avoiding the spike

[dallascwbyz]

Alrighty, since I am upgrading my 90 to a 125 and am fearful of the spike associated with stirring up the sand bed as I transfer it over, Do you guys think it would be better to take everything out of the tank and store it in heated containers. i.e. my fish, LR and corals. The drain the tank water over to the 125 to about 2inches above the live sand, stir it up like crazy and siphon the dirty water out to a drain? Do you think this would make the sand cleaner, and help reduce the level of the spike I know I am going to get anyway? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Oh and I unfortuantley have to do this swap all at once as the person who is giving me the 125 is taking my 90.
TIA. ~Shawn

 

[WaterKeeper]

I'd certainly consider keeping the fish and corals in isolation for at least a couple of days during the swap. That way you can check to see that ammonia and nitrite stay near zero before returning your livestock. Do expect a spike in nitrates however and use water changes to control it.

 

[dallascwbyz]

The only way I would be able to do that would be to keep them in the rubbermaid buckets, as my other tank is not so reef safe
I am planning on keeping as much of the old water as possible to help cycle the tank quicker, and I have ro/di water ready to go for the rest of the fill.