I have a 30g with 2 fish one oranda and a black moore. The tank is upstairs. I have an empty 30g. I am thinking about moving the fish downstairs and putting them in the empty tank under a stairwell. Should I move the substrate also or should there be enough bacteria in the filter? Will the tank still cycle? How long can the tank go without a filter if we lose electricity?I also have a 10g. Would this be a better temporary tank because of less water being used if I have to do water changes and there being a lack of fresh water sources? My husband thinks I am crazy for worring about a couple of fish but I want to at least try to save them!

You pose very good questions. I will try and help as best I can, but it will depend on alot of things.
Obviously the more water in a tank the better for the cycling process. If you have to go without frequent water changes being understocked is better. So I would think the bigger tank is best.
I also think you need to move everything including the substrate, trying to keep the cycle from bumping is the goal.

Next I am not sure how long without electricity they can go. I am not sure on how this works, I would manually dump water into the filter to continue the flow as much as I could to keep it intact. Hopefully someone else will be a long to give more info on this.

Just a quick thought, I personally wouldnt move them down, if the area floods you could lose the tank. I'd think UP --- the higher the better.

How long do the battery operated pumps last?

Good luck!

I think up would be a good idea, too. But instead of moving the full tank down, take the empty tank up. Fill it with conditioned water and all. Then, if you need to, you can scoop out a handful or two of your gravel, and move the filter, gravel handful and fish over to the next tank. Fresh water for them will double the amount of time they have before the water gets toxic.

Now is also the time (probably too late, but maybe....) to lay in a supply of Amquel or Prime to detoxify the water they are in. You do not know how long it will be before you can get more fresh water for them. AS mentioned above - a battery powered air pump is almost necessary - and a supply of C batteries to keep it going.

Fill your bathtub and all your sinks. Fill any bottles, containers, etc. too, for the same reason. You may get enough water for you, but you may not get enough for the fish for a while.

If you loose power, transfer your filter media down into the tank, so that it has water over it - water that is full of the fish waste. This will help keep your tank cleaner and will keep your cycling bacteria alive.

Batten down the hatches....and good luck.

Excellent suggestions!!!

Please keep us updated as to how things are going.

my husband got us a generator so we will have some power but I will have to move them down stairs because of the access to the generator. I will do as you suggested though and fill both of the tanks with treated water. The tank has 2 filters on it so maybe that will help. THanxs

GOOD LUCK SWEETS!!! U R A GOOD MOMMY!!! MOST PPL THINK OF THEMSELVES AND NO OTHERS!! BUT I AM SOO GONNA USE THOSE SUGJESTION BEING I LIVE IN FL TO AND WE GOT LUCKY W RITA BUT ITS NOT OVER YET!!!!

I moved everthing downstairs. We live in harris county so we really won't have to much of the storm surge but we proably will get alot of wind. My tank was in the corner near a window that was my main concern. We have sevral large trees in our yard. I set the tank up this morning and I will let it settle and move the fish and the second filter tomarrow. I only have about 1/2 a bottle of water conditioner left. If I can't get my hands on any is there another way to treat the water for chlorine and that kind of stuff? Thanxs for all of your help.

Simply drawing the water and letting it "age" should be sufficiant in most cases. The more exposed to the air, the better.

Good luck. My thoughts will be with you.

My goldies servived Rita. We got our lights back on last night. YEAAH!!!!!

glad to hear you are all safe

Very glad to hear that you are safe and the gf as well.

Great news! Glad to hear all is safe.

This is a good thing!!!!

Just checked this and wanted to say YAYYYYYY!! Congrats!! Glad EVERYONE got through safe!!