Complete tear down and rebuild help

[Lizzy_lray]

I have decided after Christmas I am going to tear down and rebuild my 20 gal nano. I am bored and the location on my bar top next to my kitchen is starting to eat away at my stainless steel appliances. I know I am going to do an acrylic rimless with stand and built in sump. Kessil A160 on a goose neck, protein skimmer ( need suggestions on brand) 2 Koralia Hydor evolution Nano pumps. Now here is where I need help. My LFS has two tank size options. I want to go bigger but not so big I'm topping off a lot and buying an RODI unit ect. The plus side of the tank I have now is that I have minimal top off and the tank runs almost completely on it own with the exception of water changes every few weeks. My tank is old enough where I am running filter less and my light are timed with a sunrise and sunset.
The tank size options are 25gallon 2x2 square but it's very tall. The other size is jumping up to a 40 gallon I'm guessing 4x4 square. I'm leaning toward the 25 gallon even though it's only five gallons more then the one I have. I like that it's compact but standalone instead of my tank that sits on the bar. If I go with that option what protein skimmer could I go with that wouldn't be overkill? I think changing to the kessil will give me the other coral options I'm looking for but how can I set it up on a timer? Once I do the tear down I know I can't save my sand bed but should I save some of the water or just the live rock only? Will I need to start again on a filter if I only have 10lbs of LR?

 

[davehead86]

I have decided after Christmas I am going to tear down and rebuild my 20 gal nano. I am bored and the location on my bar top next to my kitchen is starting to eat away at my stainless steel appliances. I know I am going to do an acrylic rimless with stand and built in sump. Kessil A160 on a goose neck, protein skimmer ( need suggestions on brand) 2 Koralia Hydor evolution Nano pumps. Now here is where I need help. My LFS has two tank size options. I want to go bigger but not so big I'm topping off a lot and buying an RODI unit ect. The plus side of the tank I have now is that I have minimal top off and the tank runs almost completely on it own with the exception of water changes every few weeks. My tank is old enough where I am running filter less and my light are timed with a sunrise and sunset.
The tank size options are 25gallon 2x2 square but it's very tall. The other size is jumping up to a 40 gallon I'm guessing 4x4 square. I'm leaning toward the 25 gallon even though it's only five gallons more then the one I have. I like that it's compact but standalone instead of my tank that sits on the bar. If I go with that option what protein skimmer could I go with that wouldn't be overkill? I think changing to the kessil will give me the other coral options I'm looking for but how can I set it up on a timer? Once I do the tear down I know I can't save my sand bed but should I save some of the water or just the live rock only? Will I need to start again on a filter if I only have 10lbs of LR?

I will say that when you tear down not to save any of your water. The water doesnt hold anything beneficial. You need to hold onto as much live rock as possible, thats where all the good stuff is at. You will need more LR. You only have half as much as youre supposed to have right now anyway so i would run the filter too. Someone else here will have to comment on wether that means cycling the new tank too with the added LR since your so short on it.

 

[Deftones2015]

Is it possible to keep the old tank running while you set up your new tank? That way you could just move your rock over. If there's no live stock you could even make a batch of water, set the rock in there with a power head and heater so the rock stays alive.

 

[Lizzy_lray]

I actually have more LR in my tank but I'm removing all the rocks that have invasive corals I don't want anymore. I wish there was a way to get rid of the coral and save the rock but I'm guessing that would require breaking it.

 

[Deftones2015]

You can always sell the rock to hobbyists who may be interested in them, or see if you can trade your lfs those rocks for rock that have nothing on them.