Advice on moving my tanks

[miguelp19]

Hey there fellow reefers :fun4:, soon, probably around a month or two, im going to be getting a house. I have 2 55s that i would like to join into a 180 when i move. If i use the sand and water from the existing 55s to fill most of the 180, ill still have a cycle right? Im not sure if ill have enough time to let the 180 cycle in the house before i need to vacate my apartment. How do you guys think i should do it? What experiences have you guys had with such a task? TIA :bounce3:

 

[mattsummers]

if you use your sand,water and rock you should only get a small cycle if you are going to add more rock add some to your tanks now to get cycled. you should be able to control small cycle with small water changes and chemicals to keep ammonia down. you could even get a large rubbermaid can and add to your system to cycle rock and get more water ready.
if you need help with the move let me know.

 

[bigdoug]

It is generally not a good idea to reuse sand, unless it is washed, I believe all the trapped stuff in it could cause a nitrate spike. Some other with more experience will have to chime in.

 

[jjk_reef00]

I've heard about not reusing the sand but I've done it 2 times now without a problem (I wasn't keeping sps at the time). I would recommend getting some test kits if you don't have them. Use 50% new water, and have water on hand in case you need to do a water change.

 

[miguelp19]

if you use your sand,water and rock you should only get a small cycle if you are going to add more rock add some to your tanks now to get cycled. you should be able to control small cycle with small water changes and chemicals to keep ammonia down. you could even get a large rubbermaid can and add to your system to cycle rock and get more water ready.
if you need help with the move let me know.

this is what ive gotten as most of my replies. Thank you for offering your help matt

I've heard about not reusing the sand but I've done it 2 times now without a problem (I wasn't keeping sps at the time). I would recommend getting some test kits if you don't have them. Use 50% new water, and have water on hand in case you need to do a water change.

when you reused your sand, did you rinse it or just added it "dirty"?

 

[jjk_reef00]

I syphoned off what looked to be 'dirty' spots and just used it as is. Matt's advice is very good. Cycle a bunch of extra rock in an extra bin, then add that rock to the new tank when you move to help with filtration.

 

[Basketstar]

+1 to above.

Don't make the same mistake as me! Put your sps colonies in a friend's tank (who you trust) while you work out the bugs in your new system. This would have saved me a large red planet and large borealis colony.

 

[mattsummers]

i rinsed the sand

 

[fishaholic911]

I would clean the sand as well.

 

[sillygoose]

I've heard that adding chemicals to reduce NH4 will cause your skimmer to work less effectively so check into that.

 

[savageAJC]

miguel lemme know if you need help moving

 

[miguelp19]

Thanks alot Aron! I really appreciate it bro! Ill let you know!

 

[2006]

I've heard about not reusing the sand but I've done it 2 times now without a problem (I wasn't keeping sps at the time). I would recommend getting some test kits if you don't have them. Use 50% new water, and have water on hand in case you need to do a water change.

+++++++++++1

Just rinse the sand in some of the old tank water and keep it wet.

 

[Mr. Right]

I would rinse the sand at the very least. But if you can, just buy some new sand. The deepest part of the sandbed is what going to cause the biggest issue.; and since you will be dump all the sand in the 180 you will disturb the entire sandbed. it's not worth the possible headache and IMO it’s not worth gambling on.

 

[richpoolboy]

I would rinse the sand at the very least. But if you can, just buy some new sand. The deepest part of the sandbed is what going to cause the biggest issue.; and since you will be dump all the sand in the 180 you will disturb the entire sandbed. it's not worth the possible headache and IMO it's not worth gambling on.

I'm with los on this one, I switched from a 55 to a 160 a while back and used new sand and half the old water and one piece of new rock with no cycle and no losses.