switching tanks and transitioning fish

[android]

Hi. I have an Eclipse 12 gallon tank with four rosy barbs. I had to buy a brand new tank (another Eclipse 12) because my current one has a leak.

I added approx. 3 gallons of lived in water from my current tank into the new tank and then I filled the remainder of the tank with 9 gallons of treated tap water.

When can I add my fish to their new home? I'm hoping I don't have to wait the full 24 hours that goes along a new tank set up because their is 3 gallons of lived in water in the new tank. I was told that this will speed up the cycling process but how many hours should I wait?

My fish are currently in their old tank in about 3 gallons of water with no filtration so I want to get them in the new tank asap!

Thanks! :)

[Alasse]

Did you tranfer the decor over also or just the water? What about the filtration, did you use the mature filter from the old tank?

Water carries very very little bacteria to assist with cycling, adding old water alone does absolutely nothing, moving some gravel from the old tank and using the filter from the old tank will give you an almost instant cycle

Personally i would have moved them over immediately, regardless of cycling issues

All my tanks are stocked from the start, with no issues at all.

[android]

Same gravel and decor but that's it. I'm using the new filter system. I checked the levels and there is no chlorine and everything else looks normal. I don't want to leave the fish in the old tank for too long because I don't know if having no filter is harmful. I can't use the old filter in the old tank because the water level is not high enough for it to be able to suck in. They have been without filtration for a couple of hours now. I think I'm going to transition them in a couple more. Is this OK?

Thanks! :)

[Alasse]

I would move them now. As i said, i do not cycle any of my 11 tanks before stocking and have no issues. Mind you i use live plants to assist through the cycle period.

Seeing as you moved over some gravel and such, that will help, can you use any of the filter media from the old filter in the new one, that will help to seed your new filter :)

Again, i would move the fish now :)

[android]

No, all filter media is new. You say to move them now, but if I wait a couple of hours, will the health of the fish start to fail due to no filtration/air flow?

Thanks!

[Alasse]

Shouldnt be a problem, but the less water they have and no filtration, the quicker nasties build up. Meanwhile your new tank will be failing with what little good bacteria survived the move from the old tank, due to there being no fish to produce a food source for them.

[android]

fyi

The fish are doing fine in their new home! Very active and hungry! Thanks for the help;)

[Alasse]

Excellent!!

Got any pics of the new tank, would love to see :)