Rehoming Fish, Losing Cycle

I have a 3 inch comet goldfish who I will be shipping off to his new home this week. He lives in a 20 gallon long, because until recently, that was the largest tank I was allowed to have in the house. My parent has agreed to let me keep a 40 gallon breeder in the house, but I am still rehoming my goldfish because I know he belongs in a pond.
The thing is, I plan to continue to keep goldfish (I have fallen in love with them) but I will have fancies because they are much more suited to a 40 gallon tank. I plan to buy a 40 breeder at Petco's next Dollar Per Gallon sale in July. I don't want to lose my cycle though, as it is very stable.
If I were to wait until I have the 40 breeder to get the 2 fancy goldfish, my cycle would be gone and I've have to start cycling from scratch.
Would it be okay and would it be fair to the new fish to get them the same day I send my little comet off? They would be living in the 20 gallon for a month until I have the 40 breeder and can transfer the cycled filter over to the 40 breeder (along with a new second filter)
I wish I could keep the old filter running on my betta tank to preserve the cycle until I get the 40 breeder, but that filter along with his own would be WAY too powerful for him.

 

Why not just dose pure ammonia or dump a little fish food in every day? That could keep your cycle and then move the filter to the 40B.

 

Why not just dose pure ammonia or dump a little fish food in every day? That could keep your cycle and then move the filter to the 40B.

Took the words out of my mouth ashenwelt

 

Why not just dose pure ammonia or dump a little fish food in every day? That could keep your cycle and then move the filter to the 40B.

Every two weeks there are 4 days that I am not at that house (which is my mom's) and I head to my dad's. I could ask my mom to do it when I'm gone, but I don't know if she'll remember. Plus, I go back and forth from my mom's to my dad's house every other day. If one or two days are skipped or forgotten, is the cycle lost?

 

One or two days would be fine. If you dump some fish food in then it will still be decomposing.

So an odd trick to also build bacteria is to drop a couple pieces of pasta in the tank. Only ever 1 or 2 Total in a spot they can be removed with a baster. It will boost bacteria production and ammonium production from them. It does however mean before putting fish in that smaller tank... do a 100% water change. Though it would be a GREAT booster for green water lol.

 

it's a wonderful thing your doing for your current goldfish, they'll be much happier in a pond with others. I currently have 5 FANCY goldfish in a 65g, and I absolutely love em, I have 6 aquariums ranging from large cichlids to small and community fish but yet my favorite are my fancies.

what type/s of fancy will you be getting?some stay smaller then others, meaning you could potentially fit 3 in a 40g.

 

One or two days would be fine. If you dump some fish food in then it will still be decomposing.

So an odd trick to also build bacteria is to drop a couple pieces of pasta in the tank. Only ever 1 or 2 Total in a spot they can be removed with a baster. It will boost bacteria production and ammonium production from them. It does however mean before putting fish in that smaller tank... do a 100% water change. Though it would be a GREAT booster for green water lol.

Okay, awesome! I will wait until I have the proper sized tank before getting the fancies then. I am confused about the pasta thing though. You said to do 100% water change before putting the fish in the smaller tank? But what if I just wait and put them in the 40 breeder and transfer over the old cycled filter from the smaller tank with the pasta?

it's a wonderful thing your doing for your current goldfish, they'll be much happier in a pond with others. I currently have 5 FANCY goldfish in a 65g, and I absolutely love em, I have 6 aquariums ranging from large cichlids to small and community fish but yet my favorite are my fancies.

what type/s of fancy will you be getting?some stay smaller then others, meaning you could potentially fit 3 in a 40g.

Thank you! I bet that tank is stunning! Fancies are my absolute favorite too. I LOVE butterfly telescope goldfish. I plan to do only 2, so my bioload isn't overwhelming. I hope to get ones that are under 3 inches so that I can watch them grow. I am still trying to figure out where to get them though. I've seen several for sale online, but I want to make sure I'm buying from a ethical fish seller.

 

Okay, awesome! I will wait until I have the proper sized tank before getting the fancies then. I am confused about the pasta thing though. You said to do 100% water change before putting the fish in the smaller tank? But what if I just wait and put them in the 40 breeder and transfer over the old cycled filter from the smaller tank with the pasta?

I bet that tank is stunning! Fancies are my absolute favorite too. I LOVE butterfly telescope goldfish. I plan to do only 2, so my bioload isn't overwhelming. I hope to get ones that are under 3 inches so that I can watch them grow. I am still trying to figure out where to get them though. I've seen several for sale online, but I want to make sure I'm buying from a ethical fish seller.

Pasta makes a TERRIBLE mess. So if you ever were to use that tank you would need to dump the water. Transferring the filter is zero issue.

 

Pasta makes a TERRIBLE mess. So if you ever were to use that tank you would need to dump the water. Transferring the filter is zero issue.

Oh! Thanks! I plan to sell the tank on Craigslist once I can transfer the filters to the 40 breeder.

 

Butterfly tail goldfish are beautiful fancies. They will reach 5" although with great care and proper size tank, can grow and flourish up to 8 inches.

you might know this already but just in case.

get a good stable pellet , I use omega one goldfish sinking pellet and I ALWAYS soak them in a cup with aquarium water for about 5-10 min.

once or twice a week boiled de shelled peas very important.

once a week frozen brine shrimp.

also include lots of vegetables in their diet such as boiled zucchini,broccoli, carrots ect..

