Moving From 20G To 55G - Need Advice

[maddox]

I recently picked up a 55 gallon tank and have very little idea on how to make the transition as smooth as possible.
 
I have the following fish established and cycled 20g tank with two filters running:
 
3 botia loaches (yo yo loach)
1 guppy
2 guppy fry separated in its own little container
2 platy
2 ghost shrimp
 
If someone can give some pointers, would really appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[SmexxyNick]

Just net all the fish and shrimp put them in a 5 gallon bucket. suck up the sand or gravel and put it in the new tank. and just do a normal water change. keep half or so and add 50% new water doesn't really matter. but that's it. Goodluck

 

[Axyadbad]

Remember to put the filters from the old tank into the new one.. then the ammonia bioload is already taken care of Good thinking going bigger

 

[Chris0422]

I did this about 8 months ago. As said before fish in bucket and set up 55, don't forget to move your media.I added fish too soon take it slow.

 

[maddox]

I did this about 8 months ago. As said before fish in bucket and set up 55, don't forget to move your media.I added fish too soon take it slow.

 
What do you mean you added fish too soon? Do you mean you need to wait a little bit for everything to settle in the new tank before moving the fish from the bucket to the new tank? How much time, if so?

 

[ncguppy830]

 

I did this about 8 months ago. As said before fish in bucket and set up 55, don't forget to move your media.I added fish too soon take it slow.

 
What do you mean you added fish too soon? Do you mean you need to wait a little bit for everything to settle in the new tank before moving the fish from the bucket to the new tank? How much time, if so?
 

Well i know that in newly cyled tanks you only add a certain amount of fish at a time, but i dont this this counts with you as your cycled.

 

[maddox]

My problem is I have only one stand that will hold the 55g. The 55g tank is sitting on the floor right now empty. The 20g established is on the stand. It's rather heavy, so not sure if I can even lift the 55g with the water from the 20g. Also, should I wait to keep adding water to the tank? Does anyone know how much of the tank 20g of water would fill?

 

[BriansAquarium]

You can always empty out the water, and keep just the substrate and filters for the 55g. Although, since the new tank is 55gallon I would keep all 20gallons old water then add that and 35 more gallons of new water plus your substrate and filters then add all of it into your 55g tank. Never try and lift a full tank even if it is 20 gallons.

 

[Chris0422]

Add the fish you have then allow them to get settled before adding more fish