Holy Cow! Upgrading Tank Is So Much Work.

Not a question... Just a "I can't believe it"

I've taken ALL day upgrading to a 200ltr tank. Just the sheer work involved in sizing up, keeping the current fish happy whilst doing what you need to do. Never thought it would be so much work! I'm knackered and off to bed!

 

I switched from a 29 gallon, to a 110 gallon. That was a lot of work too! Hats off to you!

 

Not a question... Just a "I can't believe it"

I've taken ALL day upgrading to a 200ltr tank. Just the sheer work involved in sizing up, keeping the current fish happy whilst doing what you need to do. Never thought it would be so much work! I'm knackered and off to bed!

Totally worth it thought right!?!

 

Agreed. Make sure to post a photo!

 

doing the same thing from 20 to 37 gallon, but it has a busted center bar >.> enjoy the work =)

 

Not a question... Just a "I can't believe it"

I've taken ALL day upgrading to a 200ltr tank. Just the sheer work involved in sizing up, keeping the current fish happy whilst doing what you need to do. Never thought it would be so much work! I'm knackered and off to bed!

Yuup I know that pain, when I upgraded my first 5 to a 10 was just an ordeal, but worth it in the end!

 

The fruits of my labour...

I got the fluval 200 for £80 but was the dirtiest thing you've ever seen! I spent the past week, bleaching, cleaning, rinsing and rinsing and rinsing some more rinsing.... Followed by a bit more rinsing!

I converted the (horrid) top light to an led system which I'm happy with.

 

The fruits of my labour...

I got the fluval 200 for £80 but was the dirtiest thing you've ever seen! I spent the past week, bleaching, cleaning, rinsing and rinsing and rinsing some more rinsing.... Followed by a bit more rinsing!

I converted the (horrid) top light to an led system which I'm happy with.

Nice clean job. Tank looks great!
Enjoy

 

Nice, I'm hoping to get a tank about that size. Looks very tranquil. Would be great to see again once the plants get established!

 

Nice, I'm hoping to get a tank about that size. Looks very tranquil. Would be great to see again once the plants get established!

I think if you've got a 'normal' size home then 200l is pretty much the most you can have without it being too imposing. Where it still compliments rather than takes over. I can't wait for the plant growth...

 

I have a 270L and it's in a place I don't get to see it much because it's too big to put it elsewhere A 200L would fit in the corner of the lounge perfectly though.

 

I have a 270L and it's in a place I don't get to see it much because it's too big to put it elsewhere A 200L would fit in the corner of the lounge perfectly though.

I so nearly went bigger but I'm soo glad I didn't.

 

Upgrading can be a pain, planning can be a real key to having the upgrade go smoother. Cycling a filter for over a month on a well established tank, prerinseing the substrate, having the tank rinsed and painted ahead of time. The biggest challenge I have had with my upgrade is the last couple of tetras and cherry barbs don't want to be caught to go into their new home.

 

Upgrading can be a pain, planning can be a real key to having the upgrade go smoother. Cycling a filter for over a month on a well established tank, prerinseing the substrate, having the tank rinsed and painted ahead of time. The biggest challenge I have had with my upgrade is the last couple of tetras and cherry barbs don't want to be caught to go into their new home.

Ahhh man! The tetra are a nightmare! I must have chased the last one for ten minutes last night. I thought he might die from the stress off the ordeal but he seems all good.

 

I had to remove 2 silvertip tetras because of severe aggression. It took me 2 hours to catch them. Shocked I didnt stress and kill the others in the tank. Catching fast fish is frustrating... I never cursed so much in my life.

 

Another way is to make a fish trap out of a water bottle, weigh it down with some food in it. I got about half the small fish that way. I just have a few hold outs. The problem with nets some times is you end up having to replant the plants.

 

Another way is to make a fish trap out of a water bottle, weigh it down with some food in it. I got about half the small fish that way. I just have a few hold outs. The problem with nets some times is you end up having to replant the plants.

