holding tank safety

FisheyLisa

FisheyLisa

Fish-a-roni
Nov 2, 2004
502
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I have a 15g. It has anacharis. They ammonia-ed up the water, and along with a low temp emergency, causing the loss of my molly. So I am removing the anacharis, for the time being until I get a firmer grip on planted tanks. I am draining all the h20, via vacuum, so i can make sure I get out all the debris from the anacharis.

I have put the other 6 fish (listed below) in a 3-4 g holding tank with a couple of caves and a mix of old tank water and fresh water.

1) Is it ok to keep them there over night since it is so small?
2) Would it be better to refill the 15g tank with

a) cold only water, brought to temp, conditioned etc and put the fish back when the water perameters are right (1-2 days)? (which leaves them in a tight space longer, but has healthier water.

b) warm and cold to bring temp up faster and get them out of the holding tank (water conditioned etc, and I'd do a regular healty water change as soon as I could get water to right temp)?

I know I may not be going about any of this the right way, but the tank is in the process of being cleaned as soon as this is posted so my only 2 options are the ones above. I just want to know what would stress the fish less.

Thanks!!!
 
What do you mean the plants ammonia-ed up your water? The only way I can see them negatively affecting water quality would be if they were rotting and were left in the tank...though it would have been pretty obvious the plants were dead and in need of being removed.

Also, why did you need to remove the fish? A couple of water changes back to back and some gravel vac-ing would have fixed the water quality and would have been a lost less stressful on the fish.

Just fill it up using hot/cold water mix until the temperature is approximate and let it sit for a few minutes until its the right temp. Add dechlor. Add fish.

You don't have an established filter running in the holding tank...do you? I see no reason for keeping the fish in the little tank overnight.
 
the plants leaves were rotting. I couldn't find them to remove, I have been doing what you stated for a week or 2 and I still couldnt fix the situation. hence the choice to find another way to rid the tank of debris.

Thank you for the hot/cold advice! I was hoping that would be the less stressfull choice.
 
I am reusing the 3-4 gallons they are currently in and leaving a bit of water in the 15 g tank, using the hot/cold mix.

I had to clean it very aggressively...flipping over gravel and emptying it so low, that fish removal seemed the best option. I usually leave them in.
 
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