Help upgrading 125gl to a 200gl Please

[cjtibbs]

Ok my 125 has been up for about 5 yrs and I decided to make an upgrade. I set up my 200 gallon across the livingroom plumbed it got it all all up and running for about a week. Last night I moved about 200 lbs of my live rock from the 125 to my 200 and still have about 100 lbs to move over. I left the stuff with corals on it in my 125. Well to make a long post shorter am I doing this right?
Should have I moved water, sand, corals and fish at the same time? I know the new tank has to cycle. I just did not want to lose any of my stuff. How would you do it?
Thanks

 

[Glove]

The sand is the touchy subject. It is thought a sandbed CAN leach bad things when you isrupt it in a transfer. It is also pretty hard on the flora/fauna of the sandbed- BUT.... what about when we go purchase 'live sand'... dont they just scoop it into a bag and send us on our way?
sorry just my thoughts on transfering sandbeds. I thiink it is possible they can leach thinigs back into the water after being in a functional system and transfering.
I would say you are dong things right. I would have transfered all the livestock to a holding tank. This would allow removing rock and sand without stressing things as much (IMO).
I would put the sand in 1st, then put a layer of plastic over the sand as I pured the water in. Then I would place my 'live rock' in, leaving the corals and other good stuff in the holding tank until I was sure the new tank was stable. I would treat the new tank just like a new system- testing water, changing, ect.
I thiink the hardest part of a transfer is being able to get to the sand- its the first thing you need to put in a new system, and the last one you take out of an old system.
just my 2 cents.....

 

[cjtibbs]

Sand

Sand

Sand is not really an issue to bacause a bought 280lbs of new new sand for my 200gal and was only going to use some sand from my 125 to seed the new sand. My sand from my 125 is full of life. My main concern was my prized fish and corals, like my power blue tang I have had for 3 or 4 years not that expensive but if you have had you one you know what I mean. My thinking was move 200 LBS of my live rock upfront let it cycle for a month or two and then move a coral or fish at a time say a week or two in between. One thing that I have leaned is never be in a hurry..