New Tank

[Decapper]

Hi ppl,

I have just upgraded from a 4ft x 1ft x 1.5ft tank to a huge (well huge for me) 6ftx 2ft x 2ft aqua one.. Got this babe second hand

The way I went about transfering was I drained 50% of the 4ft tank then pushed it aside and refilled it, then I moved my 6ft into its old place. Filled the 6ft with about half water treated let stand.

6hrs later I grabbed the canister filter out pipe and placed it in the 6ft. When 4ft almost drained 1 last check that either is say temp and transfered fish.

The fish seemed to handle it ok. Rummies got colour nearly straight away which I always find is a good indication they are happy with water.

The guy I bought the 6ft off also gave me a pond/tank external bio pressure filter with a internal pump that pumps 4500L/hr. Yep she sure did make a current when I got it running. My way around it was to grab the spray bar out of the aquaOne overhead filter. So now I have a spray bar that runs the length of my 6ft tank. It also has 2 holes on the spraybar at different angles which I have found further decreases the current in the tank. One set of holes point to the surface to further oxygenate the water.

I now have a very nice huge tank with 4500L/hr filtration system with very little water disturbance. I would say less then my old canister 700L/hr.

Now of course to cycle my tank I added all plastic plants (I'm over real plants) and gravel from old tank. I even have the canister filter running from the side.

I have but one question after this exciting dribble.

How long should I leave the canister filter going for the bio to start in the pond filter?

Thanks for reading.

[BigDaddyAdo]

You can simply transfer all the seeded media into the new filter.

[Decapper]

They are quite different filters. The pond filter is very large sponges and bio balls...

http://a.imageshack.us/img193/7249/p9062194.jpg
By decapper (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/decapper) at 2010-09-06

New pond filter

http://a.imageshack.us/img43/8151/p9062198.jpg
By decapper (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/decapper) at 2010-09-06

Spray bar length

http://a.imageshack.us/img80/9853/p9062199.jpg
By decapper (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/decapper) at 2010-09-06

Ugly internal pump hidden

http://a.imageshack.us/img832/4285/p9062196.jpg
By decapper (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/decapper) at 2010-09-06

Pride and joy

http://a.imageshack.us/img294/7633/p9062195.jpg
By decapper (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/decapper) at 2010-09-06

[Mickey C]

If your old filter has some noodles or something in it, mix those with some of the bio balls. The bacteria will start growing on the bio balls, then you can remove the noodles and top up with the rest of your bioballs. Something like Seachem Stability should also help in this process, really feed the bacteria levels.

You don't *have* to use the bioballs if you don't want to ;)

Your tank looks good. Is that a 180? I have a 120 ;)

[BigDaddyAdo]

Personally i would swap out the bioballs for some decent media.

[goodoo]

personally i would take that clownfish out if it hasnt died yet they need salt water to survive. :x :x

[Merrilyn]

personally i would take that clownfish out if it hasnt died yet they need salt water to survive. :x :x

Pssssst .... I think he's about as real as the plants :lol:

Decapper mate, you really have been bitten by the "bug" haven't you :wink: Don't worry, you're among friends and we'll keep your secret :lol:

There's not much nitrifying bacteria in the gravel, and even less in the water, so you'll have to keep the filters running in tandem for around 6 weeks . By then you should be able to safely remove the smaller filter and put it back on the 4 footer, but do watch both tanks for ammonia spikes.

[lpiasente]

personally i would take that clownfish out if it hasnt died yet they need salt water to survive. :x :x

You funny.....love it

[Decapper]

That clown is there of course for me.. But my two yr old daughter also likes him.

The bug.. nah been there done that... Selling my 4ft. I was just never happy cause it was too thin and always wanted a 6ft.

I once had 6 4ft tanks and a couple of small tanks .. Use to grow plants thats why my tank now is full of only plastic plants