Redoing existing/established tank

Re-doing my 20 gallon high tank. Bought a new tank (same size). Old one is all scratched. I’m going to do a large water change, and run the old water into my new tank from the old one. Also, plan to condition the water and add beneficial bacteria. I’ll also be adding a bunch of cherry shrimp I’ve been breeding to the new tank to help further cycle it. I’ll prob let it run for a week or so, all the while testing the water in the new tank. Before I transfer all my fish. Anything I missed , and tips or ideas ? My fish have been with me for several years, really don’t want to lose anybody

 

Are you using the same filter and substrate also? If so just add everything at once. The cherries wont make it through a cycle.

 

The old water won't do anything to help your cycle since the majority of the BB do not live in the water column. You could probably just transfer everything right over to the new tank (substrate, decor, filter media etc) and keep an eye on parameters. That being said, if you don't have a lot of established filter media you may experience a mini-cycle.

 

Different filter , but putting the media from old filter in new one. I’ll wait a while before I put the cherries in.

 

It would make more sense to just transfer all the old media over to the new tank and watch the parameters. You should have enough BB to handle your current stocking, just don't add anything to the tank for a couple of weeks.

 

Different filter , but putting the media from old filter in new one. I’ll wait a while before I put the cherries in.

Usually when you transfer media over you will know within a week if it is going to spike or not. It usually does or doesnt.

The old water will help a bunch with your shrimp just not a lot for the cycle. I would still transfer the old water like you were going to. Can you run both filters at the same time or would it be too much flow?

 

Usually when you transfer media over you will know within a week if it is going to spike or not. It usually does or doesnt.

The old water will help a bunch with your shrimp just not a lot for the cycle. I would still transfer the old water like you were going to. Can you run both filters at the same time or would it be too much flow?

Well I couldn’t run both because until I transfer the fish from the old tank. I need to keep that filter going

 

What I was saying is transfer everything to the new tank.... water, fish, shrimp, filters everything. Run both filters for a month or so. It will get all of the tubes and housing seeded a little in the new filter before putting the old media in. It may work just putting the old media into the new filter too. It depends on how long that media has been established.

 

This is what I have so far. Hardscape complete (I think). Have some plants in the old setup I’ll reuse. Prob order some more too

 

That looks really good. I love the wood!