Moving and Upgrading to 120, Questions

[bif24701]

I am moving across town to a bigger place. I will be upgrading from my 72 bow front to a 120 all glass 48*24*24 so i have some questions.

I have about 100 pounds currently in my system that is 5 months old. It is stoked with the following:
Fox Face
Blue Tang
Copper band
Coral Beautie
Anthia
Maroon Clown

2 cleaner shrimp
many snails
15+ hermits
2 anemones including a very large condy 14"+ across

My plan so far will be to have my new tank set and stand set up at the new home with water. Before moving live stock I will move the lighting and power head to new tank. Then second trip will be live rock from display + anemones attached to rock. Then fish, snails and all hermits I can round up from the sand. Trip time is 30 min MAX! from door to door.

What kind of cycling period can I expect? with all the live rock and a fully functioning DSB and refugium in the sump, should I be worried? Frequent water changes Im sure will help.

Should I take some of the sand from the old display DSB (sugar fine) and seed the new tank? What about using all of the old sand?

 

[sjwitt]

Well, moving is always a tough proposition. If it were me I'd put in a new sandbed because stirring that up could cause a lot of problems. If you set up the new tank with new substrate and your current live rock (minus the one with anemone attached) and let that run as long as you can before moving everyone else over, I think that's the best option. (Testing the water in new tank of course and matching it to current tank, oh, and I would acclimate them just as if I bought them new.)

 

[bif24701]

Thats a good idea, I would like to put in only a 2" sand bed and something bigger that doesn't get blown around by my MP40. Then add all the live rock I can for a could of days. Before i move the fish.

 

[thegrun]

Are you going to be able to move the sump/refugium without draining it and removing the sand bed? I don't think mine would take the strain. Moving the sump and refugium without disturbing the sand would be a big help if you can do it. At only 5 months old, the sand in your old tank shouldn't have a huge amount of detritus in it, but it will have enough to potentially set off a new cycle. Given the fish you have, I would not try to reuse it, just use a cup or two to seed the new sand bed. It would be a good idea to use a new powerhead in the new tank and leave the existing powerhead in the old tank during the transfer. I don't like the idea (if I follow your post correctly) of leaving the old tank without water movement for a couple of hours. You will likely need more flow in the new tank anyways, so use them both at the end of the move.

 

[bif24701]

Are you going to be able to move the sump/refugium without draining it and removing the sand bed? I don't think mine would take the strain. Moving the sump and refugium without disturbing the sand would be a big help if you can do it.

I am sure that I can move the sump with out draining it. it is only a 30 min drive and the deep bed of MM in the refugium I think will go a long way.

[/QUOTE]At only 5 months old, the sand in your old tank shouldn't have a huge amount of detritus in it, but it will have enough to potentially set off a new cycle. Given the fish you have, I would not try to reuse it, just use a cup or two to seed the new sand bed.[/QUOTE]

Man, I hate that, so much sand I will have to leave, then again I cann't come up with a good idea for moving all that sand from one tank to another. I will use a good 10 pounds or so to seed the new sand bed.

[/QUOTE]It would be a good idea to use a new powerhead in the new tank and leave the existing powerhead in the old tank during the transfer. I don't like the idea (if I follow your post correctly) of leaving the old tank without water movement for a couple of hours. You will likely need more flow in the new tank anyways, so use them both at the end of the move.[/QUOTE]

the old tank will still have the return pump (mag 9.5) giving OK movement at least for a day or two for the rock to settle in the new tank. However the new tank will have nothing, no sump, no pump. unless I move the MP40.

 

[Crkbaby]

Good luck moving tanks is a huge pain I think you're best off with new sand seeded with some of the old bring as much of the old water as you can. I am sure you will go through some kind of cycle reguardless of what you do.

 

[bif24701]

Got everything moved and I didn't lose any live stock, it was a lot of hard work but it paid off!