Hello. This is my first post on this forum. Just wanted to share my experience of upgrading from a 55G cichlid tank to a 125G cichlid tank.
I drained about half of the water from my 55G into a new large garbage can and discarded the rest of the water.
I put most of the decorations and gravel into the garbage can.
I added a heater and bubbles to the garbage can.
I added all 15 of my cichlids to the garbage can.
I replaced the 55G with a 125G.
I filled 2/3 of the new aquarium with treated tap water, then added all of the gravel from my old tank.
I got the temp right via 3 heaters and then pulled the decorations out of the garbage can and added to the new aquarium.
I then added all of the water from the garbage can - and the 15 cichlids - back into the tank. They had spent about 3 hours in the garbage can.
I restarted the Fluval 406 and 106 that I had running and well established from my old aquarium - I didn't clean them for obvious reasons.
I added a new Fluval FX6 in addition to the 406 and 106.
Everyone seemed happy. About 2 weeks later things were clouding up so I did my first cleaning - a 50% water change.
I still did not clean any of the 3 Fluval filters.
Within a few days many of my fish were just sitting on the substrate barely moving. A few days later 12 of the 15 were dead.
Only my XL Jack Dempsey, medium peacock, and medium Frontosa survived.
All 3 are now eating again about a week after cleaning and seem to be happy again. I bought 3 snow whites and added them a few days ago and they seem happy.
So I have only 6 fish in my 125 right now - afraid to add more, as I assume the tank RE-cycles??
I think I know what I did wrong, but what are your first impressions about why I had this disaster?
Thanks.
I drained about half of the water from my 55G into a new large garbage can and discarded the rest of the water.
I put most of the decorations and gravel into the garbage can.
I added a heater and bubbles to the garbage can.
I added all 15 of my cichlids to the garbage can.
I replaced the 55G with a 125G.
I filled 2/3 of the new aquarium with treated tap water, then added all of the gravel from my old tank.
I got the temp right via 3 heaters and then pulled the decorations out of the garbage can and added to the new aquarium.
I then added all of the water from the garbage can - and the 15 cichlids - back into the tank. They had spent about 3 hours in the garbage can.
I restarted the Fluval 406 and 106 that I had running and well established from my old aquarium - I didn't clean them for obvious reasons.
I added a new Fluval FX6 in addition to the 406 and 106.
Everyone seemed happy. About 2 weeks later things were clouding up so I did my first cleaning - a 50% water change.
I still did not clean any of the 3 Fluval filters.
Within a few days many of my fish were just sitting on the substrate barely moving. A few days later 12 of the 15 were dead.
Only my XL Jack Dempsey, medium peacock, and medium Frontosa survived.
All 3 are now eating again about a week after cleaning and seem to be happy again. I bought 3 snow whites and added them a few days ago and they seem happy.
So I have only 6 fish in my 125 right now - afraid to add more, as I assume the tank RE-cycles??
I think I know what I did wrong, but what are your first impressions about why I had this disaster?
Thanks.