Loaches Online Forum

I set up a new tank for my Clown and Zebra Loaches in September. It is cycled. The last readings (yesterday) were: pH 7.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0 and Nitrate 10-20. It is very stable. The readings are always about the same. I use water conditioner and cycle bacteria. That's all. The tank the Clown Loaches live in has the same readings, but the Nitrates are a bit higher. The eels and Cories have been living in the new tank.

When is it safe for me to move the loaches into their bigger tank? I moved my danios in over a period of a month and lost two. But I intend to drip acclimmate the bucket the loaches are in when I move them into the new tank.

Thanks, Tanja.

if you can take the filter material out of your old tank and put it into the large tank then you can move them right away... cycle bacteria is pretty useless because it doesn't really work. but the filter material should be enough to make sure the tank will be able to handle the loaches bio-load.

I keep extra filters on all my tanks, so when I set up the new tank, I took the 2nd filter off my smaller tank and used it on the 55 and put the new filter for the 55 on the smaller tank. They stayed like that for about 6 weeks. Then I moved all the correct filters to their proper positions. I have been adding a fish here and there, so that I could make sure the bacteria could handle the bio load.

I am afraid to put my Clowns into a tank that is only 3 months old. I am very attached to them, and don't want to lose them.

Tanja.

Move them and check for ammonia several times a day at first. You will be able to offset any problems with an increased water change schedule. Your tank is not 3 months old. It is as old as the filters you use which are well established.... I would water change from your bigger tank into the one with the loaches then move the loaches into the larger tank, in a couple hours using your tanks as acclimation as oppossed to additional stress via bucket or bag if possible......as long as they are not moving to a colder tank you will not have any issues this way. Just change water,then net and move them....less stress on all that way

Hi starsplitter,

I would not be afraid to move them now. Just check amonia dailly after moving them. If no rising in a couple days, it´s ok.

Marcos

Hey Marcos!

Missed ya.

and I agree with Tinman. if your filtration is mature, so is the tank. It will still need to develop the biofilm that will only happen once it's holding fish, but the filtration determines the age of the tank, really.

Okay. I do have fish in the tank, but it isn't stocked with the fish that will live there. I am moving bigger fish into bigger tanks. Smaller fish into smaller tanks. Working on compatibility too. But I am thrilled to move the clowns and zebras. Thanks for all your help. Tanja.

When I am doing a lot of fish moving I try to do it the day after a water change. Then all the tanks I am moving fish to and from have similar water chemistry, and the fish are most likely to do fine.

yeah ^ except if I take a filter or old media to the new tank I make sure its a little bit older than usuall, meaning it hasnt been cleaned in a little while and has a little gunk built up in it. That way your sure to get a little extra bacteria in it. And if you dont add some fish right away or ammonia then your bacteria will die out and youll be back to square 1. Some gunk in the filter pads will help fuel bacteria for a while. Drip acclimation is always a good idea, and I just recently got myself a kent aquadose drip setup for when I start moving my fish into my 240g.

Thanks everyone. I have been so worried about this.

I am cleaning all my tanks today, so tomorrow will be moving day.

Tanja

Today I moved my Clowns and Zebras, and wow! My bigger clowns -- 3-4" are out and checking everything out. I haven't seen them out when the lights are on in months. They look thrilled. I moved one of their hideouts, and there are several already there. With the Clowns I moved my four 1.5 -2.5" Zebras, and they are pretty happy too. They are schooling with the tiny Yoyo's 1.5-2" in the tank. It's like a big meet and greet.

There's lots of plants, smooth rocks, driftwood and places to hide.

I'll be watching the tank when the lights go out to make sure everyone is on their best behavior.

Thanks for everyone's help. Tanja.

Cool Tanja!

We want see photos! Can you provide us?

Yes, Tanja, we want photos please.