Soooo excited!!!!! New Fahaka!!!

[Srkoe]

I'm getting a Fahaka! His name is Ares and is currently owned by another member here at tpf. He is in the classified forum under Fahaka for sale in Dallas if you care to take a look! I can't wait to bring this guy into our home THIS WEEKEND!!! I didn't expect to have a Fahaka for a few more months! I have lots of questions I need some quick answers to for his journey. We are getting him and his tank. He currently lives about 2-2 1/2 hrs from us. I plan on transporting him in a cooler with some tank water...would that be okay? What else do I need to do to keep his stress level down? My biggest concern is his tank! We have a truck but I'm concerned about transporting such a large tank that far...any pointers? I plan on keeping his filters and tank decor wet with tank water during the journey. Once we home it will take a bit to get his tank set up, should I just leave him in the cooler while we do this or put a divider in my 55g and place him in there for a bit while we get the tank up. My biggest concern is that the tank may go through a mini cycle after being set up. I use prime and also have a product called "Special Blend" and some "Nite-Out". Would it be okay to use these products? I do not have a quarantine tank, that's why I ask about temporarily dividing my 55. Any advice would help right now! Thanks!

[purplecandle]

dividers + fahakas don't work out well!

Read this ~
library/puffer-care/moving-and-transpor ... and-tanks/

[xrayjeeper83]

he is still small so a divider might work. but it would have to be a strong one.

congrats on the fahaka

[Srkoe]

Through all the excitement I just got around to asking how big he is. I'm awaiting a response. Gonna go read that article now. Thanks!

[Blaine]

As far as the trip goes I would definitely have an airstone in the cooler.

I would put him in the cycled 55 with a divider.

Since you will probably not be transferring the water from his tank I suggest that you add another filter right away to your established tank to seed the media and then transfer it and half the water from your 55 to the new tank to help it establish quickly.

You may still get a small cycle so you will have to monitor the water parameters closely and only transfer him to the new tank after it settles out.

[Srkoe]

Just thought of what will probably be a better option! Tito, my SAP in a 30g. I could divide my 55 and place Tito in one side and put Ares in the 30g while I get through any mini cycles. I plan on keeping Ares filters wet during the trip as to preserve as much of the bacteria as possible. I done this when I bought my 55g off craigslist. I also had to scrub the heck out of that tank because it was filthy and ended up with a mini cycle that only lasted About 4 days. Hopefully this will be the case with this tank. I also threw away the gravel that came with that tank but will be keeping the sand that comes with Ares' tank. I'm gonna transport him in a styrofoam cooler lined with a black trashbag and try to find a battery operated pump of some kind between now and this weekend (chances are slim in this town). Probably gonna get a piece of plywood and some 2x4's to frame the tank to try to eliminate twisting. I read the article on transporting and it mentioned minnow tabs for oxygen I will be looking fir some of those as well. Also getting some totes to bring the sand home in.

[purplecandle]

Hold on!!! SAPs are notorious for getting ICK after stress. Switching him around is a good way to get yourself some ICK.

[Srkoe]

Didn't think about that. When I bought him it took us three hours to get home with him and he didn't get it then...not saying it couldn't/won't happen this time however. What would you do? Just trying to weigh all my options here. I do have an old 10gallon I could use as a quarantine tank, but it is not cycled. Currently I have a canister filter and a penguin on my f8 tank. I was keeping the penguin on while the new canister grew some bacteria, we plan on moving the penguin to the sap tank this week along side the crappy HOB that is on there so we can remove said crappy HOB in a few weeks. So, I could put the established crappy HOB on the 10g as a qt tank in the future. It wouldn't work right now though because currently my penguin is on my brackish f8 tank...once I move that filter to the freshwater sap tank won't the bacteria die off due from going from brackish to fw? Did all that make sense...lol! I went through a mini cycle once with my f8's and used Prime (as I always do) along with massive water changes on a daily basis with no problem. Would Prime help me pull through a mini cycle as I expect one to occur most likely. I just want to do what's best for this guy. I have the time for loads of water changes during a mini cycle if need be.

[Pufferpunk]

library/puffer-care/moving-and-transpor ... and-tanks/

Add Tetra's Safestart directly to the filter to prevent a mini-cycle.

[Srkoe]

So, I actually found a battery operated air pump at Petco, really surprised me. Got some Melafix as well for the trip. Just gotta get some Safestart from Petsmart tomorrow because Petco doesn't carry it. If anybody can think of anything else I need or need to do please let me know! Thanks again fir all the suggestions!

[Pufferpunk]

Wait until you get the fish in his tank, before using the Melafix.

[Srkoe]

I could have sworn the article said to put it in the water during transport. Guess I read that wrong...thanks!

[Pufferpunk]

LOL, I haven't read that article in a while but I bet it doesn't.

[Srkoe]

I re-read the article and of course that is NOT what I read!!! Lol!!! Not sure why I was thinking that...I know what Melafix is for and kept wondering why I would need to add it during transport :s oh well, I needed a bottle anyways! Thanks!

[FADE2BLACK_1973]

Congrats on your Fahaka!!! Hope everything goes well.