Corey
Aquarium Advice Activist
I just bought a 45 gallon setup. I am going to be moving the fish from my 20 gallon high up at school to the 45 at home, which is already filled with water, filter running etc., but will obviously not be cycled with bacteria, since there are no fish in it. School is about an hour and 15 minutes from home.
I am planning on using a cooler or two to transport the fish, along with as much tank water as possible, as well as the gravel and decorations so as to keep as much of the beneficial bacteria alive as possible.
But I had a few questions:
1) How crowded can the fish be? I have 18 fish in the 20 high, appropriately sized (some small, some medium sized). Would they be alright in, say, a 10 gallon cooler for an hour? Or should I split them up more?
2) Once I get home and am ready to transfer everything to the new tank, what process should I use? Ie., how do I fill the new tank with my old water if the fish are swimming in it in the cooler?
3) Do the fish need light when they are being transferred, or will a closed, dark cooler be okay?
4) This is purely an equipment question - will a 45 gallon tank have sufficient aeration if I'm running a HOB filter (whisper 60 - two cascades) along with a small powerhead (meant to be suitable for a 20 gallon, can't remember how much it flows)? Or do I need to upgrade to a bigger powerhead?
Any input is appreciated,
Thanks!
I am planning on using a cooler or two to transport the fish, along with as much tank water as possible, as well as the gravel and decorations so as to keep as much of the beneficial bacteria alive as possible.
But I had a few questions:
1) How crowded can the fish be? I have 18 fish in the 20 high, appropriately sized (some small, some medium sized). Would they be alright in, say, a 10 gallon cooler for an hour? Or should I split them up more?
2) Once I get home and am ready to transfer everything to the new tank, what process should I use? Ie., how do I fill the new tank with my old water if the fish are swimming in it in the cooler?
3) Do the fish need light when they are being transferred, or will a closed, dark cooler be okay?
4) This is purely an equipment question - will a 45 gallon tank have sufficient aeration if I'm running a HOB filter (whisper 60 - two cascades) along with a small powerhead (meant to be suitable for a 20 gallon, can't remember how much it flows)? Or do I need to upgrade to a bigger powerhead?
Any input is appreciated,
Thanks!