No Biological Filter in Tank Transfer Method?

[scelona]

I am gearing up to get my first fish, a pair of clowns, and was running over my equipment for the tank transfer method when I noticed there is no biological filter. Is this not necessary because the water will be completely changed out every 3 days? Should I feed lightly or only the day of a transfer? I am not sure how quickly ammonia levels can rise so this seemed like a concern to me. Thanks as always, you guys are great.

 

[homer1475]

I am gearing up to get my first fish, a pair of clowns, and was running over my equipment for the tank transfer method when I noticed there is no biological filter. Is this not necessary because the water will be completely changed out every 3 days? Should I feed lightly or only the day of a transfer? I am not sure how quickly ammonia levels can rise so this seemed like a concern to me. Thanks as always, you guys are great.

You have it exactly right. Because your changing water completely every 72 hours, ammonia never has a chance to build up. I feed very lightly during TTM, but find most time they won't eat much, or not at all.

If it makes you feel better you can get a couple of the seachem ammonia badges and keep a bottle of prime on hand. I always use them but find they aren't needed.

 

[Bono]

Just out of curiosity how do you plan on changing 40 gallons every 3 days?

 

[scelona]

Thanks, that makes sense. I am not changing out 40 gallons, these fish aren't going in there for a long time. I am doing the TTM with 5 gallon containers and then the fish are going in a 20 gallon quarantine for 1 month.

 

[thegrun]

When I have a few fish going through the TTM at the same time I dose the tank with Amquel or Prime on the second day, but if you have a light bio-load that should not be necessary.

 

[Pigpen17]

Yeah, as said above, you don't need it and feed lightly. I don't feed the first day of transfer, very lightly the second, and then let them eat on the last, then out.

 

[hogfanreefer]

I feed pretty well during TTM and have never had a real issue with ammonia. I use 10 gallon tanks. I do monitor ammonia closely and had to dose Amquel once when I had 3 fish in and got a little too aggressive with the feeding.

 

[kmbyrnes]

I find that a dose of Prime on day 2 works for me.