Well after having set up a 29 gallon tank for couple years we have decided to go up to a 55 gallon. We are looking at a Fluval 305 Filtering system. Anyone had any dealings with there filters?
We are in debate on wether or not to transplant the old tank and their inhabitants to the new 55 gallon tank. If we do, should we transfer the water that is in the 29 to the 55? We have the option to start the 55 gallon up with new water and let it cycle for however long to get it going.
Any recomendations or tips are appreciated.
Starting up a 55 gallon fresh water
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Doug
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 11:26 am
- My SetUp: 1984: 90 gal. saltwater, O'Dell tank, Oceanic Systems cabinet stand, (2) Perfecto 48" strip lights with Vita-Lite Power Twists, Aqualogy Bio-Grade Plus Undergravel filter, (2) Hagen Aquaclear 800 power heads, Eheim 2217 canister filter with Chemi-Pure, Hawaiian Marine Angstrom 2537 UV sterilizer
I get the impression that the 55 is replacing the 29, and not coming in as a second tank. If so, definitely utilize the bio-system you have already established in the 29 and move it, gravel, inhabitants and all to the new tank. I would go about it this way:
Obtain 3 to 4 fishtank-use-only 5-gallon buckets. Remove 4 gallons of 29 water to each of one or two of the buckets, depending on size and number of tank inhabitants. Carefully uproot and place any live plants in buckets. Aerate with airstones. Remove tank decorations, then carefully net out fish and place in buckets with plants. Purchase enough gravel that, together with 29 gravel, will be enough for the 55. Pre-rinse and place new gravel in 55. Siphon remaining water from 29 and ferry it in buckets to the 55. Scoop gravel from 29 and place in 55. DO NOT wash or rinse old gravel, no matter how cloudy, crappy or dirty you think it is. Add freshly dechlorinated and temperature-adjusted water to 55 just to the level that you can get the filter operating. Let it run and pick up some of the detritus stirred up by the move. Monitor fish in buckets to see they are not in undue distress.
Don't worry if the water in the new tank looks murky-- the filter will clear it up. More important is to preserve the biological activity. Using an appropriate length of flexible airline tubing, secure one end under water in the 55, and start a spihon with it into the buckets. Tie a loose knot in it near the bottom end such that the siphon drips (not runs) at a brisk rate of about 2 drops per second. Before starting the siphon, remove all but two gallons of water from each fish holding bucket, and place it in the tank. When the drip siphon has doubled the amount of water in the bucket(s), the fish, along with the bucket water, may be placed in the 55. This process will have gently acclimated the fish, still in their old tank water, to the mixture of old and new water in the 55. In the absence of a drip siphon, you can also just add a half gallon of water from the tank to the buckets every 15 minutes. Squirt a dose of Novaqua or similar product sufficient to treat 50 gallons into the tank to assist netted fish in repairing slime-coat damage that may have occured during the move.
If using the external cannister as your main filter, monitor it to see that excessive detritus captured during the transfer isn't prematurely slowing or clogging it. If so, and VERY IMPORTANT, DO NOT replace any foam or other mechanical filter media with new, but rather, gently rinse the clogged media out in some WATER TAKEN FROM THE TANK, and return it to the filter. Top tank back up with freshly dechorinated and temperature-adjusted water.
Obtain 3 to 4 fishtank-use-only 5-gallon buckets. Remove 4 gallons of 29 water to each of one or two of the buckets, depending on size and number of tank inhabitants. Carefully uproot and place any live plants in buckets. Aerate with airstones. Remove tank decorations, then carefully net out fish and place in buckets with plants. Purchase enough gravel that, together with 29 gravel, will be enough for the 55. Pre-rinse and place new gravel in 55. Siphon remaining water from 29 and ferry it in buckets to the 55. Scoop gravel from 29 and place in 55. DO NOT wash or rinse old gravel, no matter how cloudy, crappy or dirty you think it is. Add freshly dechlorinated and temperature-adjusted water to 55 just to the level that you can get the filter operating. Let it run and pick up some of the detritus stirred up by the move. Monitor fish in buckets to see they are not in undue distress.
Don't worry if the water in the new tank looks murky-- the filter will clear it up. More important is to preserve the biological activity. Using an appropriate length of flexible airline tubing, secure one end under water in the 55, and start a spihon with it into the buckets. Tie a loose knot in it near the bottom end such that the siphon drips (not runs) at a brisk rate of about 2 drops per second. Before starting the siphon, remove all but two gallons of water from each fish holding bucket, and place it in the tank. When the drip siphon has doubled the amount of water in the bucket(s), the fish, along with the bucket water, may be placed in the 55. This process will have gently acclimated the fish, still in their old tank water, to the mixture of old and new water in the 55. In the absence of a drip siphon, you can also just add a half gallon of water from the tank to the buckets every 15 minutes. Squirt a dose of Novaqua or similar product sufficient to treat 50 gallons into the tank to assist netted fish in repairing slime-coat damage that may have occured during the move.
If using the external cannister as your main filter, monitor it to see that excessive detritus captured during the transfer isn't prematurely slowing or clogging it. If so, and VERY IMPORTANT, DO NOT replace any foam or other mechanical filter media with new, but rather, gently rinse the clogged media out in some WATER TAKEN FROM THE TANK, and return it to the filter. Top tank back up with freshly dechorinated and temperature-adjusted water.
-
Doug
- Site Admin
- Posts: 229
- Joined: Tue Nov 30, 2004 11:26 am
- My SetUp: 1984: 90 gal. saltwater, O'Dell tank, Oceanic Systems cabinet stand, (2) Perfecto 48" strip lights with Vita-Lite Power Twists, Aqualogy Bio-Grade Plus Undergravel filter, (2) Hagen Aquaclear 800 power heads, Eheim 2217 canister filter with Chemi-Pure, Hawaiian Marine Angstrom 2537 UV sterilizer
It will go more quickly and easily than it sounds, especially if the 55 is not going to go in the same spot the 29 is now. Even so, once the majority of water is out of the 29, even with the gravel still in it, two people can usually manage to pick it up just enough to kick a sheet of cardboard under the stand, and then slide it out of the way. Or something similar.