Changing tanks

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NewbieForever

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Aug 3, 2003
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I have a 15 gallon Eclipse 1 (I know, its crap, but I tore it apart and changed the filtration system). And I recently got a 25 gallon Eclipse 2 for free (I have connections). I don't want to go through the boring agony of cycling, and I want to speed it up, maybe using parts (gravel, decorations, maybe even fish) to make cycling faster (I don't have the bio-wheel, i think I threw it out). IO want to know exactly what to do, but I don't want to risk my darling fishies (I have 5 and they're old.) I'll name them now, for the hell of it. A lemon tetra all alone, two rasboras with the triangles on them, a small pleco that never craps and sticks to my filter intake, and my only fish I've had since 1997, a skirt tetra, which is old, gray, and invincible.
 
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If you use everything from the old tank (gravel, decor, water, filter media) you can just put it all in the new tank and add water (same temp. and dechlorinated) to fill it the rest of the way, then add your fish. You shouldn't have any cycling problems, but may want to check just in case.
Vaccum the gravel thoroughly so you won't have as much cloudiness after moving it all.
With those fish, you should be able to put them in a five gallon bucket (or similar container) using tank water with an airstone while you make the transition.
Good luck!
 
Are the two systems going to run concurrently for a while, before you transfer the fish? Much better, if you can swing it. The other way is a little like whipping the tablecloth out from under Mother's teaset, without tipping over the sugar bowl.

I'd start by siphoning all over the gravel in the established tank, close enough to be picking up lots of the very top layer of gravel. That's where all the oxygen-demanding nitrifying bacteria are. Don't stir up the substrate.

Let the gunk settle out for a day, pour off most of the water, spread that gravel all over the gravel of your completely-planted-and-set-up new aquarium. Then pour all that gunk into your nice clean raw new tank!

Instant cycle-- if you've been dextrous!
 
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