Need to move tank questions

[refonpit]

Hello. My boyfriend made me a beautiful stand and I would like to switch out the old and put in the new. I have a 72 gal. Bowfront with ( guessing) 80 lbs of live rock.
How to start? The bottom of the tank is glass, don't know how much stress it can take. Has anyone out there done this before. Looks to be easy, but thinking it's not. Reckon it's going to disurb the fish and corals world for a
bit.
Any advise would be appreciated. Thanx, Deb

 

[ade]

IMO I would take down the tank just like you were going to move. If the sand bed stinks then I would take it out and replace with new. Should take about a couple of hours max to take down and set back up as long as there are no snags along the way.

 

[refonpit]

So when ya drain the water do you keep 80% and dump it back in once moved? Looks like it's going to stir up the sand quite a bit. Will it hurt the fish and corals to put them back in there with the sand unsettled?

 

[ade]

Depending on how long the tank has been set up and how deep the sand bed is.
I would drain as much water as possible so that the fish can still swim, take out the coral/rock, then the fish, easier to catch the fish IMO without the rocks in the tank. If the sand stinks and is dark looking at the bottom. I would get new and have peace of mind. Yes you will end up doing about 25% WC.

 

[refonpit]

Thank you for the advise Ade. I plan on changing out tomorrow.

 

[Virginia Reef]

Be sure to have more water than you think you will need mixed and up to temp before you start.

 

[sedor]

And also make sure to run a powerhead and a heater in with your fish and coral in whatever bucket you will store them in. Just in case things take longer than you expect. I wouldn't put them back in with a whirlwind of sand, but if your careful you shouldn't stir it up that much, try not to dump your water back in to hard. If you do end up going with new sand, make sure to throw a cup of the old stuff in the new tank to reseed.

 

[afbusdriver]

rubbermaid tubs work well too...
diffeintly don't disturb the sand bed if it stinks... some people get lucky and it works fine, however when i bought a 75 gal tank and left the sand in the tank, then refilled it--it messed everything up. most of my family got sick from the stressed zoas, i lost 4 or 5 fish and one urchin in one day, and blah blah blah... i still plan to use a DSB, but i don't plan on moving one.
when you get "extra" time rinse it a lot outside w/ fresh water...
good luck
stephen