What is the best way to clean my aquarium?

What is the BEST way to move from a 55 gallon established Aquarium to a new 180 Gallon Aquarium?

• I really would appreciate someone giving me an idea as to what to do for transferring from my 55 gallon aquarium to a new 180 gallon aquarium. The 55 gallon aquarium I have set up currently has been around for 6 months now and has been cycled and has 5 ppm nitrate, 0 nitrite, 0 Amonia. The tank is kept at 77 degrees. I am going to transfer everything in the 55 gallon tank in to the 180 gallon tank. I have read many things online about how to go about it but I really do not want to loose any fish. I have a fire eel, ghost knife fish, silver Arowana, 4 tiger barbs, clown pleco, gold nugget pleco, pictus catfish. I am curious if someone can give me a step by step how to go about moving to the new 180 gallon aquarium. I have read things such as use the water from the last tank to not using it, etc. I am not really worried about how quick I can do it and I am willing to have it take time but don't want it to be another 6 months. I had the idea to take out half of the gravel in the 55 and put it in the 180 along with all the new gravel i had to buy. Also I was thinking to put like half the water of the 55 into the 180 and fill the remainder 125 gallons of new water. Get the filter going for a week and than see where it is at. I also was going to put some of my rocks from the 55 gallon in to the 180. I would fill that half of the water I took from the 55 with new water just like a regular water change. Than maybe every week or every two weeks do another transfer of half the water of the 55 to the 180. Let me know about this plan or what is the best way. I appreciate it!! Very nervous and don't want to loose my fish. I assume I will transfer over the barbs, than Pictus, than clown Pleco, than ghost knife, than gold nugget, than eel, and last the Arowana. Any suggestions would help! THanks

• Answer:

  I would leave your fish in the 55. Then get out all the plants, driftwood, decorations, ETC.......Then get out as much of the substrate as you can. Add the old substrtae with the new substrate and what every decorations are going into the new tank. Fill the new tank up with new dechlorinated water. Take the filter off of the 55, and get it running on the 180. Then get the new filters going on the 180. Then when it us up to temperature with all the filters running, move your fish. You can do this all in a day. With the old filter from the 55 going on the new 180, you will not need to worry about cycling. If you want to use old water in the new tank you can, but all this does is add nitrates to the new tank. So it is unnecessary. After the tank has been running for a month or so, you can remove the filter that was on the 55 if you want. The new filters will then be established from running with the old filter. OR you could just keep it running on the 180. This is all pretty easy to do. Leave the fish in the 55 until the 180 is all set up and running with the filter or filters from the 55. Once the 180 has the filters running, move the fish, and your done. Good luck.