I make a home made food for them which is made of ( blended and then frozen) it's broccoli, zucchini, spinach, sqaush, carrots, green beans, red bell pepper, little bit of oranges, little bit of garlic and tiny bit of paprika. I find this really brings out their colors , my fancies are like floating highlighters lol

what filter are you planing on running on your 40g?

 

Butterfly tail goldfish are beautiful fancies. They will reach 5" although with great care and proper size tank, can grow and flourish up to 8 inches.

you might know this already but just in case.

get a good stable pellet , I use omega one goldfish sinking pellet and I ALWAYS soak them in a cup with aquarium water for about 5-10 min.

once or twice a week boiled de shelled peas very important.

once a week frozen brine shrimp.

also included lots of vegetables in their diet such as boiled zucchini,broccoli, carrots ect..

I make a home made food for them which is made of blended and then frozen it's broccoli, zucchini, spinach, sqaush, carrots, green beans, red bell pepper, little bit of oranges, little bit of garlic and tiny bit of paprika. I find this really brings out their colors , my fancies are like floating highlighters lol

what filter are you planing on running on your 40g?

I plan on running my Aquaclear 50 from the 20 gallon along with another new filter (I haven't decided which one would be best to get) that also filters at least 200 gph, making a total of at least 400 gph of filtration. Do you have any suggestions on which new filter I should get for the tank?
From my current goldie I already have small Omega One Sinking Pellets, frozen brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms (I only use these as a treat), Repashy Soilent Green gel food, and HikarI Algae Wafters, but I will pick up some frozen peas and veggies as well for the little guys
Thanks for the information! Do you have a recipe for that homemade food? It sounds wonderful!

 

Would it keep the beneficial bacteria alive if I put some of the filter media from the 20 gallon into the filter in my 10 gallon betta tank for a month until I can put it back in the 20 gallon filter?

 

Would it keep the beneficial bacteria alive if I put some of the filter media from the 20 gallon into the filter in my 10 gallon betta tank for a month until I can put it back in the 20 gallon filter?

Probably not as well but somewhat. But wouldn't that be a lot of turbulence?

 

You could add a couple of sponge filters, in with the betta too. Not too much turbulence, seeded media. Works the same.

What about just using one of those time release feeder pellet things for vacationing? You could put it in a media bag, so it doesn't make a mess, hang it in the tank, then you have a constant amount of food in there. Then your mom won't have to feed an empty tank. You will still need to keep an eye on your tank parameters and probably do a couple of water changes until you get the 40 breeder. Just so the cycle doesn't stall out with too much nitrates, but that shouldn't be an issue.

Or do you have a small hospital tank. Just run the filter in a small 5 gallon tank. Off to the side with a media bag of time release food. You can keep it going that way. Easy water changes, you can sell the big tank. Walmart has plain glass 10 gallon for $14. You could do that. No lid or light, but it would work for this purpose.

 

You could add a couple of sponge filters, in with the betta too. Not too much turbulence, seeded media. Works the same.

What about just using one of those time release feeder pellet things for vacationing? You could put it in a media bag, so it doesn't make a mess, hang it in the tank, then you have a constant amount of food in there. Then your mom won't have to feed an empty tank. You will still need to keep an eye on your tank parameters and probably do a couple of water changes until you get the 40 breeder. Just so the cycle doesn't stall out with too much nitrates, but that shouldn't be an issue.

Or do you have a small hospital tank. Just run the filter in a small 5 gallon tank. Off to the side with a media bag of time release food. You can keep it going that way. Easy water changes, you can sell the big tank. Walmart has plain glass 10 gallon for $14. You could do that. No lid or light, but it would work for this purpose.

I use the Eheim feeder. Can schedule up to 4 feedings a day. It is very user friendly and highly adjustable. I am starting my new 10 gallon now. So excited. Coco Moss wall, a java moss ramp/rest area, driftwood, and a 20lb bag of Caribsea eco comp. 12 Cpd's and 6-8 Coryordras Hasbrosus (salt and peppers).
Am still waiting for the substrate to settle. Ha.

 

Just thought I'd let you know, the 40 gallon breeder isn't included in the $1 per gallon sale anymore. However, it is 50% off!

 

Just thought I'd let you know, the 40 gallon breeder isn't included in the $1 per gallon sale anymore. However, it is 50% off! View attachment 319918

hey thanks, do you know when it starts?

 

hey thanks, do you know when it starts?

July 9th - August 19th.

 

Just thought I'd let you know, the 40 gallon breeder isn't included in the $1 per gallon sale anymore. However, it is 50% off! View attachment 319918

Thank you! I know it's not included in the $1 dollar per gallon sale, sadly

 

I got my 40 breeder at the last dpg sale and at 50% off it's $50, instead of $40. So not too bad!

The ones they sell don't have the center brace, so if you want the glass lid for it the only place to get it is in store at petco. All others sold online are the 2 piece for ones with a center brace. Jut FYI

 

Yeah I'm looking at 40 gallon breeders and noticed no center brace. Is that a repurposed turtle/reptile tank? Makes me feel nervous without that. Thoughts?

 

I think being aware of the fish's mature size is fine, but keeping a small goldfish in a 20 or 40 gallon for another 2-3 weeks before you get a bigger tank, shouldn't be something that keeps you up at night.

 

No it's a fish tank