Switching To A Larger Tank

[gmanfishey]

ok first let me say hi to everybody, hope all is well...

now i have a 150gallon tank that i am getting ready to set up. it will take the place of the 55 and the 29 gallon take. i have two rena xp3 filters, two ehiem ecco filters, a 800watt heater two hydro powerheads..the filters are runnin on the other two tanks as i type this....so my question is..once the new tank is put in place, can i hook up all four filters and put the fish in the next day?...i will be using carib sea instant aquarium substrate..

as far as stock....i have two parrott fish, 2 chery barbs, 3 plecos, 2 danios, 5 clown loachs...they are divided among the other two tanks..

so any stocking ideas would be great also...thanks in advance

 

[Noahs ark6]

If i were you i would put the two rena xp3 filters in. If your emptying the water from your excisting tanks into your new one and then filling the rest with new water you will need to wait a week. if you use completely new water you will need to wait 3-4 weeks.

 

[SlyPolak]

If you have mature media in those filters and even if you put 100% brand new water you CANNOT wait 3 weeks to put fish in because by then all the bacteria will be D-E-A-D...... If you put those established filters in the new tank and just move your fish over without getting any new YET then you can do it the same day. Then just add to your stock little by little to let the filters catch up with the waste..

Mr. Noah-- water holds almost no bacteria whatsoever.. MAYBE like 0.0009%......your filters hold like 98% then the surface areas in the tank hold the rest. The free flowing bacteria that is in the water column is not the bacteria you need. Why do you think people get bacterial blooms whenever they over feed or have something rotting? Its because those bacteria (cant remember the name) multiply faster than the beneficial bacteria..

 

[gmanfishey]

If you have mature media in those filters and even if you put 100% brand new water you CANNOT wait 3 weeks to put fish in because by then all the bacteria will be D-E-A-D...... If you put those established filters in the new tank and just move your fish over without getting any new YET then you can do it the same day. Then just add to your stock little by little to let the filters catch up with the waste..

Mr. Noah-- water holds almost no bacteria whatsoever.. MAYBE like 0.0009%......your filters hold like 98% then the surface areas in the tank hold the rest. The free flowing bacteria that is in the water column is not the bacteria you need. Why do you think people get bacterial blooms whenever they over feed or have something rotting? Its because those bacteria (cant remember the name) multiply faster than the beneficial bacteria..

yes the media in all but 1 filter will be mature, i was thinking about using some of the "old" water but i was thinking the same thing that even if i use 100% new water that the media in the filters would be enough to enable me to move the fish to their "new home"..wasent planning on adding new residents for at least a month or so, just really want to get them in the new tank so the balla shark can stretch out and swim hehehehehehe....


what stocking would u suggest?..

 

[Gvilleguy]

Gman, I don't have enough experience to recommend stock - but knowing your base water stats might help sway some opinions. pH range...KH/GH (hardness).

Also, just making sure you have considered that if you use new water that it will have the same base stats (or close) as the mature water tanks. Don't want to shock your existing fish when you move them.

 

[gmanfishey]

Gman, I don't have enough experience to recommend stock - but knowing your base water stats might help sway some opinions. pH range...KH/GH (hardness).

Also, just making sure you have considered that if you use new water that it will have the same base stats (or close) as the mature water tanks. Don't want to shock your existing fish when you move them.

yes i will check everything and post the stats, but both of the tanks get a 50% water change every week so it should be ok..yea i def dont wanna shock my babies i have had them for 4 years

 

[gmanfishey]

just ordered so stuff to stop new tank cycle...with the mature media in all of the filters it should be alright but just in case the other stuff....

also folks can somebody suggest so stocking please and a centerpiece fish. please

i have blood parrotts (2) my shy babies
cherry barbs (2)
giant danios (2)
bala shark (1) my baby
comon pleco (3) my monster pre-historic babies
clown loachs (5) my babies

so kinda want something that will add a lil color to the tank, maybe some silver dollars, a few more balas, maybe 7 more cherry barbs, and maybe angelfish for the centerpiece(all though i heard that barbs may nip the angels).maybe some bolivian rams...hmmmmm

so help help and suggestions would help and be discussed, going to the lfs store tomorrow if time premits, not to buy anything just to see what they have in the 200gl display that would look nice in my 150gal