?
I don't understand what is meant by filter media.  If I'm setting up a new tank with a new filter, how would I transfer filter media from a filter I plan to return?
 
As far as cycling the tank in all honesty I may be confusing the process.  I believed cycling involved the initial set-up of the tank - waiting 10 days before adding fish, switching the water out at one point, etc. but no, I have not done any water testing.
 
Thanks again for the help

 

[bluesword23516]

When you buy new fish from a store if you have a separate tank with nothing else in it, it is best to keep it separate for about two weeks, that way if the fish has any disease or illness it won't infect your other fish.   
 
Filter media is the stuff in your filter.  Some have a sponge and carbon filters (like mine) so I would just take the sponge out and put it in the new filter. 

 

[aFishiWish]

Well, all my guppies are gone - two today, found one floating this morning and one was fine when I got home but later discovered him by the filter tube.
 
The 3 zebra danios I bought after setting up the tank are still going strong as is the Cory that I bought about 10 days after the zebras.  I did a water test and the nitrate was a little high but everything else seemed OK.
 
Still debating on setting up all new, sticking with the 20 gallon or moving the old water into the bigger tank.
 
Are guppies notoriously sensitive?
 
Thanks for any help

 

[dopieopie]

Guppies seem to be sickly a lot of the time , so any shock to them, say versus a very healthy fish is not likely to end well. My few attempts with guppies over the years has never lasted more than a few months.