I have NEVER though of that! Ironically I watch a ton of bushcraft/ survival videos, and have seen minnow traps all the time! That's genius max h

 

I have NEVER though of that! Ironically I watch a ton of bushcraft/ survival videos, and have seen minnow traps all the time! That's genius max h

I use them for both fish and snails. In the last 10 minutes I have actually netted the last Bloodfin Tetras, and the 2 traps have caught 2 of the 3 Cherry Barbs from the 100 gallon. It may take another day or two to get the third. When you put them down just keep and eye on them from time to time since the smaller fish can get back out the hole easier then say Swordtails and Cories

 

Yea its time consuming .I had get a new 60 gal because my old tank started leaking,so I had to get a 20 gal temporary to put the fish in.Now I got a new 60 gal and have to put everything back again,gravel,rocks,decor,set up the landscaping,put the fish in hoping I don't stress them out.It could take days.Thank goodness I only have to do this once and I'm done lol ,that's why I tell people make sure you get the size tank you want in the beginning,its a lot of work to upgrade

 

The key to upgrading is to make it worth while. When I got back into the aquarium game after a break for ten some odd years, I went with a 55 gallon tank. If I knew better at the time I would have done a 75 instead, those 6" extra width make a huge difference. A couple years latter I found a killer deal on a 5' 100 gallon tank, stand, and canopy. At the time I was wanting a 125 gallon, but the 100 actually fit the space better. This week I finally got all the pieces and parts under one roof to setup a 5' 150 gallon tank, once again it's 6" wider. At a 2' width it gives an amazing amount of room for aquascaping. So I guess the next tank will end up having to be in the 250-300 gallon range. That won't happen until I move to Texas, we all know everything's bigger in Texas as it is.

 

The fish trap works really well, I use them a lot when catching small kribs to take in.

 

I had to remove 2 silvertip tetras because of severe aggression. It took me 2 hours to catch them. Shocked I didnt stress and kill the others in the tank. Catching fast fish is frustrating... I never cursed so much in my life.

You should try to get cpd and chilI rasboras out of a 10 gallon container pond filled to the brI'm with hornwort. I prefer to net fish by holding the net still in the water and let them swim close. My problem was that after I had caught 8 fish, they figured out what I was up to and wouldn't come out of the hornwort for nothing. The good news is I have caught at least 6 cpd fry. I think tomorrow I'm gonna pull the hornwort and dump it in the 40 just to be sure I catch them all and see better into the ponds...

 

The fish trap works really well, I use them a lot when catching small kribs to take in.

They work great, I transferred the last Cherry Barb holdout about 30 minutes ago. When I decide to trade in my Swordtails they are real easy to trap.

 

The key to upgrading is to make it worth while. When I got back into the aquarium game after a break for ten some odd years, I went with a 55 gallon tank. If I knew better at the time I would have done a 75 instead, those 6" extra width make a huge difference. A couple years latter I found a killer deal on a 5' 100 gallon tank, stand, and canopy. At the time I was wanting a 125 gallon, but the 100 actually fit the space better. This week I finally got all the pieces and parts under one roof to setup a 5' 150 gallon tank, once again it's 6" wider. At a 2' width it gives an amazing amount of room for aquascaping. So I guess the next tank will end up having to be in the 250-300 gallon range. That won't happen until I move to Texas, we all know everything's bigger in Texas as it is.

Now that is some big tank! Lol

You should try to get cpd and chilI rasboras out of a 10 gallon container pond filled to the brI'm with hornwort. I prefer to net fish by holding the net still in the water and let them swim close. My problem was that after I had caught 8 fish, they figured out what I was up to and wouldn't come out of the hornwort for nothing. The good news is I have caught at least 6 cpd fry. I think tomorrow I'm gonna pull the hornwort and dump it in the 40 just to be sure I catch them all and see better into the ponds...

That sounds like a nightmare!

Yea its time consuming .I had get a new 60 gal because my old tank started leaking,so I had to get a 20 gal temporary to put the fish in.Now I got a new 60 gal and have to put everything back again,gravel,rocks,decor,set up the landscaping,put the fish in hoping I don't stress them out.It could take days.Thank goodness I only have to do this once and I'm done lol ,that's why I tell people make sure you get the size tank you want in the beginning,its a lot of work to upgrade

That's a bit of bad luck with it giving out on you! Hope you get it sorted OK.

