plec & new tank

Question
Hi we have a 14 year old 8" common pleco, currently housed in a 2ft tank, with no other fish, with an undergravel filter. We have finally been able to afford a larger tank and have set up the Juwel Rip 180. We have cleaned gravel & de-chlor water & set up filter. Adding product: Stress Zyme. We do not know when we can move our plec over, we cant put in old filter sponges as filters not same. Should we add his water and or gravel at same time as him (worrying about trying to catch him too)

How can we make sure he is going to survive this change over and we are going to buy a testing kit for ph and nitrate levels. Do we do water changes once he is in?

We dont wish to harm other fish buy buying them to build up the bacteria of the new tank. Should we add some fish food? I read that on here.

We can be patient, but now just want him to have his new larger home, esp as he is old!

thanks
Jane London

Answer
Hi Jane

The absolute most important thing to remember when transferring any fish to a new tank, is not to stress them any more than necessary. This is especially true during the catch and release. Remove all tank decorations from the tank before you try to net him, to keep him from running into something and hurting himself. You also want to use a large enough net so you don't put him in a bind, or allow him to come out of a net that is too small. Plecos are pretty tough, but as he is older, it is a good idea to take precautions.

Since he is the only fish going in the new tank, he should be fine. No need to cycle the tank for a few weeks using the fish food method. Make sure the pH and temperature are the same in the new tank as the old. I would move all of the gravel from the old tank to the new tank, and the decorations as well. Do not transfer any of the old water to the new tank as bacteria do not reside in the water. Although your filters are different, you can actually take the filter sponges from the old tank and place them in opposite bottom corners of the new tank. This will speed up the cycle process of the new tank. But as always, treat any new tank as if it is not cycled. Do 10-15% water changes twice a week, and test the water regularly for ammonia/nitrite/nitrate.

Here is also a link to help you with the transfer process...


http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/qa/f/faq0018.htm

I hope this helps you, good luck!

Richard