Noob needing help w/ breakdown....

W

whowadat

New member
of a 120 RR tank, stand, and canopy sporting live rock, some corals, a few fish, and filter gear - move from Maryland Heights to Imperial, and then rebuild the same day. Any suggestions, tips, and/or equipment used to move a tank are also needed.

Friday, April 24th @ 1:00 pm


A volunteer or two will receive 50 dollar gift certificate to LFS, a 100 dollar GC for anyone with a pickup truck, and I'll forever be in your debt. Also, would be happy to offer my photography skills with Canon XSi and assorted lens including macro, thought someone might like some nice pics of your tank and/or tankmates.

Alternate date of Saturday May 16th (tenative)


Mike
 
Would it be possible to set up a temp tank at the old house for the livestock so you can take your time getting it setup at the new location?

Breaking down, moving and resetting all in one day sounds like it would be rushed and potential for oopses.

IMHO
Julie
 
I agree with Julie. I have just completed moving 90g to 135 g about 10 feet away. I have enough equipment for complete two set up. Even with that it take a long time planning (in months). I have cycled my new tank for almost two months and finally move it in three days. I am supposed to complete on Sunday. But I finished on Tuesday morning at 4:00AM. I lost my mandarin goby and one of the smallest/newest fairy wrasse is missing. Other than that ererything seems fine. Today, my hippo tang has a little ick on him. I don't know I should be concern about it or it is normal. (Anyone with moving experience, please let me know.) I am not trying to discourage you. But it is not that easy. If you can have temp arrangement for your livestock, that would be the best. Good luck with your move.
 
Hi Julie, thanks for your input. At the moment no, I don't have anything to put livestock in. I am looking into purchasing a couple of 40 gallon tanks, maybe even tomorrow, for future quarantine/hospital needs. (maybe just one or a 55g)

I assume a couple pieces of cured live rock in each would suffice for a bio filter ? If so, would a few days with LR be enough to support life ? I guess a powerhead too along with a heater would be needed, what do you think ? Maybe a "whisper" or something hanging off the back.....

I'm under the impression that any sort of mini cycle will only last a couple of days since I'll be using the same live rock, sand, and sump/fuge with as much of the original water to boot. Do you think I could get by with a couple of 40's for a temporary setup ?

Mike
 
What corals and fish do you have. I have my frag tank empty and may be able to store them for a month while your tank re-cycles. You would have to bring them here, and pick them up. Click my red house to see my setup.
 
When I moved from a 72 to 180 across the living room. I just moved all the live rock and never really had a "cycle". I used new live sand and a good portion of the old water.

whowadat, What Micheal said, what exactly are we talking about in terms of fish and coral. That really is an important thing to take into consideration.

IMHO, you can't have to much circulation. I would plan as much as you can come up with. I would think that setting up one larger tank would be easier as far as keeping things regulated, and easier on you during the move. Less to worry about.

While Micheal's offer is generous, I personally think it would be less stressful for your live stock to keep it in your care.

I would be available to help you before the 24th, I have company coming the 23-26th. PM me if there is anything I can help with.

Julie
 
I would really suggest using someones frag tank to hold any corals and fish then move the live rock and tank to your house and let it cycle for about 3-4 weeks. Any time I have moved a tank or seen one move there was at least a mini cycle and you dont want corals or expensive fish in there when it does.

Mike offered his frag tank for your use. I have one as well and I might be closer. Your welcome to use it. Might want to list off what all is in this tank. If its a lot of coral and large fish Mikes might work out better. I think his frag tank is pretty big. Mine will hold quite a bit tho.


Just my suggestion.
 
I still have my 90 g "old" tank where I move my livestock from. I have not tear it out yet. It still cycling with fuge but no LR/LS. It does not have a good lighting. So coral will not do. But can hold some fishes for temp. I am in Ladue area. Let me know if you are interested.
 
If you do it in May, I can help. I couldn't take off work for it, but I could help on a weekend - for free. I have a truck and I live in maryland heights too.
 
Looks like you have lots of options, but I would never risk putting all my fish and corals through a cycle. While sometimes the cycle on a tank move is very mild, othertimes it is really severe. I have heard both ways. But when resetting a tank, or moving to a new tank, I can assure you, it WILL cycle. It has to. With all your options, I would definately play it on the safe side, rather than "roll the dice". Best of luck.
 
Wow! I appreciate the very generous offers and will be looking to take advantage of them. I'll be out of town this weekend into Monday or possibly Tuesday so I'm struggling to get my ducks in a row due to a busy schedule - both mine and the present care taker of the tank.

The tank presently has a yellow tang, a black/white damsel, a six line wrasse, and a madarin goby (dragonet) There is 2 big mushroom rocks, a large leather, 2 rocks of encrusting gorgonian, + several smaller frags of zoanthids + other miscellaneous coral.

Here's a link to the For Sale thread that was on RC, I would imagine some of you folks might recognize the tank/owner.....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1614860

Let me firm up my schedule and I'll holler back at ya....

Thanks guys n gals!


Mike
 
if you havent seen that tank its really nice. I actually have his old 90 gallon that he had before you got that 120....

The woodworking on it is outstanding.
 
Mike,
Have you decided on a reef setup? Or are you still thinking about the fish only? So many decisions. Let me know if I can be of any help.

Julie
 
I'm going with a reef tank on this one. Its 4' by 2 by 2 so the added width should do nicely for a reef.

(sheepishly) I hope to be picking up a 6' by 18" by 2 sometime in the near future. It has a nice furniture grade stand and canopy, starphire front glass, a might as well be new 60" Lifereef skimmer and a new in the box custom sump/fuge made by Lifereef. (no lights) That's the one I'm looking to do a FOWLR with some more aggressive fish. I know of a 180 setup going up for sale this weekend at Gateway Aquatics off Telegraph road, he might be parting it out if no one takes the whole shebang. Give Chad or Patrick a call down there, they've got a wide assortment of coral if anyone hasn't been there before - plenty of healthy looking fish too!

At some point (way down the line) I would like to run a frag tank off that big skimmer with the 120 fowlr too, I'm not sure the sump would be big enough although it is rated for 300 gallons with about 50 gallons in sump/fuge capacity - the skimmer is rated for 700 gallons I think it was.

One step at a time grasshopper, one step at a time...... :-)


Mike
 
mike, i am running a frag tank off my 120 . we also have a 90 but i will not run it off the same system due to the messy nature of the predators in the 90 . You might consider doing the same since a reef tank requires excellent water quality. jmo
 
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