convert tank over

[me & the missus]

I was wondering how hard it is going to be to convert my 29 g sal****er tank
over to my new 55g tank. I just purchased a bigger tank and was wondering if
people had some tips on how top transfer my 29g tank over without killing
anything? Any pointers would be a great help. Can I do the transfer in one
day?

[George Patterson]

me & the missus wrote:
>
> I was wondering how hard it is going to be to convert my 29 g sal****er tank
> over to my new 55g tank. I just purchased a bigger tank and was wondering if
> people had some tips on how top transfer my 29g tank over without killing
> anything? Any pointers would be a great help. Can I do the transfer in one
> day?

It shouldn't be that hard. I assume that you're going to put the 55 in the same
location as the 29 currently occupies (if not, things will be simpler).

Prepare ahead. Get 6-10 five gallon pails. Bakery shops are good sources and
perhaps your local aquarium shop will loan you some. About three days before
changing over, get salt mix for 25 gallons of water and mix it dilute to make 28
gallons. I use a 32 gallon plastic trash can. Put a heater in it to get the
temperature the same as your 29. If possible, gradually drop the temperature in
the 29 to about 75 degrees. Drop the temperature no more than 2 degrees per day.

On the day of transfer, keep the temperature in the room at least 72 degrees.
Syphon all the water from the 29 into the pails, transfering the fish into the
pails. Each pail should be about 2/3 full. If you have live rock, it goes into
the pails too. Everything will do just fine in there for a few hours. If you can
move your filters without emptying them much, then do so. Cleaning your filters
at this time will just put extra stress on the fish.

Remove the 29 and move the 55 into position. Add gravel, decorations, and such,
re-using the stuff from your 29 to keep a starter colony of bacteria. Transfer
about 20 gallons of the new water into the 55. If you have live rock, add that
next, putting the old water from the 29 into the new tank. Then start adding the
water and fish from the other buckets. Net the fish in the buckets and transfer
them to the tank - don't just pour them with the water. Re-use all of the water
from the 29. Set your heaters up to maintain the water temperature. Now you can
slow down a bit and grab a beer.

After you slow down, set up your filters and other equipment. Use the remaining
new water to top off the tank if you need to. Discard any extra - you want the
percentage of old water to be as high as reasonably possible.

If you dropped the temperature before the transfer, gradually increase it again
to its former level. Again, don't change more than 2 degrees per day.

With two people, the actual transfer will take only a few hours. Wait at least 4
hours before feeding the fish to let them settle in. Watch carefully for two
weeks for any signs of white spot or oodinium outbreaks. These frequently result
when fish are stressed. I would have medication and medication test gear on hand
just in case.

George Patterson
He who marries for money earns every penny of it.