Transferring Fish to Another Tank

[jaywings19]

I currently have a Gold Nugget Plec in my 12G tank (he's only 2" big). They are hard to get around here, so I had to get one while my LFS had him in stock. It was also a benefit that he's a small one, so he would be cramped in my 12G tank.

This fish's ultimate home is going to be in my 72G tank (currently empty). I did fishless cycling and got a small unexpected ammonia reading... so I'm waiting for that to hit zero, then add a few fish (the plec and some rummynose tetras).

I want to know if there are any special guidelines to transferring fish that don't already apply to introducing a new fish that you bring home. The reason I'm asking is that my water parameters are different in the 2 tanks. They are as follows:

12G Tank
Temp: 78-80F
pH: 6.8 (no buffering - straight tap water)

72G Tank
Temp: 84F (ultimately for Discus, plec, and rummys)
pH: 6.0-6.2 (due to driftwood)

So you see that there will be a rise in temperature and a drop in pH.

Any suggestions on the best approach to the transfer?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I'd do what I do when aclimatising new fish. I would bag them, float them and add water from the new tank slowly to help stop shock.

 

[tstenback]

Bag the plec in current tank water and then follow same guidelines for bringing fish from LFS. Float for 15 mins, add some water from new tank into bag, wait 15 mins, add more water from tank into bag, wait 15 mins, net fish into new tank. HTH and Good Luck

 

[SimonA]

Do it like what happens when you buy fish from the lfs