New tank swap and need hand holding

Have a 55 G that will be swapped with new one and cabinet. Will be going into different wall a few feet away. Running 2 hob filters but one quit 2 days ago. New tank will use a canister. I plan to move the existing hob till I’m sure canister is running and has bacteria in it. Should I use half the old tank water? I’m really nervous! Walk me through it like a tanks for dummies book please. TIA

 

Water doesn’t hold bacteria only hard surfaces like the gravel and your old filter media. I would put your old media in the new canister along with the new media so it’ll seed everything. I’d put all new water make sure you use a declorinater and test it for ammonia before you add your livestock. How many fish are you moving?

 

Yep, what Edsland said! The used filter media transferred over to your canister filter will help. Plus any hard scape items your are transferring over will have beneficial bacteria and are you transferring the substrate as well? I’m guessing not but if you transfer a handful or two of it over to the new tank that will also help “seed” the tank with beneficial bacteria.

 

I have always moved half of their water to a new tank just because it is what they are used to. Just like a 50% WC. I dont know if it is beneficial or not but it makes me more comfortable. Just like the others said....any stones or wood/deco will have bacteria on it.

I would just move all the filter media to the canister and test water daily. If you dont add new fish the bacteria should be enough to support the new tank. Along with the deco transferred over.

 

Agreed there is not much BB in the water but I still like to use at least some of the original water in instances such as this just to ensure no large fluctuation in parameters. It certainly can't hurt, while a 100% water change could in some instances.