Worried about tank change over

[Angela]

Hi,

I rescued some fish a couple of years ago and had them in a 24"x 12"x12"
tank.

It was obvious it wasn't big enough and now I have ordered a custom made
tank as big as I can fit in.
It is 48"x18"x18".(56 gals)

I am a bit worried about the change over as I have limited space and the
tanks are going to be too heavy to shift around. I ain't a spring chicken
anymore!

At present no problem with the water quality or the fish, but I am unsure if
I can put the fish in the 5 gal tank I keep for isolation if required, as I
need to move the tank to install the new one. I don't want to stress them. I
reckon it will take me about a day to complete the process.

There are 10 fish. Comets, red cap Orandas, shubunkins etc. They vary in
size from tail to head averaging about 5"

Can anyone tell me if there is preparation I require to do apart from
washing gravel etc, to make the transition easier on fish and human?

Can I put them in the small tank for a few hours safely with tank water and
Fluval 1 pump? (I use Fluval 1 & 2 pumps at present) I will be using
Fluvals 2 & 3 in the new tank

Do I need to match the present natural temperature of the existing tank for
the small tank and new one?

Any advice will be valued as I never meant to get in so deep with aquariums,
but I love my wee charges to bits now and just want to make sure they will
be OK:-)

I am doing my best to learn as fast as possible, but it is not as easy as I
thought. Just as well I am retired??

Hope you can help - Thanks

Angie

[Logic316]

Angela wrote:

> Do I need to match the present natural temperature of the existing tank for
> the small tank and new one?

You really want to make sure there isn't a temperature difference
between the tank you're taking them out of, and the one you're putting
them into by more than a degree or two. Otherwise, I would say the main
thing to worry about is making sure the water in the new tank is
dechlorinated - either by storing it in a container for a day or two
until it naturally outgasses, or by using a chemical neutralizer.
Cramming 10 fish into a 5 gallon tank is normally a terrible idea, but
if you have lots of aeration then only doing it for 1 day shouldn't hurt.

- Logic316



"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the
government and I'm here to help."
-- Ronald Reagan

[Gail Futoran]

"Angela" > wrote in message
. ..
> Hi,
>
> I rescued some fish a couple of years ago and had them in a 24"x 12"x12"
> tank.
>
> It was obvious it wasn't big enough and now I have ordered a custom made
> tank as big as I can fit in.
> It is 48"x18"x18".(56 gals)
>
> I am a bit worried about the change over as I have limited space and the
> tanks are going to be too heavy to shift around. I ain't a spring chicken
> anymore!
>
> At present no problem with the water quality or the fish, but I am unsure
> if
> I can put the fish in the 5 gal tank I keep for isolation if required, as
> I
> need to move the tank to install the new one. I don't want to stress them.
> I
> reckon it will take me about a day to complete the process.
>
> There are 10 fish. Comets, red cap Orandas, shubunkins etc. They vary in
> size from tail to head averaging about 5"
>
> Can anyone tell me if there is preparation I require to do apart from
> washing gravel etc, to make the transition easier on fish and human?
>
> Can I put them in the small tank for a few hours safely with tank water
> and
> Fluval 1 pump? (I use Fluval 1 & 2 pumps at present) I will be using
> Fluvals 2 & 3 in the new tank
>
> Do I need to match the present natural temperature of the existing tank
> for
> the small tank and new one?
>
> Any advice will be valued as I never meant to get in so deep with
> aquariums,
> but I love my wee charges to bits now and just want to make sure they will
> be OK:-)
>
> I am doing my best to learn as fast as possible, but it is not as easy as
> I
> thought. Just as well I am retired??
>
> Hope you can help - Thanks
>
> Angie

If you have or can get a clean (preferably new)
Rubbermaid (or other brand) plastic container, 20
- 30 gal, you can move most of the water (top off
with new dechlorinated water) + gravel (some to
maintain good bacteria) + decorations + filter(s) +
fish in there while you break down the old tank
and put up the new one at your leisure.

I've done that and left the fish in their Rubbermaid
home for a week or longer with no losses. I've even
put a heater in since one of my tank changes was done
during the winter.

Good luck, and I hope all your charges survive.

Gail