Step 3 - Taking the plunge (After xmas)
Do another big water change on the current tank, using the removed water to begin to fill the new tank so I can plant the first plants (I know there's not much bacteria in water but I feel like I may as well). Some of which I am growing currently and some of which will no doubt be new.
Step 4 - Water tests
Fill up and wet test tank and filter. A quick water test to confirm suitability for fish.
Step 5 - Adding the first fish... and some plants and filter bacteria
The new filter will now be set up to include half the media from the existing filter (placed first in the direction of flow) and fresh media will be added to the 64litre filter. I plan to move across the harlequin rasbora, cardinal tetra and galaxy rasbora first (about half the stocking of the 64 litre) as the hardiest and non territorial fish.
I had a bit of down time yesterday morning so I tried to flesh out the plans I made above for getting the tank filled and stocked. It was quite a good way of doing it as I kept coming back to modify and improve it as the day went on and different things occurred to me... anyways here goes:
DAY 1
1. Purchase sponge filter intake cover
2. Remove some of the sand from the new tank where possible using a piece of paper to scoop it up
3. Wash removed and additional sand thoroughly to minimize clouding
4. Remove existing filter and take out filter balls, add additional sponge media and replace in tank
5. Wash new filter media, add seeded filter balls first in the direction of the water flow, remove carbon, re-assemble filter and fill with warm, dechlorinated water, attach hoses
6. Remove wood from tank, ensure no anubias remains attached
7. Put old piece of manopi wood in right hand side of old tank to provide hiding spaces
8. Trial wood and rock layout for new tank
9. Transfer final layout to new tank and add sand, small rocks and aquasoil
10. Large water change (no gravel vacuuming) on old tank and put this into new tank
11. Add enough water to new tank to get the old wood underwater to preserve beneficial bacteria
12. Fill inlet filter hose with water and turn on filter
13. Check aquarium temperature and calibrate heater to match current tank temperature
14. Leave overnight to check filter and heater running ok, no leaks, and temperature is stable
15. Consider where tomorrow's plants are going to be best placed
DAY 2
16. Skim off any floating aquasoil
17. Water quality tests, both tanks
18. Transfer plants which will benefit from more light in new tank. Put root tabs underneath them. (Keep floating plants and water sprite in old tank ready to transfer across in case of water quality issues, can also add old sponge squeezings to new filter if required)
19. Transfer hardiest fish using green net to heard them into a jug; harlequin rasbora, cardinal tetra - half the plants and filter media will have been transferred, this accounts for 21cm of 50cm of fish so 42% of bioload. For the old tank this means a 16% increase in 'stocking' which is within acceptable limits assuming half beneficial bacteria transferred. The old tank will require topping up at this point.
DAYS 3, 4, 5, 6
20. Water quality checks, both tanks
21. Go to Maidenhead Aquatics and purchase any appropriate plants, reserve any appropriate fish, hopefully including 2 rams
22. Add corys (another 6cm so 29% increase to 54% of original stocking) if water quality ok
DAY 7
23. Add further plants, celestial pearl danio and shrimp if water quality ok
DAY 14
24. Add goby and otocinclus
25. Go to Maidenhead Aquatics to purchase additional fish and plants
(Continue weekly pattern)
Any thoughts anyone??
Topic: Matt's 220 litre Aquaoak (Read 54722 times) 281 replies
February 17, 2020, 07:58:15 PM
