Changing from 46 gal to 90gal

[iamfor3]

Hi
Ok i'm switching from 46 gal to 90 gal. I need to figure out how to do this.
I got 90lbs of new sand i want to mix with the 70lbs from the 46
to seed the new. I plan on cycling the 90 before i make the move
then adding the ls lr and fish from 46.
Anybody know what steps i should take in doing this with out killing my fish?

 

[alan214]

How long has the 46G been set up? If more than 3-4 months, you're going to want to thoroughly rinse the old sand before adding it to the 90G. There will be detritus and other trapped chemicals in the old sand that will be released once you transfer it.

You'll also want to get the LR set up in the 90G BEFORE you start adding either the old or new sand. The LR needs to rest on the bottom of the tank.

From there, the rest is pretty easy. I'd try to save as much of your old water as possible and make sure to have as much RO/DI saltwater prepared as possible, just in case.

 

[iamfor3]

the 46g been up 6 months. If I rinse the LS it no longerwill be live?

 

[alan214]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9206080#post9206080 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamfor3
the 46g been up 6 months. If I rinse the LS it no longerwill be live?

You will lose some of the life in it but it's really a necessary evil in your case. IMO, it's either rinse it thoroughly or buy all new sand.

 

[spider86]

Take out fish and rock, put it into buckets,

Put new sand in new tank (make sure to rinse the new sand with RO/DI)

Put a few cups of old sand (top layer only) on top in the new tank.

Put plastic over sand in new tank to stop the stirring during refill.

Fill new tank with as much water as you can from old tank, topoff with new saltwater.

Put rock and fish in.

Your done.
This is how I did it anyways and everything's fine. No spikes of anything.
HTH

 

[iamfor3]

so dont cycle the new tank first?

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9207142#post9207142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iamfor3
so dont cycle the new tank first?

Unless you're adding uncured LR then no cycle will take place.

 

[iamfor3]

thanks