[Jester206]

Ok so I had a 120gallon tank in my apartment and it decided to come apart at the seams and spew water everywhere. I managed to save about half the water and all the fish by tying a rope around the top of the tank as tight as i could and then I stuck a piece of doweling between the glass and the rope and then i twisted it around and around until the glass came back into place. I also emptied about half a tube of silicone on the corner.
ANYHOW after everything was settled I borrowed a 55 gallon tank from my friend, filled it with fresh water, transfered all the fish into the 55, and moved my filter over. That was like 5 days ago and all the fish seem fine. It doesn't look like the new tank needed to cycle. I guess because everything was straight out of the old tank except for the water.
So now I have a 55 gallon tank with all my fish, a few plants and my filter on it. I also have a new 120 gallon tank with rinsed substrate, all new hard scape, and most of the plants. It's only been filled with water for like 2-3 days and it a bit cloudy.
My question to you guys is: what would be the best course of action when transferring my fish with only one filter? Is a filter absolutely necessary in the cycling process? (I don't really want to buy another one)

 

[essabee]

I congratulate you for the prompt actions by which you saved the situation. :thumbsup:

You do need to filter.

Now just put the intake of the filter into your lower level tank and the output into the higher level tank (if they are at same height put the intake of filter into the 55) and join both the tank with a stiff wide siphon tube. Start the filtration. Wait for a few hours and transfer your fishes to the larger tank.

 

[Darkblade48]

You can transfer all the water from the 55 gallon tank into the new 120 gallon tank (along with the fish, obviously). Then, transfer the filter as well.

Topping off the 120g tank with conditioned water will be all that is left to do.

Essentially, it will be as if the fish experienced a 50% water change.

By moving the filter (which was originally on the leaking 120g) onto the 55g, and then back onto the (new) 120g, you have preserved the bacteria, and should not experience a cycle.

Also, commendations on saving your house from a disaster (120g of water on the floor! )

 

[essabee]

You can transfer all the water from the 55 gallon tank into the new 120 gallon tank (along with the fish, obviously). Then, transfer the filter as well.

Topping off the 120g tank with conditioned water will be all that is left to do.

Essentially, it will be as if the fish experienced a 50% water change.

I agree with you Darkblade48 but there would be a practical difficulty in trying to do that and also to avoid a Ph or temperature shock I would recommend my way although it would mean a 70% water change.

 

[Darkblade48]

Hopefully, there should not be too much of a pH difference between the tap water and the actual water currently in the 55g, but you never know.

As for temperature, that is also dependent on how good you are with making sure the tap water is as close to the aquarium water as possible

The point, however, is that by keeping the filter running constantly, you have essentially avoided a (major) cycle. I would still monitor the water conditions carefully, however, just in case you disturbed enough of the bacterial population that was living on the substrate, etc.

 

[Jester206]

my 2 tanks were in different rooms so i didn't really have a choice. I just filled the 120 up about half way with new water. I used a thermometer to check the temp difference between both tanks and then I just transfered everything from one tank to another. Filter then half water then fish then the rest of the water. Everything seemed to go ok. The fish were stressed from the moving process but they calmed down pretty quickly after getting in the new tank. Its been 3 days and there's no sign of ammonia or nitrite. WIN!

FYI, 7inch bala sharks are no fun to move!

 

[OverStocked]

I congratulate you for the prompt actions by which you saved the situation. :thumbsup:

You do need to filter.

Now just put the intake of the filter into your lower level tank and the output into the higher level tank (if they are at same height put the intake of filter into the 55) and join both the tank with a stiff wide siphon tube. Start the filtration. Wait for a few hours and transfer your fishes to the larger tank.

Ummmm have you tried what you propose? Not that simple...