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Advice please |
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Posted on: 16/8/2012 21:59 |
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14/8/2012 16:16 From: Berkshire
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Registered Users Basic Membership Posts: 28
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Hello
Having posted previously on the emergency help section, I am now asking for help with how to prepare to rehome our fish in a bigger tank, using the instant cycle! We are trying to get it done ASAP to give them a greater chance of survival, or at the very least a happier life! I am considering buying the following: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluval-Roma ... _Fish&hash=item43b2a6bb87 but it doesn't come with a filter/pump or anything other than the lid/light/tank/stand. What would I need to buy to make it work? Gravel? Filter - what type would be good - I know Violet mentioned we'd need an external one, but could start with an internal - would that be OK, if so does it need to be a certain size? Pump? I keep reading about UV filters and all sorts of things, but would the previous be OK for now? I have ordered my water test kit, hoping it'll arrive tomorrow, so at least then I will be ready to deal with that.. Such a novice at this, but really wanting to learn! All help gratefully received. Susi Fish (no, I'm not kidding, obviously doomed to become a fish Mummy!) |
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 16/8/2012 23:03 |
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  Joined:
6/7/2010 19:26 From: Worcestershire
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Registered Users Image Admin Caresheets Moderators Advisers FK Supporter Posts: 9506
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Hi Susie,
Just been looking through your past posts to get up-to-date. The tank you linked to would be a very great deal better for the fish than the current Biorb, though they may still need something larger further down the line if they start to grow again once moved. The Biorb's filtration is an undergravel system so it can't be moved over, but you will be able to make use of the media in a new filter. You can use a high powered internal or an external. An external is better if you can stretch to it. I would suggest this as a good internal filter for that tank or this as an excellent external. If budget allows, the external is a better bet for Goldfish and this one is from a very well-known and reliable manufacturer and comes with all the pipes, easy disconnect taps for cleaning and all the media you need. I personally have 3 Eheim externals and 3 internals and can vouch for all of them. When you've decided on a filter and got the tank we can tell you how best to try and preserve some bacteria from the Biorb. You'll also need gravel for the bottom - enough to cover it by about 2-3 cms, so that would be 10 to 15kg of medium gravel. It's a good idea to either tape a background to the back of the tank or paint it (outside only) to make the fish feel more secure and save you seeing the dangling cables and so on at the back. Depending on how cold your house gets and how much your room temperature fluctuates you might want to add a heater set to 22C in the Autumn. For a 125 litre tank you'll need a 150 watt heater and a thermometer to monitor tank temperature. I assume you already have dechlorinator. If not, or when you next replace, a good one to use is Seachem Prime as it can also be used in an emergency to detoxify ammonia and nitrite spikes and is known to be safe with medications (some of the others make meds less effective). It looks expensive, but the dosage per litre is so small that it works out as one of the least expensive as it lasts so long. By the way, if you choose to order from the site I've linked to for those products (Aquacadabra), check the thread in the Members' Lounge for a discount code giving FK members 7.5% off orders. |
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 17/8/2012 0:01 |
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  Joined:
22/11/2008 17:42 From: West Yorkshire
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Registered Users Caresheets Advisers FK Supporter Deep End Posts: 6460
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Don't forget to move the biorb rough media on in pop socks if going for an instant upgrade as per our chat
 I know FK member Pad has done the same as you only just recently but he omitted this bit and has had weeks of daily water changes which you should be able to avoid Re-iterated here just in case Quote:
Good luck! V x |
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Please fill in your personal profile if you are posting on FK. This saves so much time and unnecessary questions so it helps everyone here The importance of QT when adding new fish to an existing tank, to avoid losses (and tears): http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_84/fishkeeping_quarantine.htm |
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 17/8/2012 16:58 |
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23/6/2012 17:51 From: Lancashire
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Registered Users Basic Membership Posts: 142
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yes i did weeks of it so pls listen as i didnt will save you alot of water changes lol
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 17/8/2012 20:20 |
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Joined:
14/8/2012 16:16 From: Berkshire
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Registered Users Basic Membership Posts: 28
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OK, tank and stand ordered, external filter ordered (thanks for the link Violet), gravel and backdrop chosen (by my 4 year old, so it's just lovely!!), still awaiting arrival of the water testing kit - so assuming I'm still supposed to continue with changing around 25% of my water each day - correct? Filter in biorb - still no carbon media in - correct?
