2 Questions

[Nirvana]

I currently have a 24g nano cube dx and i wanna upgrade to the new jbj 28g hqi tank. If i got the new tank would i have to do a cycle in the new tank or can i transfer everything from my old tank to me new tank.

The next question is how can i keep my sand bed really clean. I have a clean up crew but it still has alge on it.


Thanks

 

[sir_dudeguy]

I would get all new sand for the new tank, but other than that you can transfer over all of the live rock and livestock imo. The reason i say get new sand to avoid a cycle is because your sand is probably live by now and when you stir live sand, it can cause spikes and give you a mini cycle. Plus you'll be able to start w/clean sand.

But what cleanup crew do you have? Do you have cerith snails? they do good in the sand. Or another option would be a diamond goby. That thing would clean your sand w/in 3 days. But i wouldnt add one at the beginning of the new tank should you get it. I'd wait till the sand has had time to "dirty up" a bit. They'll take other foods, but just to be safe....

 

[Agu]

Do you have visible worms in your sandbed ? Is it a deep or shallow sandbed ?

If it's a shallow sandbed with visible life move the whole thing.

If it's deep with visible life move the top layer onto new sand.

If there's no visible life you need some live sand for your next tank.

 

[Nirvana]

Right now my clean up crew is the following
10- Astraea snails
10- blue leg hermit crabs
4- Scarlet hermit crabs

and i just ordered a yellow watchman goby and a Randall's pistol shrimp.

Also if i got new sand how long will it take to become live so i cant put everything in there or can i put everything in there without live sand?

 

[Nirvana]

bump

 

[Doglover_50]

I bought a 70g with 6 inch deep sand bed. Moved it all. It's just a matter of knowing how to do it. Empty tank, water, everything but sand into buckets with powereads and heaters. Make extra water. If you don't have a deep sand bed, just move over the and. If you DO have a DSB, scoop off about the top 2 inches, put it in water and run a powerhead. The scoop out the deeper sand into the new tank, THEN return the top 2 inch layer onto it. Leave everything else in buckets, refill tank with new and old water, run it about 1-2 days, with a skimmer Check parameters for ammonia, nitrates, nitrite. Just wait a day or two until parametrers looks fine and sand settles, then fill 'er up.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

you could put everything in without live sand. Thats not really needed and in a month or 2 it will be live again. You could also take a few scoops of your old sand. I just dont like moving live sand because the one time i did, it caused a spike for a few days in amonia. Luckily it was a new tank and i hadnt put anything in yet.

 

[Nirvana]

but then if i got new sand what would i do with the clean up crew and my shrimp and yellow watchman gobby. THey wont have any food to live off of

Also Doglover what do i do with the fish for the 1-2 days before i put them. Do i keep them in the bucket.

 

[Doglover_50]

what sir dude says is a possible risk. However, I ran my superskimmer full steam ahead, which i think helped--no spike in anything.
Yes, just keep everything in buckets with aerators or powerheads. Your corals can do without light for a few days, so you can keep them in buckets, as well. Just put the sand and live rock in the new aquarium. once sand settles, you'll need to blow it off (baster) probably one time, let sand clear another 12 hours, then if paramters look good, start putting everything in.
Easiest way to control temperature is just turn your home thermostat up to 78, keeps it all warm without need for heaters in every bucket.