If it makes you feel any better, the relief / satisfaction at the end is worth it!

 

Now that is some big asse tank! Lol

I looked at one house on line in the area of Texas we want to move too, it had a 1000 sqft game room in it. The whole house was just shy of 4k sqft. for under $300k list price.

 

I looked at one house on line in the area of Texas we want to move too, it had a 1000 sqft game room in it. The whole house was just shy of 4k sqft. for under $300k list price.

My house is about 40sqft for the same price over here! Lol

 

My house is about 40sqft for the same price over here! Lol

Gotta keep the other half happy, she's from the area we will be going back too. Happy wife, Happy Life.

 

Gotta keep the other half happy, she's from the area we will be going back too. Happy wife, Happy Life.

Dustin says that all the time...

 

Ahhh man! The tetra are a nightmare! I must have chased the last one for ten minutes last night. I thought he might die from the stress off the ordeal but he seems all good.

I know your pain lol. I have solved that problem for myself. I had been in Dollar Tree store, in the toy section they have butterfly nets, small enough to use in even 10 gallon tank. I now use that, one swoop and you're chase is successful. It even works in my 80 gallon tank when I need to catch my plecos that are 18" long.

Hope this helps

 

This thread got me thinking about moving my tank so yesterday I did it...holy moly you weren't kidding! Done now though and glad I did it. Thanks

 

I just recently moved, I wish I would have had more help. It was the perfect time to redo the 55 gallon tank with new back glass paint and substrate.

 

This thread got me thinking about moving my tank so yesterday I did it...holy moly you weren't kidding! Done now though and glad I did it. Thanks
View attachment 474327

Looking good!

 

Yeah, lots of work....I went from a 75 gallon to a 125g. Wouldn't trade back though

 

I just recently moved, I wish I would have had more help. It was the perfect time to redo the 55 gallon tank with new back glass paint and substrate.

Yeah, I will probably be moving house in a few months. I will either try and downgrade before then or take this tank and turn it into a dirted planted tank.

When do you think you will be moving to Texas? Hope you set up a build thread when you set up your tank!

 

Those extra 2 ' of length make a big difference. I remember going from the 55 to the 100 gallon tank, and extra foot long and 6" wider. I looked huge with all the space and extra width for decorating. Now the 150 is huge although still a 5' tank it's 2' wide and 2' high. All that extra space gives so many more options in aquascaping. And the fish love all the room, stock was split from the 100 gallon.

Yeah, I will probably be moving house in a few months. I will either try and downgrade before then or take this tank and turn it into a dirted planted tank.

When do you think you will be moving to Texas? Hope you set up a build thread when you set up your tank!

Actually I have a build thread on the 150, I got it assembled last week. Right now I'm waiting on some more driftwood and plants to come in this week. Hopefully this tropical storm/hurricane won't delay some of the shipments. I was supposed to be taking delivery of fish Wednesday.

KiwiEnthusiast here's the link New For Me 125 Gallon Upgrade, Now Will Be A 150 Gallon Upgrade, How About A 180

 

Those extra 2 ' of length make a big difference. I remember going from the 55 to the 100 gallon tank, and extra foot long and 6" wider. I looked huge with all the space and extra width for decorating. Now the 150 is huge although still a 5' tank it's 2' wide and 2' high. All that extra space gives so many more options in aquascaping. And the fish love all the room, stock was split from the 100 gallon.

Wow! That makes my tank look like a baby!

Actually I have a build thread on the 150, I got it assembled last week. Right now I'm waiting on some more driftwood and plants to come in this week. Hopefully this tropical storm/hurricane won't delay some of the shipments. I was supposed to be taking delivery of fish Wednesday.

KiwiEnthusiast here's the link New For Me 125 Gallon Upgrade, Now Will Be A 150 Gallon Upgrade, How About A 180

 

It might be a lot of work, but the truth is it’s easier to maintain a larger tank! Now that the tough part is done, sit back and enjoy your efforts!