Tina (sick fish) still not doing too well, still upside down quite a lot.. Not holding out much hope, but doing our best for her! Hubby thinks the much bigger tank is going to look mighty empty with our two stunted little fish in it - and I have to agree - but we are both agreed we have to do our best by them now we know the problems!! Picking up the new tank tomorrow, so do we then just wait until the filter arrives before doing anything, not sure how long that will take, or should we be filing it with water etc. to allow it to get the room temperature at all? Thanks Susi |
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 18/8/2012 16:23 |
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Joined:
22/11/2008 17:42 From: West Yorkshire
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Registered Users Caresheets Advisers FK Supporter Deep End Posts: 6460
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Hi Susi
Nothing to stop you getting the new tank in position (remember the plastic backing before this  ) and to wash all the gravel. Personally, I wouldn't fill the tank just yet though, you may need to move it a tad to get the filter hoses in place and this would be nigh impossible when full. Gravel  Even when it say's pre-washed, gravel is always filthy. I find it easier to do in the back garden with a hosepipe, just keep rinsing and swishing until the water runs clear.Yes, keep up with the 25% daily water changes on the existing tank until the new filter arrives - hopefully shortly. Have you got some pop socks ready (or ends of stockings will do) to dangle all the biorb rough media in? Don't worry about the tank looking empty once the fish go in. Hopefully, with some vloume, they should start to grow again as not all stunting is final. Do you have a combi boiler in the house? If so you can use warm water from the tap (as opposed to kettle) to bring up to the right temp. Any questions fire away. |
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Please fill in your personal profile if you are posting on FK. This saves so much time and unnecessary questions so it helps everyone here The importance of QT when adding new fish to an existing tank, to avoid losses (and tears): http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_84/fishkeeping_quarantine.htm |
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 21/8/2012 15:39 |
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Joined:
14/8/2012 16:16 From: Berkshire
Group:
Registered Users Basic Membership Posts: 28
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Hello
Our filter has arrived, as well as our water testing kit. We have pop socks ready and 4 new buckets!! Few questions before we get ready for fish move day - will probably spend a day or so reading instructions etc. and building ourselves up to it, might do gravel washing tonight and get that it once the backdrop is fitted! Anyway, questions.. Should we also be putting in plants at this stage? We weren't planning to, but weren't sure. Was thinking it might be easier to get up and running before trying that. However, was going to put in the couple of plastic plants and the pebbles from the biorb (unwashed) - I'm guessing they would have useful bacteria?? Also, do we need any type of airstone/airation at this stage or is the covered by the external filter? As for water readings - this was the reading when I did them today, using API Freshwater test kit: pH - 8 (seems rather high, is that normal!) (I used the high pH kit since it measured 7.6 on the normal range one) Ammonia - 0 (or maybe a little more, it wasn't bright bright yellow, but not the colour of the 0.25ppm either) Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - I think 40ppm (but difficult to tell because 40 and 80ppm looked v similar on the chart, but think nearer the 40ppm colour). With these readings should we be using as much of this water as we can in the transfer - didn't look too bad to me with my completely untrained eye! But I know Violet was worried the water wouldn't be worth transferring. Final question - when we fill the tank with water can we just fill it up and then put in the amount of dechlorinator - how long before we attempt the move? I guess maybe 24 hours to allow the water to reach room temperature (and because we'll be trying to do things in the evenings). Many thanks for your help. Susi |
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 21/8/2012 15:55 |
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Joined:
6/7/2010 19:26 From: Worcestershire
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Registered Users Image Admin Caresheets Moderators Advisers FK Supporter Posts: 9506
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Hi
Quote:
Plants can go in any time to suit you. Goldfish have a tendency to eat most live plants anyway so most will eventually be dinner. When you do go for live plants try and pick either tough ones that they won't chew on (like Java Fern that goes in tied to wood or rocks) or inexpensive plants like Elodea which they can munch on and won't cost a fortune to restock. The plastic plants can be moved if you wish but won't hold much bacteria. The bulk of it is in any filter sponges, or the underside of gravel with a UGF, in the dark. Quote: Also, do we need any type of airstone/airation at this stage or is the covered by the external filter? You shouldn't need additional aeration as long as you set the spraybar from the filter so that it disturbs the water surface. Quote: As for water readings - this was the reading when I did them today, using API Freshwater test kit: You were correct to use the high range test. pH 8 is fine for Goldfish. It's not abnormal unless it's higher than the pH of your tap water after 24 hours standing. Quote:
There is no need to use any of the water in this case. The water itself doesn't contain the bacteria and the reason it's sometimes useful to transfer part or all of the water would be if the water chemistry was greatly different in the old tank versus the tap supply used to fill the new one. In this case, the volume of water in the Biorb is too small to have any real influence on the larger volume in the new tank, and as you've been doing daily partial changes on the Biorb, the two should be closely matched anyway. Quote: Final question - when we fill the tank with water can we just fill it up and then put in the amount of dechlorinator - how long before we attempt the move? I guess maybe 24 hours to allow the water to reach room temperature (and because we'll be trying to do things in the evenings). Yes to all that, but don't prime or switch on the filter until the dechlorinator is in, and don't move the old filter media until the last minute. Good luck with the move |
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 21/8/2012 16:03 |
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Joined:
14/8/2012 16:16 From: Berkshire
Group:
Registered Users Basic Membership Posts: 28
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Thank you. One more question just sprung to mind - Violet mentioned squashing the biorb filter into the new filter - where in the new filter should it go? I've never dealt with a large external filter (we have the Eheim Classic 250) - I haven't read the instructions yet, but from my quick skim have no idea where to squash it in (even if cut up), there seems to be lots of things to go in a particular order and I wanted to check if there is a special place it should go?
Susi |
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Re: Advice please |
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Posted on: 21/8/2012 20:34 |
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Joined:
22/11/2008 17:42 From: West Yorkshire
Group:
Registered Users Caresheets Advisers FK Supporter Deep End Posts: 6460
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Ooooh exciting!
Yep, you can squidge the small biorb sponge in anywhere in the new filter, doesn't matter where and as sponge it should easy to do. Going to love their new home! |
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Please fill in your personal profile if you are posting on FK. This saves so much time and unnecessary questions so it helps everyone here The importance of QT when adding new fish to an existing tank, to avoid losses (and tears): http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_84/fishkeeping_quarantine.htm |
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