From a 10 to a 20L (transfer safe)?

1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
So im getting a 20L for $25 on sat....I think its a O'dell aquarium he said. I was just wondering if it would be "safe" to add the 10gal of fresh sw and add everything from the 10gal right over to the 20? Obviously ill need a 100w heater and a lil more sand but anything else anyone can think of? Or something that can go wrong?
Thxs
-devin
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
I've done many xfers, First - i'd get the new tank water running in the tank, and up to DT temp and same SG. then I usually put any fish in a bucket (s), remove the coral & rock and bucket them using DT water in the buckets. Then catch most visible inverts like crabs/stars/snails and put them in a cup with a little DT water. then move the substrate over and let it settle for a few hours. the put the rock, inverts,fish, coral back in - in that order. I wouldn't worry about saving more than 20% of your 10g tank water - just mix exact SG new in the 20L and as rock/substrate go into it, what water comes out - put in the bucket with fish/verts/corals to acclimate them, so when it's time for them to go in, they'll be ready.
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/386358/from-a-10-to-a-20l-transfer-safe#post_3392942
so basically i have to start all over? Wont it need time to cycle?
No - assuming -
Is the 10 gal cycled & running? How long since it completed 1st cycle? If it's properly cycled & established (2-6+ months), and the LR in it is fully cured & cycled - all you are doing is doubling the ammount of water - and adding a couple pounds of dry substrate - it should be just fine. Remember it's the filter media (if u use any) the LR and Substrate that contain all the bacteria for "cycle".. The water has like single digit percentages of the total ammount bacteria needed for "cycle"....it's all in the rock, substrate, and filter
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
the initial cycle will only be needed if you don't keep the rock and sand live, but a quick switch is not that bad. I prefer to wash out the sand in heated RO water first myself, because you tend to stir up some nasty crap when moving it.
And don't use the water that's left after pulling out the sand. That should be disposed of.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by tangs rule http:///forum/thread/386358/from-a-10-to-a-20l-transfer-safe#post_3392935
I've done many xfers, First - i'd get the new tank water running in the tank, and up to DT temp and same SG. then I usually put any fish in a bucket (s), remove the coral & rock and bucket them using DT water in the buckets. Then catch most visible inverts like crabs/stars/snails and put them in a cup with a little DT water. then move the substrate over and let it settle for a few hours. the put the rock, SAND, inverts,fish, coral back in - in that order. I wouldn't worry about saving more than 20% of your 10g tank water - just mix exact SG new in the 20L and as rock/substrate go into it, what water comes out - put in the bucket with fish/verts/corals to acclimate them, so when it's time for them to go in, they'll be ready.
LOL...I fixed it for you.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
ya i thought so...the bacteria was in the filter media, rocks, and sand that is....i was gonna add another bag of live sand though!
Ur sayin i may get a sm cycle or diatom bloom at most right?
Sounds simple enough, i have buckets but ill prob get like three more with some lids!
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/386358/from-a-10-to-a-20l-transfer-safe#post_3392967
ya i thought so...the bacteria was in the filter media, rocks, and sand that is....i was gonna add another bag of live sand though!
Ur sayin i may get a sm cycle or diatom bloom at most right?
Sounds simple enough, i have buckets but ill prob get like three more with some lids!
As long as your current sand is cycled & live (which it should be) I'd just use plain dry, rinsed well, and mix it in with your current live substrate - it'll get "live"within 2 weeks all by itself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///forum/thread/386358/from-a-10-to-a-20l-transfer-safe#post_3392968
IMO used well rinsed dry sand, not live sand.
+1
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
should i run my equipment or turn it all off well the sand settles.....i hope it dosent take to long i want my stuff to live lol
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1guyDude http:///forum/thread/386358/from-a-10-to-a-20l-transfer-safe#post_3393807
should i run my equipment or turn it all off well the sand settles.....i hope it dosent take to long i want my stuff to live lol
Run it as if it were stocked right now - unless your filter is currently in use on the 10g. If that's the case, tomorrow afternoon - bring any equip needed for the 20 from the 10 and run it for a couple hours prior to bringing over the stock. Don't worry, if fish/corals can live in a bag for ~24 hrs, only 3-4hr in a quiet 10gal tank is easy.
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
k well
i ran my test and the Ph was a lil low so i added some buffer....re tested a lil bit ago and its better 8.0
LOL all my stuff is in the buckets!~ post#12
i knew the sand was gonna be the worst part so i just have to wait it out and hopefully i got enough sand in thier and it clears up before midnight lol
 
tangs rule

tangs rule

Active Member
My bad - you post faster than I can read.
In that case - add no more buffers, so you don't overshoot - some of them tend to creep up over time....If everythings in buckets, then it's gonna happen 2nite. Buckets can loose temp over time, so don't let them get too cool. Make sure the new tank temp is good, and the SG is identical. Since I think you have a swing type hydrometer - it's gonna be best to acclimate the fish & verts over an hour or so just to make sure you don't shock anybody. As soon as the tank is clear enough to see thru pretty good, it'd probably be safe to put things in
 
1guydude

1guydude

Well-Known Member
k well only thinkg i can see is the shadows of the rocks lol and a narris snail whos been roaming around. LOL he was in my sand mix
 
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