Conversion help needed

[Chago09]

OK I am converting my 65 gallon into a 150 gallon FOWLR. Here is what will be happenening.

150 gallon will be set up with a 55 gallon sump, which will have bioballs in one half and for the time being nothing else. I will turn it into a refuge later on. The 65 currently has two Aqua Clear 110's packed with biomax which should have biological filtrating bacteria all over it. Plus I have 80 lbs of live rock which is also covered in bio bacteria that will be removed and added to the 150 gallon. I will be removing the current CC sand bed and adding it into the 150 with another 40 lbs bag of new CC. Then I will drain all 65 gallons from the 65 and put it all in the 150. then obvioulsy the rest will be brand new water mix. So basicly I will need around another 85 gallons in the tank and if it's a 55 gallon sump maybe 35 gallons of water so a total of 120 gallons of fresh mix. My questions are

1.) Will this tank need to recylce all over again for 4 weeks???

2.) Instead of adding a new bag of CC what if I added a new bag of live sand, will this help at all???

3.) If I can get already cycled bio balls will this help???

 

[Icefire]

No.

Don't reuse the CC, use sand. The biomax will keep it going.

 

[Chago09]

do you have any brands of sand in mind???? why is it that everyone hates CC so much and loves sand????

 

[Chago09]

anyone?????

 

[drummereef]

I use Instant Ocean and like it. It's a very trusted brand of salt. Crushed coral is known to trap detritus and cause nitrate problems. A fine aragonite sand it a much better solution. Caribsea makes good aragonite sand products. I use their Fiji Pink sand and like it.