Tank Move

[Nanonut]

I am getting ready to move the contents of my 10gal tank to a new 29 gallon tank. I want to prune out about 1/2 of the plants in the 10 gal to put in the new tank but also want to keep the 10 gal tank up and running. What is the best way that I can move the fish to their new home that will be as stress free as possible for them? Thanks in advance!

[sumoschro]

the only way i can think of is with a net....usually that is not way too stressful for the fish, as long as the net is soft and you can do it quickly.

[SayersWeb]

I'd take as much of the water from the 10 along with the filter media if possible and use them in the 29.

[sumoschro]

yeah i agree with sayers, because it will shorten the cycling time significantly, because the bacteria has already been established in the filter and water of the old aquarium.

[zin]

If you wana move all the fish at once to the 29 it would probably be best to take the gravel aswell, just buy new stuff for the 10 and populate that slowly, there will be enough bacterial on the walls and in the filter(not the media) to have 1 fish in there then slowly add more as the bacteria builds up.

or you could fishless cycle the 10gallon.

[Karlsbad]

If you have any striped rafaels or other fish that attach themselves to decorations, schedule the move for when they're out of their hiding places.

[Nanonut]

Thank everyone. I don't have any fish that attach themselves to any decorations or anythign so that shouldn't be a problem. I have a bunch of large rocks in the tank I built little caves with that I'll transfer along with the plants. I hadn't thought of transfering the filter bag thing along with it. I would like to transfer the rocks but they are a hideous shade of blue and inthe new tank i want to get some natural looking medium to put on the bottom. Any ideas as to what I shoud use that would look good and be good for plant growth?

[NJ Devils Fan]

I honestly would do a fishless cycle, not fishy. Add some of the decorations and filter media from the old tank to the new one. That way would be the least stressful for your fish.

As far as substrate, I would recommend flourite made by seachem.

http://www.seachem.com/en_products/product_pages/images/full_size/0495_flourite.jpg

Flourite™ is a specially fracted stable porous clay gravel for the natural planted aquarium. Although it may be mixed with other gravels, Flourite™ is best used as an integral substrate bed. Any mixture should be at least half Flourite™. Gravel modifiers such as laterite are not necessary. Flourite™ is not chemically coated or treated, and will not alter the pH of the water. Although pre-washed, it should be rinsed before use to remove residual dust. Slight initial cloudiness is normal and will clear rapidly. Each 7 kg (15.4 lbs) bag is sufficient for about a 2 inch deep bed in a typical 10 gallon tank. Recommended use is 1 kg for about each 200 cm2 (31 in2) of tank bottom.

[zin]

Yeah fishless cycle is best but drives me insane :P

you could put the gravel in some sort of bag for the first few weeks, but that would be alot of gravel.

my first tanks gravel was neon orange :D

[Karlsbad]

Enough Bio Spira for a 29 gallon tank is 10 bucks, I just used it, and added fish the same day, ammonia never got over .25 ppm and never had any nitrites, the stuff kicks ***.

[SayersWeb]

Originally posted by Karlsbad
Enough Bio Spira for a 29 gallon tank is 10 bucks, I just used it, and added fish the same day, ammonia never got over .25 ppm and never had any nitrites, the stuff kicks ***. Yup.... I've had good luck with it too! Although for bigger tanks it gets a little expensive.