Redoing my 125 Gallon Tank

I have a 125 gallon tank with discus, some rummy nose tetras, and some corys. I was thinking of redoing the whole tank, I want to change most of the plants, all the fish, the hard scrape, and the substrate. What would the ideal way to do this, and not have to recycle the tank, or have a mini cycle?

 

I personally would add extra bio material to the filter/filters, let them get populated with bacteria for a month or 2. when you start doing the change, keep the filters in a bucket with tank water. You would want to do the changes as fast as possible, so the filter cartridges stay wet. Without airation, there could be some die off, It doesnt happen that fast, but dont delay too much. Put any deco that your keeping in a bucket as well. If you still have the fish, move them last. so that you are not chasing them through plants or somthing. Well actually, if your moving the substrate, maybe do that last.

 

I personally would add extra bio material to the filter/filters, let them get populated with bacteria for a month or 2. when you start doing the change, keep the filters in a bucket with tank water. You would want to do the changes as fast as possible, so the filter cartridges stay wet. Without airation, there could be some die off, It doesnt happen that fast, but dont delay too much. Put any deco that your keeping in a bucket as well. If you still have the fish, move them last. so that you are not chasing them through plants or somthing. Well actually, if your moving the substrate, maybe do that last.

I would assume they are running a canister filter with that tank size, so in and outflow into a vat with tank water (maybe with a heater) and leave it just running while the redo is going on. That should be enough actually.
In any case, as long as the media stay submerged and get some flow, it can run for 10-15 hours before the microorganisms start to slow down and up to 24 hours before they start dyeing.

 

I guess it’s all according to how fast you plan on doing this. If you’ve got time you can remove things slowly. When doing a water change remove a 1/4 of the substrate with the hose. Sucking it out into a bucket. After cleaning the new substrate replace that 1/4 with new. Next water change do another 1/4. Remove all hard scape and plants from that 1/4 too. As for fish leave them in to keep the bacteria alive than when done remove them for what new and your cycle will be fine. I did this in a 90 and had no problems. I did keep the fish and they are all fine now.

 

Or, if you plan on doing the rescape quickly, in the space of a day, I am sure it will be OK to just leave the filter material in the canister, still full of water, I don't think It is absolutely essential to maintain a flow or aeration in the filter unless its for much longer. We recently had a power cut for 17 hours and nothing bad happened. When I did a rescape a few months ago I just left the filter as it was, changed some, bit not all of the substrate, kept a couple of the same plants and added some from a different tank. I did not experience any problems. As 86 ssinit said, keep the old fish in until you are ready to add the new ones.

 

So I posted about this before with different plans, but now I have decided to keep my discus. Right now my tank has 9 discus, a school of tummy nose tetras, a school of Cory cats, a clown loach, and some fancy plecos. I want to make it a South American Biotope, but get rid of all of the fish except the discus. I want to change the substrate, hard scape, and the plants. I’m just worried about what I should do with the fish while a redo the tank. I’m not sure what I should I only have a 20 gallon long and a standard 10 gallon for quarantine. Should I split the discus among those tanks, or is there something else I could do? Also I’m worried once I get it set up would the discus be ok in the quarantine tanks while I recycle it. I think the filter is fine, but everything else in the tank will be new. Should I just add the discus or should I keep them quarantined and redo the cycle, also how long do you think it would take to recycle the tank? Any help would be great.

 

take your time! Don’t rush the transfer. I’d guess a ten and twenty would be cramped for a group of discus, focus on cycling a bigger tank/large tub for them and cycling the ten and twenty for the other fish that call the tank home until you find a purpose for them.

 

I’m thinking I’ll just sell the rest and buy a 40 gallon tub for the discus. Also do you think I can run the filter on the tub while I redcaps the tank so that no bacteria dies?

 

I’m thinking I’ll just sell the rest and buy a 40 gallon tub for the discus. Also do you think I can run the filter on the tub while I redcaps the tank so that no bacteria dies?

For qt only, right? They shouldn't be kept in a 40g for their whole lives.

 

Yeah they are going to go back in the 125, but they might be in the 40 for like a month or two, but I think the cycle should be much quicker seeing as that the filter has been running on that tank for like a while.

 

Do you know what type of substrate you will be using. Again I did this in a 90g. I removed eco-compleat for gravel and redid the tank. I did it slowly and left the fish in. Didn’t have a problem or lose any fish. The filter will clean out the dust of the new gravel and whatever gunk gets into the water. Mine was clear within the day.

 

I think I might just leave the sand in, but I think pool filter sand is kinda bright, but I wonder is when I make it black water it will appear as dark as i would like. I want it to be a dark sand color or maybe brownish. Would it look that dark when I make it black water.

 

Keep it if you want to go blackwater, it will look different then and is the appropriate substrate. The sand is also ideal to determine if the amount of tannins is correct.