Switching to larger tank, need some advice

excal88

Hey guys, so as the title says, I'm planning on upgrading from a 26 gallon to a 45-50 gallon tank *forgot the exact size, I'm pretty sure its 46.* I was wondering if there's a quick and easy way to transfer all my fish in one go, and just use my canister filter that's already cycled *plug and play status* in the new tank. Of course I'd acclimate the fish to the new tank, but the main thing was if using the canister filter as a plug and play would be good. Its an eheim classic 2217, so filtering power is pretty good. Thanks!

AbbeysDad

Assuming your 26g was established, moving the canister to the new aquarium should be nearly plug and play - even more so if you transfer some or all of the substrate. If you're going to use all new fresh water in the new tank, you might do a 50% water change in the old tank the day before the fish move AND do a drip acclimation to ensure a smooth transition between tanks.

Good luck.

AD

flight50

I say yes and no. Considering most of your BB will be in the tank itself and considering that your going to a larger tank, your fish could be in trouble until the bio load kicks in full gear. Use all the substrate from your old tank for sure. Do it as slow as you can so that you cause minimal disturbance. Also how many fish are we speaking of moving over. You could do water changes more frequently. It also depends on whether you have a planted tank or not. If so is it heavily, moderate or light.

I am kind of in a similar situation. I will be going from a 55 heavily planted to a 125. I will have both tanks running side by side transferring stuff over slowly. Thing is my new setup will have lots of fast growing plants to start establishing themselves. After a couple of weeks or so they should be established enough to take on my bio load (4 cardinal tetras, 1 Lemon Tetra,3 otos, 5-6 cories and 1 bristle nose. I will also have half the substrate from my 55 to jump start the additional substrate along with my two establish filters.

I will be attempting the heavily planted high CO2 method without fish or the fishless cycle since plants will use the toxins quicker than the BB.

excal88

Yea I have quite a few plants, and ill be moving a rock and 5 pieces of driftwood with lots of Java Moss. I also have marimo moss balls and it'll be lighted. Ill be moving German blue rams, 11 corys, 5 neon tetras, and a royal Pleco. I'm more worried about the German blues since they're more sensitive.
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excal88

I was also wondering if using some of the old tank water in the new tank would help acclimate the fish better. The main problem with setting the tank up side by side is that I physically can't, as the main reason for making the switch is that my entire 2nd floor of my house is undergoing a remodel, so I need to move my tanks to the first floor. In a perfect world I'd like to set up both tanks in my room, but I can't, so there'll be plenty of trips up and down with buckets. Lots of buckets.

AbbeysDad

Moving downstairs is easy - garden hose siphon :)