Help - What to do first

[nuclearheli]

Current tank is a 90 with lps and sps corals, some livestock. Nice tank, pretty well established. Beautiful seasoned rock, excellent water parameters. Under tank sump, Calcium Reactor, Phospate reactor, carbon, Purigen reactor and ATI skimmer, Chiller.

Plans: Addition of a second 200 gallon tank in the same room opposite wall.

The plan is:

1. Establish a large sump and water handling system in the basement about 20' from the center of the room where the both tanks are located. Move all equipment to basement with a much larger sump, fuge, bigger pumps, manifold, chiller etc.

2. Route new lines to upstairs room, two returns two drains, all PVC with valves. Switch 90 over to new sump.

Delima:

New tank has brand new rock, no water yet, new sand bottom.

I am stuck on how to migrate the new tank into the existing sump and tank system without upsetting the seasoned tank.

What will happen to the other tank while the rock in the new tank cycles? I can fill the new tank with my normal salt water mixture without connecting it to the sump but eventually I will connect it to the sump to start the filtration cycle.

I am sure the beneficial stuff from the seasoned tank will benefit the new tank but what will happen to the old tank? I cannot get my hands around a procedure to graciously merge tank two into the existing system. Perhaps I am over complicating the problem and there is really nothing to do but turn the valves and start the new tank cycling.

Any suggestions on a safe way to get both tanks, one seasoned and one new on the same sump?

 

[Byrd_USA]

I would hope you have a back-up or failsafe planned in the event of a failure.( pump, leak, ick,ect)
a way to isolate each tank in case of emergency.
It would be disasterous to loose to fine tanks..
If so I would run your two systems has designed then switch and run as independant for a time, until your new tank has cycled.
This would prove out your system & (emergency system)..Plus not put undue stress on your established tank.

 

[nuclearheli]

I do have plans to fully isolate both returns and drains. I also have two pumps in the system, one active and one passive. The switch over is manual but that's ok. Lastly, I have a backup skimmer pump. Everything else I can live with for a day or two until it can be replaced. I am considering automated valves for each system so I can program my controller to turn on and off the tanks according to a schedule if necessary. This is also better for disaster recovery because I have the line feeding the filtration system and components on a generator circuit. One circuit will handle both tanks.

I can switch out the systems independently. So your suggesting I run Tank A for x hours, then tank b for y hours, and keep switching back and forth until tank b is cycled? Any idea on good values for x and y to keep tank A happy while providing enough circulation for tank b?