Need advice ... hot swapping a tank

[logan5]

So ... we're ready for a tank upgrade ... unfortunately the place where my wife wants the new bigger tank is where the old smaller tank is.  Right now we have a 30 gallon cube sitting where the 55 gallon is going to go ...  so ... do you guys think this is going to work?

1) Empty out the water into buckets
2) House the fish in the buckets (with air pumps of course)
3) Use all of the present gravel in the new tank mixed in with newer gravel
4) Dump in the old water with new water to make up the difference
5) Use the old filter (Eheim canister)
6) Put fish into new home

Think it'll work all in one day?

[cichlidsooner]

Re: Need advice ... hot swapping a tank

Yes! You should be able to do it in a day.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Need advice ... hot swapping a tank

Sounds like a game plan!

Keep the filter running in the bucket with fish, that way the bacteria doesn't die.

[logan5]

Re: Need advice ... hot swapping a tank

cool, I think it's going to be a lot of work, but I really don't have any other option, as I don't have the time to cycle the new tank.

[Spot86t]

Re: Need advice ... hot swapping a tank

You might be able to empty the current tank halfway or so, and with some help, lift it and the stand (which you may have to empty too) up just enough to move it out of the way of where the new one will go.  If it's on carpet, a piece of old linoleum under the stand (shiny side down) will make it slide easier, and if it's on a hard surface, a rug placed fuzzy side down will help wiht sliding it.  Just extension cord the filter/air pump for the time being.  It would save a good bit of time this way since you skip almost the whole bucket thing.

[Anonapersona]

Re: Need advice ... hot swapping a tank

I would not try to move a tank with water in it. It is too easy to have water shift and stress the seams of the tank.

I've moved from one tank to another in the same spot more than a few times, no big deal. Last time was after Christmas, when I moved the 60 gallon tank over 1 foot to allow for a new rug.

Just allow yourself enough time and don't rush.

Don't feed the fish the day before or the day of the move. Keeps ammonia down.

Get a big tub for the fish, add heater from tank, add airstone if you have one, not critical in my opinion as this will only be a couple of hours. A 20 gallon rope handled bucket is fine, or an ice chest if you are sure it has no soap residue. Remove the fish, with either tank water if it was recently changed or half tank and half tap water. Add a full dose of dechlor for the gallons -- I prefer Prime or any other that also assists ammonia and nitrite.

Be sure to cover fish as they may jump. Add some decor from the tank so they can hide.

I don't worry about running the filter, just put it into a big plastic bag to keep it all wet. Drain water from it but keep it damp. IMO oxygen is as important as water to the bacteria. Bag it and keep it damp. Not necessary to do a big filter cleaning, you may need those spare bacteria.

Drain and unload the old tank, get it out of the way. Set up the new one, being very careful to get it level before you add gravel and water.

What I do is to add just a bit of water and see if it is level across the bottom, just enough water to run over most of the floor of the tank. If it looks OK, add water up to the frame and recheck. If it is OK, fill it up, let it sit awhile to crush the carpet and check again with the water level near the top frame. Then drain it again most of the way.

You only have one chance to get the tank level, take your time. In a carpeted room you may have to add something under the front of the tank to compensate for the tack strip along the wall.

Get any backing for the tank on correctly, then start adding gravel after you've washed it well. A second 20 gallon bucket is nice to have. I just use tap water to wash gravel, not worrying about gravel bacteria, since you have your old filter for that.

Add dechlor as you fill the tank to about halfway. Add decor and the heater. Watch the tank temp as you fill, try to get it right so you can add fish faster.

The fish are probably fine, unless you have murderous fish who attack each other when they are unhappy. Odds are, they won't do much damage in the short time you have them out of the tank.

If you have kuhlie loaches... good luck catching them! One method is to remove what you can and move gravel over to one side of the tank, then drain. When you get down to about 1/2" of water, you may be able to catch the last ones. I always had to watch when I poured the last bit of gravel out, always one who tried to sneak out into the yard.

[mikeb144]

Re: Need advice ... hot swapping a tank

Don't let it get too complicated, your plan will work.