Moving to a larger tank

[Thefishwrangler]

My question is if I should wait for the larger tank to fully cycle if I use the same rock and water from the old tank mixed with the new water.

 

[thegrun]

How much bigger is the new tank? Are you adding live rock or dry rock. Give us a little more information so we can give you good advice.

 

[pfan151]

No point in reusing water from the old tank. You shouldn't have much to worry about as long as you have a decent amount of rock. You can use some bottled bacteria to help out as well.

 

[leheath]

I moved from a 29g to a 75g (plus 55g sump). I used the live rock from the old tank mixed with dry rock. I used dry sand seeded with live sand from the old tank. I had corals, inverts, and a fish so just filled new tank system with freshly made salt water and moved everything all at once. I observed no obvious ill effects.

 

[Thefishwrangler]

The current tank is 45 gallons, the new tank is 55 gallons. The rock has been in the 45 for a year and a half, and will be mixed with a few new pieces of dry rock.

 

[heathlindner25]

Not a issue.

 

[thegrun]

Agreed, it will not be a problem. I would use all new dry sand, your old sand will have enough detritus in it to potentially start a new cycle, so use all dry sand washed well before you put it in the tank to remove the fines (dust). I would reuse as much clean water from your old system as possible. Reusing the old water will not benefit your bacteria population but because your livestock is used to the old tank water's chemistry, you want to minimize the shock of new water chemistry during the transfer.