HELP! Moving a 10g tank to a 20g tank

chazsgirl

chazsgirl

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Jul 14, 2008
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I have never upgraded tanks before. This is my 10g shrimp/snail tank going to a 20g tank. Now what should i do? Should I keep some of the water and just tranfer it to the 20g tank and top off with fresh water or just start with all fresh water? also I am upgrading (possibly to a 55g filter, double sided) what should i do with the media of the old one, should I keep it to establish bacteria or start fresh? ugh.. so much for just a change! Thanks in advance to all that can offer advice!

p.s. I have more spixi eggs- yayayayay
 
I say cycle the new tank with new media AND the cycled media, itll be less stress on them.
 
put new dechlored water in the 20 and take half of the filter media from the filter in the 10 and put it in the filter on the 20 and take a handful of substrate from the old tank and put in the new
 
definitely keep the old media until the new tank is cycled wait several weeks checking ammonia levels daily. Add only 1 or 2 fish at a time. Also make sure to dechlorinate the water before adding into the new tank. Take as much from the old tank as you can.
Good Luck
 
I would say start the fresh with the new tank and get it cycled and compare the levels between the two

keep the old tank like it is

you can always let the 10G become a quarantine tank of something there of

and yes use some water from the old tank if you can as it will contain the "nutrients" needed
 
What I do if I upgrade tanks is I take all the substrate from the old tank, put it in the new tank and then top it off with new substrate until it's at the level I want it at. I then put the fish in a bucket with a filter and heater in it, swap the decorations/wood/rocks/plants to the new tank, fill it up with new water, run the heater and filter in it, then acclimate the fish to the new tank. No mini cycle or change to the water quality in the 2 times I've done it.
 
chazsgirl said:
the 20g snail/shrimp/clam tank has been cycled and the filter runs 24/7... clams were added today and all have their feet exposed...
Click to expand...

So you don't have your 20 set-up yet?

Do the clams need to be moved as well, or is it just shrimp and snails now?

David's suggestions re: moving substrate etc. is a good one. It will help move over beneficial bacteria.

Set up your new filter and move whatever old media you have from the existing filter to the trays. Do NOT rinse the media under tapwater (you'll kill all existing nitrifying bacteria). You can rinse it in tank water, if needed. Do NOT let the media dry out. Top off the new filter's media baskets with brand new media. You've just seeded the filter with a bacteria source that will grow into the new material. Do not add invertebrates into the new tank yet. It needs time to stabilize and for the new bacteria to grow. Test all parameters (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) and ensure they all check out before you add in anything (plants can be added right away however). If you don't run your filter 24/7, your bacteria will die and you will greatly prolong the time it takes to cycle-in (if it ever cycles):

Ammonia: Zero

Nitrite: Zero

Nitrate: Greater than zero and less than ~ 30-40 ppm. If you get zero nitrates on this tank (or any tank), your tank is not cycled.

With the old media seeding, it should not take long for the tank to cycle-in. It could be ready in under 24 hours, but you won't know its ready until your water testing proves it to you. This is why EVERYONE needs to own their own test kit.

All your invertebrates will have to be slowly accimated to the new tank water before being added. I have never acclimated clams... how did you acclimate yours?
 
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1. first, take off the filter, but make sure the water stays in it.

2. syphon out most of, but not all the water (85-90%). This should make it light enough to move (a buddy can be useful).

3. net the fish and put them in buckets.

4. put the new aquarium in place.

5. move the gravel, filter, air stones, decor, heater... in place.

6. fill with water (don't forget water conditioner).

7. get all equipment running.

8. add fish.

9. give old tank to me.:grinyes::grinyes:
 
The old filter media is what is the most important thing here-move ALL of it. If you are moving everything from the 10 to the 20, move all of the gravel-if not, put in a couple handfuls. The old water IS NOT necessary to move.
 
DrVader said:
So you don't have your 20 set-up yet?

Do the clams need to be moved as well, or is it just shrimp and snails now?

David's suggestions re: moving substrate etc. is a good one. It will help move over beneficial bacteria.

Set up your new filter and move whatever old media you have from the existing filter to the trays. Do NOT rinse the media under tapwater (you'll kill all existing nitrifying bacteria). You can rinse it in tank water, if needed. Do NOT let the media dry out. Top off the new filter's media baskets with brand new media. You've just seeded the filter with a bacteria source that will grow into the new material. Do not add invertebrates into the new tank yet. It needs time to stabilize and for the new bacteria to grow. Test all parameters (ammonia, nitrite and nitrate) and ensure they all check out before you add in anything (plants can be added right away however). If you don't run your filter 24/7, your bacteria will die and you will greatly prolong the time it takes to cycle-in (if it ever cycles):

Ammonia: Zero

Nitrite: Zero

Nitrate: Greater than zero and less than ~ 30-40 ppm. If you get zero nitrates on this tank (or any tank), your tank is not cycled.

With the old media seeding, it should not take long for the tank to cycle-in. It could be ready in under 24 hours, but you won't know its ready until your water testing proves it to you. This is why EVERYONE needs to own their own test kit.

All your invertebrates will have to be slowly accimated to the new tank water before being added. I have never acclimated clams... how did you acclimate yours?
Click to expand...


this was posted 8/18 has already been set up! thanks for all the advice though~
 
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