The Big Upgrade

[Hilly]

I dont think letting it run for a few days is going to make any difference. Better to shift everything over and have 30 gallons diluting the waste compared to 5.

When you say you changed the bag, are you referring to all the filter media in the filter?

[Mandabear]

If your 5 gal is cycled, you could just transfer over everything. That is EVERYTHING... that bacteria is already adjusted to the GSP's ammonia output (hopefully).

That's what I've gotten as a general consensus, it seems. Good point about LFS pH. That makes me feel a little better. Water temperature is the other thing I want to match. While cycling the 5 gallon before I ever added the GSP, it took me a few days to get the thermometer stabilized. . .

[Mandabear]

I dont think letting it run for a few days is going to make any difference. Better to shift everything over and have 30 gallons diluting the waste compared to 5.

When you say you changed the bag, are you referring to all the filter media in the filter?

Yes, I had an ammonia spike (fairly obvious given the inadequate tank size) and changed the filter bag and carbon. That is all the filter media in my filter. . .

[Hilly]

There is never any need to change all the filter media, Its a ploy to get you to spend more money. Squeezing out the filter media in old tank water when it gets dirty is more than andequate and if you have one large panel of filter media and its becoming more and more dirty cut it in 2 and replace only half, let that build up bacteria over a few weeks and then replace the other half. Frequent water changes will control ammonia and nitrite spikes. If you take out the old media it removes a lot of bacteria which could then in turn caus you to mini cycle again.

For now I suggest go with the concensus, shift everything over, test the water daily and apply water changes as required to deal with ammonia and nitrite but dont replace the media as it will take a lot longer to get your parameters steady.

Im still running filter media thats 4 years old in my internal filters and a good squeeze now and again keeps them running perfectly.

You're heading in the right direction, keep up the good work.

[Mandabear]

Im still running filter media thats 4 years old in my internal filters and a good squeeze now and again keeps them running perfectly.

You're heading in the right direction, keep up the good work.

Wow, good to know about the filter media. I had no idea.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm about to get this upgrade started. I hope it goes well.

[J-P]

It is a major learning curve, and you're taking the crash course

[Hilly]

You're not the first, you wont be the last, the insturctions tell you to replace the media periodically, its just to get you to part with your cash. With sponge type filter media this is highly unnecessary, Im not saying never but nowhere near the amount the manufacuters recommend. Other finer meshed pads used for catching extremely fine particles do need replacing as they just dont rinse out very well and start to break up and carbon does need replacing when it has expended its usefulness.

If you're unsure about anything just ask, youll find plenty of help on here.

[Pufferpunk]

The 5 gallon tank is not un-cycled. I cycled it for over three weeks before adding my puffer

Please explain in detail how this was done.

[pufferpuggirl]

Mandabear I'm really happy for you that you're upgrading and keeping your puffer. See how quickly they grow on you? I think you will be really thankful that you've kept him and wait till you see how happy he's going to be in that 30-gallon tank!

[Mandabear]

Brutus has been successfully transferred to a 30 gallon tank. He has only been in there for about half an hour, so we will see, but he seems better already.

[CarmenH]

Yay! It's so nice to hear how hard you've worked to keep him How did you manage to find room for the new tank, and what about when there are inspections?

[Mandabear]

Yay! It's so nice to hear how hard you've worked to keep him How did you manage to find room for the new tank, and what about when there are inspections?

I am keeping the tank at my dad's house which is right near my university. Plus, I stay with him during the summer which is in like a month. So the aquarium is not on campus.

[CarmenH]

Cool, at least you get to see him and take care of him...

[Pufferpunk]

I'm sure your parents will appreciate your visiting them more often!

[Mandabear]

I'm sure your parents will appreciate your visiting them more often!

Haha yeah my dad actually already mentioned that.

I am a little worried. I came in the room just a minute ago and Brutus was sleeping against the filter intake. . . It wasn't like he was stuck but more like in that rest state. I think he's exhausted, but I'm worried he's not going to make it through the night. I've tested his water (pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, temperature, salinity) and all of it is exactly the same as the old tank, except the ammonia which is almost at 0. I really hope he makes it through all this.