Transfering To A New Tank

[STEWARDSONS]

If I get it how is best to do a change over. I want it in the same place as y current tank (which I will sell) can I do the following,

Drain 50% of the water from my tank.
Catch the fish and put them in a bucket
Drain the remaining water from the tank into containers.
Drag the old tank and stand out from where it is.
Put the new tank and cabnet in place
Transfer the sand, wood and plants to the new tank.
connect my current filters to the new tank
put the saved water into the new tank
fill the remaining part of the tank with treated tap water at the right temp
turn all on
add the fish

 

[SchottayB]

Yes no problems . Just make sure the fish you put in the bucket while your doing it all have a heater in there with them. They might be ok without, I'm not so sure.

Edit: and remember when adding the fish from the bucket into the new tank you add them how you would if you first brought them. Other wise they might stress

 

[STEWARDSONS]

Yes no problems . Just make sure the fish you put in the bucket while your doing it all have a heater in there with them. They might be ok without, I'm not so sure.

Edit: and remember when adding the fish from the bucket into the new tank you add them how you would if you first brought them. Other wise they might stress

so best to catch them from the bucket and bag them up then float them?

 

[SchottayB]

Yes no problems . Just make sure the fish you put in the bucket while your doing it all have a heater in there with them. They might be ok without, I'm not so sure.

Edit: and remember when adding the fish from the bucket into the new tank you add them how you would if you first brought them. Other wise they might stress

so best to catch them from the bucket and bag them up then float them?

Yea, adding a touch of water from the newly setup tank to the bag every 10min etc. Just helps provent sttressing them out too much.

 

[Duz]

I would agree with SchottayB. Just make sure you have a heater in the buckets (just to be safe) and if you put them in a bag, they have already been through that process once so doing it a second time won't stress them out as much.

 

[sausagewinkle]

Glad this has been posted as I am doing the 'change over' from my old to my new tank tomorrow, its always good to read others advice as well

 

[hanny93]

I'd just like to say, there's no point IMO using old water except for bagging the fish up. If you acclimatise them properly, perhaps via drip acclimatisation if it is super different, there should be no ill effects, thats just what ive read.heard. It's no diferent to getting fish from an lfs and moving them to a different tank

 

[james_fish]

Helped my brother do the exact same thing yesterday, no problems whatsoever. However he treated the new water and allowed it to stand overnight. He's just got a custom made 400 litre, needless to say I'm quite jelous

James.

 

[fluttermoth]

I must admit, I don't bag up and float my fish if I'm moving tanks. If your maintanance regime is up to scratch there's going to be minimal difference in he water.
I catch mine in a net and hold the net in (that old stand by of mine) an old margarine or ice cream tub of old water and gently lower them in and allow the water to mix a bit before I let the fish swim out. And if the fish looks incredibly stressed or panicky it's easy to whip them back into the bucket of old water while I sort outthe problem (but I've never had a problem doing it that way).

 

[timmer21]

HI,

I would also just like to say it might be a good idea if you bag them up first instead of putting them in bucket. If you bag them and put them in one of them polystiran fish boxs (ask at local fish shop for one). This will maintain the heat of the water better than a bucket and the darkness of box will relax the fish quicker as the will not see any movement that they would see in a bucket which could result in them jumping out!! Also you then just float bags once tanks ready again being less stressful for you and your fish trying to catch them a second time from bucket to bag them. If you fill the bags half water other half air, and but them in box they will be fine for hour, as this is how there transport from place to place, just bot box in courner of room and leave it till your done so there no worrying if they be alright and checking them. Give you time to consentrate on sorting tank out.

 

[hanny93]

HI,

I would also just like to say it might be a good idea if you bag them up first instead of putting them in bucket. If you bag them and put them in one of them polystiran fish boxs (ask at local fish shop for one). This will maintain the heat of the water better than a bucket and the darkness of box will relax the fish quicker as the will not see any movement that they would see in a bucket which could result in them jumping out!! Also you then just float bags once tanks ready again being less stressful for you and your fish trying to catch them a second time from bucket to bag them. If you fill the bags half water other half air, and but them in box they will be fine for hour, as this is how there transport from place to place, just bot box in courner of room and leave it till your done so there no worrying if they be alright and checking them. Give you time to consentrate on sorting tank out.

It's really much easier just to keep them in a dark bucket with a heater and a lid and as fluttermoth has already said, if you keep your tanks well maintained there should be no need really for acclimatisation, i was just saying about drips incase the water is significantly different.

Also those boxes you mentioned, the fish shop wont just give them to you

 

[sausagewinkle]

Just to butt in here
As i just said, im doing my tank move tomorrow.
Would it be possible, instead of bagging, to add some of the new water to the bucket (gradually) that the fish will be in?? rather than bagging, floating then adding water?
Just a thought, I'm trying to think of the easiest way possible

 

[hanny93]

Yes thats what i do if i do a very big water change/move tanks.

 

[sausagewinkle]

Brilliant, thanks

 

[STEWARDSONS]

i got it, i am now the proud owner of a 300 ltr 4ft tank. with cabnet, cost me £160

am going to take my time with the changeover so i get it right, how long is the maximum the fish can live a bucket with a heater?