Fish Tank Helper

How do I transplant my fish to another tank? HELP!!!?

I have a seriously overstocked tank and I need to put the fish into a larger tank. Right now I have a 15 gallon tank that sits on a stand that also doubles as an entertainment center (it’s pretty awesome!). I can get a much larger tank on the stand; however, it is the only stand that I have.

Right now I have very small fish: Blood Parrot, Black Ghost Knife, Pleco, and Upside down catfish.

The problem is I will have to remove at least 3/4 of the water from my existing tank in order to move it (I have no helpers). Then I will have to cycle my new tank for a least 24 hours before I put the fish in. And I plan on using some of the water from the current tank in the new tank in order to transfer the biological material.

I’m worried about killing my fish because I can’t run the filter and heater on 1/4 tank of water.

You’re going to need a much larger tank. The Black Ghost gets to be 20 inches long, and a common pleco can grow to over 24 inches.

Don’t worry about moving your tank. Your fish can take it.
Be sure to measure the space you have for the new tank (width, length, and height) and also to measure the potential new tank. Your eyes can fool you about what will fit.

Here’s what I would do:
Set up a temporary stand for the old tank. Anything will do, as long as it’s strong enough to hold the approximately 175-pound filled tank. For example, some bricks or cinder blocks or a stack of lumber.
Fill a 5-gallon bucket (get one with a lid) half-full or more with water from the old tank. Drain most of the water out of the old tank (this will make it much easier to catch the fish). Net the fish out of the tank, and put them in the bucket. (You may need to remove any tank decor in order to catch the fish). Be sure to put the lid on the bucket, so the fish won’t jump out.
Now drain ALL the rest of the water out of the old fish tank. Don’t try to move a tank with water in it.
Put the old tank on the temporary stand, and refill it with new water. Don’t forget the dechlorinator. Use a mixture of warm and cold water to get about the same temperature as the old water. Plug in the filter and heater.
Net the fish out of the bucket and put them back in the old tank.
Now you can set up the new tank at your leisure. You can do a “fishless cycle” on the new tank, or, if you use the filter and gravel from the old tank, you can probably skip “cycling” entirely.
Whenever everything’s ready, net the fish out of the old tank, put them in the new tank, drain and dismantle the old tank, remove the temporary stand, and give the old tank to me.

BEST GLODFISH 2010