When is it ok for me to put them into their new tank?

Hello!

About 3 weeks ago, I was given two comets by a friend who moved countries. She kept them in a 15litre tank for three years... poor wee things. She gave them to me (who knew nothing about fish at the time) in a new 24litre tank (an 'upgrade' according to her).

I've had them in this 24 litre uncycled tank with a brand new filter (she bought a new filter, without transferring the good bacteria to the other one.). Been struggling to make things comfortable for them over the past three weeks. The water parameters seem ok now, water a bit soft and occasional traces of ammonia, but I perform large water changes every day.

Yesterday, I went out and bought a 90 litre aquarium (Fluval Roma), which I believe is something like 24 US gallons. I set it up late last night, and put a bacterial starter in there this morning. I have also been adding some of their poop and dirty water into the new tank, to feed the bacteria.

Now, my question is this: when is it ok for me to put them into their new tank? Ideally, I would cycle it first. However, the person at my LFS recommended I put them in asap with the filter that is in the 24l in there as well, as the tank they are in is too small.

Second question too, when I do put them in, how would you go about this in order to create minimum stress? The water in the big tank is considerably cooler than in the small one. The rest of the parameters seem to be pretty similar.


Note: I know the tank is still too small for them. This is temporary as I am looking to get them back to good health and then re-homing them to a pond, hopefully around spring time. If anyone knows of someone with a pond keen to take on two comet goldfish around Edinburgh (Scotland), please let me know.

 

I would suggest you warm the water in the new tank so they are temperature matched and then do water changes between the tanks ie put 20% water from new tank into old tank (tipping out old tank water into new tank) over a few hours until both tanks are the same water. Ie do it eg 8 times and they would be being acclimatised to new tank water in their current tank.

Then just net them into the new tank and move their filter too plus any decorations and gravel to take all the bacteria.

There is little bacteria in the water mostly on the filter/gravel/wood.

PH shock / temp shock and ammonia are their risks - sounds like you’re checking for ammonia so hopefully we’ll get them both through their tank cycling!

 

Since neither tank is fully cycled I would just move everything from the smaller tank over to the bigger one now and complete the cycle in the bigger tank. Try to get the temp as close as possible in both tanks while moving everything.

 

To warm the water in the new tank you could just boil a kettle and mix it in cup full at a time until it is the same temperature.

 

I've decided to leave out the gravel as I have switched them over to sand in the other tank after one nearly choked on the gravel.

Do you think I need to put it in anyway and remove it later on?

 

I've decided to leave out the gravel as I have switched them over to sand in the other tank after one nearly choked on the gravel.

Do you think I need to put it in anyway and remove it later on?

If the gravel has already been removed there is no need to put it back in the bigger tank. If you have kept it wet there may be some bacteria on it but if it has dried out there probably won't be any.

 

If you think it’s a dangerous size for them and might kill them then can just leave it out - the cycle will take a little longer, as before if you’re ammonia monitoring and happy to water change as required then that’s fine.

You could try doing inventive things if you had something like a grill / mesh to put over the gravel and stop them eating it / put it in a net bag, however it would look pretty ugly and the cycle isn’t finished anyway, so I wouldn’t worry.

 

I would move everything and both filters to the larger tank. If the temps are different you could acclimate them or if the larger tank is room temperature you could just pull the heater from the smaller tank and let the temps slowly reach equilibrium. I would not add more fish poop to the new tank or even worry about swapping water between the two.

As you’re aware the new tank is too small but it’s certainly better. Sometimes you have to make due in a situation. Life happens. Just keep testing and watch your feeding. Fish always seem starving don’t let them lie to you.

 

Thanks all! They are now in their new tank since this morning!. I left the gravel out, for choking purposes but added their filter next to the new filter along with their plants and decorations.

So far, they are a bit confused about.... swimming! I've left them to their own devices now to settle down a bit. Will feed them this evening and see how their appetites are. Testing for ammonia too when I get home.

Any good fish-in cycling tips are welcome!

 

do a 20% water change after the tank is cycled and do not move the decor hear and there every water change as the place beneath the decor is somewhere where the beneficial bacteria will keep growing and doing its work.
dont perform water changes everydayas it may stress the fishes

 

do a 20% water change after the tank is cycled and do not move the decor hear and there every water change as the place beneath the decor is somewhere where the beneficial bacteria will keep growing and doing its work.
dont perform water changes everydayas it may stress the fishes

What if there is ammonia?

 

Thanks all! They are now in their new tank since this morning!. I left the gravel out, for choking purposes but added their filter next to the new filter along with their plants and decorations.

So far, they are a bit confused about.... swimming! I've left them to their own devices now to settle down a bit. Will feed them this evening and see how their appetites are. Testing for ammonia too when I get home.

Any good fish-in cycling tips are welcome!

Good job When doing a fish in cycle just keep a close eye on the perimeters. Keep the ammonia level down as low as possible with water changes. If you don't already have it get a bottle of Prime. It will detox low levels of ammonia. It doesn't remove the ammonia. It just makes it safer for your fish.

 

Good job When doing a fish in cycle just keep a close eye on the perimeters. Keep the ammonia level down as low as possible with water changes. If you don't already have it get a bottle of Prime. It will detox low levels of ammonia. It doesn't remove the ammonia. It just makes it safer for your fish.

I don't have Prime but I was sold a water conditioner from my LFS and it neutralises ammonia and nitrites for 24 hours if double dosed. What I don't know is if I have to dose for whole tank or just the water I change. Might call them up tomorrow to double check.


With Prime, does the neutralised ammonia still show up on readings?

 

I don't have Prime but I was sold a water conditioner from my LFS and it neutralises ammonia and nitrites for 24 hours if double dosed. What I don't know is if I have to dose for whole tank or just the water I change. Might call them up tomorrow to double check.


With Prime, does the neutralised ammonia still show up on readings?

Yes, if there is ammonia in the tank it will still show up in the test after adding Prime. What is the brand of water conditioner you have?

With Prime you add enough to treat the full volume of your tank if there is ammonia in the tank. Once cycled you just add enough to treat the amount of water you are replacing if you are using the bucket method of refilling. If you are refilling with a python type system add enough to treat the full tank before refilling.

 

Yes, if there is ammonia in the tank it will still show up in the test after adding Prime. What is the brand of water conditioner you have?

With Prime you add enough to treat the full volume of your tank if there is ammonia in the tank. Once cycled you just add enough to treat the amount of water you are replacing if you are using the bucket method of refilling. If you are refilling with a python type system add enough to treat the full tank before refilling.

Something called MicrobeLift Xtreme, which is made specifically for my LFS. They operate all over the UK- Maidenhead Aquatics.

 

Something called MicrobeLift Xtreme, which is made specifically for my LFS. They operate all over the UK- Maidenhead Aquatics.

It may be just fine. I've just never heard of it. google tells me The Microbe-Lift XTreme is a buffered liquid water conditioner for aquariums which removes and detoxifies chlorine and ammonia wile destroying chloramines. It might work as well as prime but I can't say for sure. As long as you keep the ammonia down as low as possible with water changes either product should be fine.