Switching Fish From One Tank To Another

[sportsman26]

Hello there!

I just got my 55 gallon tank setup and i am going to be transfering my fish that i have in my 30 to the 55gal. My question is this. Can i take the filter that is on the 30 gal and hook it up to the 55 gallon, with the 55 gallon filter running, and put the fish in the 55 gal and then let the bacteria that is already built up on the old filter build up for the 55 gal? sorry for the long question but thats the only way i could ask it. I am just wondering because i don't want my fish to die because the new tank has to high of ammonia. If you understand what i am asking any help would be appreciated.

 

[Somethings Fishy Here]

You definitely dont want to do that. The bacteria must be given time to spread throughout the tank from gravel to filter and everywhere in between so they can be right there to dispose of fish waste. But it would be a good idea for you to take the filter media from the 30 gallon and put it in the 55 gallon's filter (just add new media to the 30 gallon filter) as it will help to speed up this process.

Hope this helps

 

[tidytourniquet]

Whats the difference in taking the media out of the 30 gal filter and putting it in the 55 gal filter then what they want to do? Either way the all the good bacteria will be in the new 55 gal

 

[modernhamlet]

Hello there!

I just got my 55 gallon tank setup and i am going to be transfering my fish that i have in my 30 to the 55gal. My question is this. Can i take the filter that is on the 30 gal and hook it up to the 55 gallon, with the 55 gallon filter running, and put the fish in the 55 gal and then let the bacteria that is already built up on the old filter build up for the 55 gal? sorry for the long question but thats the only way i could ask it. I am just wondering because i don't want my fish to die because the new tank has to high of ammonia. If you understand what i am asking any help would be appreciated.

This sounds like a perfectly good plan. Leave the 30g filter on the new tank for at least 2 weeks. It wouldn't hurt to transfer some of the filter media to the new filter to help it catch up easier.

 

[Mad Duff]

Hi Fish Noob I asked pretty much the same thing yesterday as that is more or less what I plan on doing.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=114552

 

[Somethings Fishy Here]

Whats the difference in taking the media out of the 30 gal filter and putting it in the 55 gal filter then what they want to do? Either way the all the good bacteria will be in the new 55 gal

I was agreeing with what they were saying except for putting the fish into the new aquarium immediately. You probably don't want to risk that for a couple of weeks. And if the fish are going to stay in the 30 gallon then theyre going to need the 30 gallon filter still.

 

[trace1]

putting the fish in the new tank with the 30 gallon in there as well will be fine, the only time there would be a problem is if he adds a lot more fish at the same time ( please correct me if i'm wrong )
the bio load will be the same in either the 55 or the 30. if it was me i would transfer the fish over as well.
i have even cycled a filter by putting it in a tank then when ready it has gone into its own tank so instandly cycled tank

 

[tidytourniquet]

I was agreeing with what they were saying except for putting the fish into the new aquarium immediately. You probably don't want to risk that for a couple of weeks. And if the fish are going to stay in the 30 gallon then theyre going to need the 30 gallon filter still.

Wouldn't putting a cycled filter on a tank that has nothing in it be kinda pointless? All the bio bugs would die cause they have nothing to feed off of, unless you add ammonia which I think is just making more work for yourself when its not necessary cause you could just have the fish in there

 

[Somethings Fishy Here]

I was agreeing with what they were saying except for putting the fish into the new aquarium immediately. You probably don't want to risk that for a couple of weeks. And if the fish are going to stay in the 30 gallon then theyre going to need the 30 gallon filter still.

Wouldn't putting a cycled filter on a tank that has nothing in it be kinda pointless? All the bio bugs would die cause they have nothing to feed off of, unless you add ammonia which I think is just making more work for yourself when its not necessary cause you could just have the fish in there

no its not pointless as you would buy all the necessary additives (like ammonia) that you normally would buy when cycling an aquarium without fish, in this case to sustain the bacteria culture in the 30 gal media until the entire new tank from gravel to water is acclimated but I figured that went without saying. guess I was wrong

 

[Tolak]

If you were to set up the new 55 with the new filter, switch the fish, then switch the old filter from the 30 to the 55 all within a few hours, you should have no problems. I have done this plenty of times in the past, filters or just filter media following fish as they grow from tank to tank. Taking half the media from a 20 gallon, along with half the fish & putting them in a second 20 gallon happens all the time here, without any problems.

If you let the old filter run for more than a few hours without any source of ammo, such as fish, bacteria will start to die off. Switching fish with the filter keeps it cycled. Any bacteria left in the old gravel, on old decorations, or on the sides of the tank will be more than compensated for by having nearly double the water.

Tolak

 

[tidytourniquet]

no its not pointless as you would buy all the necessary additives (like ammonia) that you normally would buy when cycling an aquarium without fish, in this case to sustain the bacteria culture in the 30 gal media until the entire new tank from gravel to water is acclimated but I figured that went without saying. guess I was wrong thumbs-up.gif

Thats why I said

unless you add ammonia which I think is just making more work for yourself when its not necessary cause you could just have the fish in there

But anyway, Fish Noob26 will you be showing pics when its all done?