moving 2 goldfish to larger tank

Question
I have 2 small goldfish in a 35 litre tank. I have just bought a 200 litre tank to move them to. I have read lots of sites on best way to move them but am a bit confused.
Some say I should set up the new tank and get it cycling without the fish. Others say that I should set it up then add the gravel, ornaments, water and filter from the old tank and as long as the temp is the same get the fish in straight away. Is this approach if only doubling the size of the tank so it is like a water change? as I am going up c6times the size?
Fish are lovely and healthy and I really want to get this right.

Answer
Hi Timmy,

I have a method that works for me.  Here is what I do.

Day 1:
A. I take out 5 gallons of the current tank's water and add it to the new, empty tank.  Replace 5 gallons of water into the current tank.
B. I take out 1 quart of the current tank's gravel and I add it to the new, empty tank.
C. I take out a filter cartridge from the current tank, replacing it, and I put the old filter pad in the new filter's area of the new tank, and that way water will flow through it and its live media will touch the new media, causing a live reaction. (This is assuming it's a tank with a HOB filter, or a filter which uses media, not a wet/dry or mud filter.  If a mud filter, I change it over when I start the new tank and run it directly...as all the bacteria goes with it).
D. I fill the new tank with Reverse Osmosis water, or filtered water. (I never use any chemicals if I can help it, even dechlorinator).
E. I start the filters, lights (lights are important to feed the living algae which starts a cycle) and get the new tank flowing.
F. I add all the snails immediately from the current tank, to the new tank.  Snails, inverts, plants, anything live that is non-fish goes into the new tank.  They help to nitrify the water to get the beneficial bacteria going.  If you don't have inverts, let me recommend getting a couple apple snails or mystery snails, and letting them play around in the new tank for a few days.

Day 2: I feed the living inverts in the new tank and hope to see the cycle get started.  I run tests on the water.  Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, etc.  If levels are okay, I continue and wait.

Day 3: Run tests first thing in the morning.  If all is well and ammonia has not spiked, add the fish, and the rest of the current tank and monitor it on an ongoing basis for the next 2 weeks heavily, testing when you remember. If ammonia rises, get some zeolyte crystals and add it to the flow of the filter in a net (I put mine inside HOB filters).  If ammonia spiked, change out 25% of the water and wait another day.

Leave live media in your filter for one month.

Proceed to Day 4 only if Ammonia levels had spiked.  

Day 4: Check water.  If ammonia is down, add other tank, but if not, change out 25% of the water once again and then go to your filter to check and make sure it's rated properly for your tank.  Say, if the filter is a 30/60, always assume it's the 30, not the 60.  Add a second one if necessary or find out where it's breaking down.  Add Zeolyte crystals to the filtration unit.

(I add them anyway, and swear by them)...good precaution.

Day 5: Test again.  If ammonia is normal, add fish.  I suspect it should be fine.

Nitrates will rise a hair.  .10ppm to .20ppm is okay while it finishes a light cycle.  Yes, the tank will go through a small cycle, but it will quickly pass.

So, in short, no it won't hurt to just set it up and get them going, but adding the live media gives them the added benefit of live bacteria and nutrifies the new system.  Anytime you add fish, try to take what they have and put it in with them.  It helps the cycle go faster.

Good luck and happy holidays.

Happy fish-keeping!

Renee