Moving From Old To New Aquarium

[tzimpfer]

Quick question, I have a 29 gallon tank with 5 African Cichlids in it, some fake plants, a rock, and a piece of drift wood. I just bought a 75 gallon tank and put black sand and a new filter on it. If I move my decorations from the old tank to the new tank will that carry enough beneficial bacteria for me or should I still do a lifeless fish cycle in the new tank?

 

[phoenixgsd]

no, its the filter that carries the bacteria, can you not move the media from your old filter into the new filter or even move the whole old filter into the new tank

 

[tzimpfer]

no, its the filter that carries the bacteria, can you not move the media from your old filter into the new filter or even move the whole old filter into the new tank

I could move it and run the filters side by side? If so, for how long? I cannot take the media out of my old filter to the new one.

 

[bullit]

Yeah run them together for a few months. Obviously transfer most of your water over aswell.

 

[phoenixgsd]

im curious as to why you cant take out the media from your old filter? also there is little benifit from transfering water

 

[eaglesaquarium]

im curious as to why you cant take out the media from your old filter? also there is little benifit from transfering water

In terms of bacteria, I would agree regarding the water. However, in terms of acclimating the fish, using the old water, and filling the rest with tap water would mean that the fish wouldn't need an acclimatization period. It would just be the same as a water change.


Personally, I'd move 50% of the water to the new tank, and refill the old tank. Then fill the new tank nearly the rest of the way... then remove as much water from the old tank as possible (leaving just enough water for the fish to swim in) and put that water into the new tank. Then I'd move the fish over, easy to catch with small amount of water. Assuming that the tanks are temp matched (and that you've been doing standard maintenance routinely), there would be no acclimatization time necessary...

 

[tzimpfer]

im curious as to why you cant take out the media from your old filter? also there is little benifit from transfering water

My old filter was an Auqeon that uses cartridges and my new filter is an Aqua Clear that uses a foam layer, charcoal, and an ammonia neutralizer layer. I am not sure how I woukd fit in a cartridge filter.

Thank you for all the replies, very helpful.

 

[Scates11]

I ran into a similar issue when i ditched the aqueon filter and replaced it with an AC 70 for my 36 bowfront. There was really no way to do it, I asked around on here for a while and didnt really get anywhere, they are just way too different. I just ended up starting my cycle over, I only lost 7 days so it was not to bad. A member on here did mention a good idea that could work for you....think about cutting open your cartridge at the top, empty out all of the carbon and placing the ceramic peices that came with your new AC filter in the old cartridge. This should allow the bacteria on the outside of the cartridge to seed the ceramic pellets...i think this will at least help and may be the best you can do.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

You can also cut up the old cartridges and put them in the new filter in place of the charcoal. ;-) carbon is only needed to remove meds from the water and nothing more.