How to Move to a Bigger Aquarium

Moving to a larger aquarium can be very exciting -- for both you and your fish! They will love the added room to swim, and you will have the space to start adding more fish. It's important to be prepared before making the transition. This will benefit you and your fish, making life after the transition much easier.

Things You'll Need

  • New filter
  • New filter media
  • Fish net
  • Buckets
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Instructions

  1. Preparing the New Aquarium

    • 1

      Place the new media for your new filter into a breeding net cage loosely.

    • 2

      Place the cage into your existing aquarium. This step will help you seed your new biological filter ahead of time to reduce cycling time in your new aquarium. Keep the new media in the old tank for at least a week.

    • 3

      Rinse the new aquarium as well as any new decorations or gravel you wish to put in it using cool tap water. This will remove any debris that may have accumulated during manufacture or packaging.

    • 4

      Place the new aquarium where you want it to be after the transition.

    • 5

      Set up the new equipment, such as your new filter, heater or any other equipment that is not being used on your existing aquarium.

    Making the Transition

    • 6

      Drain the old tank by siphoning the water into buckets, as you would during a regular water change. Once the water is out, you can also take out gravel or decorations you wish to use in your new tank.

    • 7

      Move the fish into the buckets filled with the water from the old tank using your fish net.

    • 8

      Add the water in the buckets from your old tank into the new tank. Do not add the fish yet.

    • 9

      Move the filter from your old aquarium to the new one, even if you have a new filter. Turn both filters on, first making sure that there is enough water in the tanks for the filters to work properly. This will also help with the cycling process as your new tank adjusts.

    • 10

      Move your fish to the new tank gently, one at a time, but only if there is enough water from the old tank for them to swim freely. If there is not, add enough fresh, dechlorinated water until you reach this point, and then top off the new aquarium with more water if necessary once all the fish are inside.