2 Hippos in a 29g

[mace]

Now that I have you attention!!!

This is the story and some back ground. I have a 55 with 2 hippos and a white sleeper goby. Its been up and running for over 4 months now. The hippos are about 2" both of them. Its time to upgrade!!! I am going from a 55 to a 150 (6 foot). The 150 has been up and running for over a year now. 250# lr 200# ls, sump, skimmer, uv sterilizer pretty much the works.
The 29g has been up and running for over a month (sons tank) it has 20# lr 20# ls and all test are normal (Am-0, nitrite- 0, nitrate-0, pH-8.2, SG-1.024, Temp-80) It has nothing in it but a few crabs and 3 snails.
Now on to the question, will the 2 hippos be ok in the 29 for say a day or two. Just long enough for us to break down the 55 and break down the 150 and reset it up and let the water and sand settle back in. Using all lr, ls and about 95% of water from 150?
sorry for the long post.
Would love to here from some of you guys on this.

 

[fishgeek01]

I think you should be fine, I would allow the tank to set more than a few days, If the hippos are not being to stressed in the 29, with the small size they may actually do better in there for the time being. I would allow the tank to set for a week or 2, that way you can make sure there is no small cycle in it.

 

[mace]

Also forgot to add that my 4 shrimp will go in as well (2 cleaners, pep and CBS)
a week, my other option would be to take them to my lfs and let them sit in a bigger tank there.

 

[triga22]

Yes, they will be fine. I would let them stay in longer.. Just incase another cycle starts in the 150

 

[mace]

Ok longer, so lets say 5 to 7 days?

 

[triga22]

Yea. As long as they arnt in for like a month or 2.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by Mace
Ok longer, so lets say 5 to 7 days?
IMO, any longer and you are in a situation of overloading the biological filter on that 29 and crashing it. If it has no fish in it, it will not, IMO, be able to take a sudden increase in bioload. 1 day is not much. A week is much more significant, IMO....it is a possible risk.

 

[mace]

Originally Posted by ophiura
IMO, any longer and you are in a situation of overloading the biological filter on that 29 and crashing it. If it has no fish in it, it will not, IMO, be able to take a sudden increase in bioload. 1 day is not much. A week is much more significant, IMO....it is a possible risk.
Never thought of that...... So just a few days it is...... Should be fine since I will be using almost all of the water from the 150..... Thank you for pointing that out ophiura!!!!