Tank upgrade.. order for moving fish?

[ben townsend]

I am moving all of the fish from an old tank into a larger one, I stupidly added a tomini tang before moving any of the smaller fish over and now I’m worried about bullying. Previous tank stock:
1 bicolor blenny
1 lawnmower blenny
1 Midas blenny
1 flame hawkfish
1 unknown hawkfish
1 red corris wrasse
2 black ice clownfish (juveniles)
1 cromis
1 6-line wrasse

How do you recommend moving these guys over? Which order would you recommend?

 

[ben townsend]

Moved bicolor blenny over last night and this morning tang bullied it into hiding. It hasn’t come out since. It’s unhurt but it’s unable to come out for feeding

 

[cohojoe412]

Add them all at once, if there is any aggression it should be spread out. This is assuming you moved some live rock over to process the fast increase in fish

 

[ben townsend]

Add them all at once, if there is any aggression it should be spread out. This is assuming you moved some live rock over to process the fast increase in fish

Alright.. been at it ever since you commented but I finally finished with the transfer. Only mishap was that I accidentally scooped up the wrasse with some sand and I didn't realize it.. I found him 20min later and somehow he was still alive so I'll see how he's doing in the morning. New tank is 6 months old and I added a ton of live rock so hopefully no ammonia spikes but I'm prepared to do lots of water changes. Thanks for your advice, no aggression on anyone's part

 

[cohojoe412]

Alright.. been at it ever since you commented but I finally finished with the transfer. Only mishap was that I accidentally scooped up the wrasse with some sand and I didn't realize it.. I found him 20min later and somehow he was still alive so I'll see how he's doing in the morning. New tank is 6 months old and I added a ton of live rock so hopefully no ammonia spikes but I'm prepared to do lots of water changes. Thanks for your advice, no aggression on anyone's part

How did things end up after a couple weeks?

 

[TokioSuperGrip]

Following. Any tips or things you learned?

 

[ben townsend]

How did things end up after a couple weeks?

Things are looking great! Thank you for your advice, parameters are all stable and not a single coral died.

 

[ben townsend]

Following. Any tips or things you learned?

I was really worried about the increase to the bioload but all I did was add a little extra live rock from the older tank and everything was fine.

So I guess in other words just go for it. When I added just one fish at a time the new arrival was always bullied, but when I added all of them at the same time all was fine.

 

[TokioSuperGrip]

I was really worried about the increase to the bioload but all I did was add a little extra live rock from the older tank and everything was fine.

So I guess in other words just go for it. When I added just one fish at a time the new arrival was always bullied, but when I added all of them at the same time all was fine.

I think I'm really concerned with getting the fish out without too much stress, and properly transporting them. I have relatively hardly fish but a few sensitive invertebrate. I'm well prepared.

You're right, just gotta go for it

 

[JumboShrimp]

I think you were given the right advice regarding aggression; if they were all 'pals' in the old tank, they should theoretically stay pals in the new tank. Especially with the change in environment (rock locations) they should be less territorial until they find a new spot. The only concern, as you pointed out, is the bio-load, if the new tank is not really cycled and settled, but keep your eye out for the need for water changes (e.g., any ammonia spikes) and you should be good. Sounds like it all went pretty well for you.