Questions - Concerns of Overhaul

[Neoz]

So I believe I have everything ready to overhaul my tank. Little bit of history first. My tank has been running since July 1st of 09. Looking good and everything is doing fine. But being I was new there are things I would like to change or overhaul. Mainly my rock work. Sump plumbing, and sand. I was learning when i set it up and now have a much better understanding of what and how I want things.

Some of the changes will be...

1) Adding about 100lbs total of dry Marco Fiji rock , as well as Marco Shelf rock to the already existing rock.

2) Adding Reef grade sand and removing the sugar fine sand. With the rock layout I'm planning there won't be much sand in the tank at all.

3) Changing my drain lines to flow better. Also changing out my sump to a bigger one and better layout to suit my needs.

4) Adding 2 new 6ft VHO's to the already existing 2 VHO's in the canopy.

5) Installing my new Reef Keeper setup and all the probes.

I know thats a lot of work but obviously I have some concerns. My main one being the tank recycling. I'm wondering how long I can have the rock out of the tank to drill it and pin it without a lot of die off.

I was going to drain my tank water into two 33 gallon brute cans. One for fish and one for corals. I'm probably looking at a all day project correct?

Really have no other options as I don't have another tank but really want to change out the sand and re aqua scape.

So what do you think. Am I taking on too much at once? Concerns, comments?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

it sounds like you have a better grasp of what to do now than when you first set up the aquarium.

remember- changes are best made slowly. I wouldn't try and do all of those changes in one day

You can start removing sugar fine sand in advance of the re-stack by siphoning it out with a hose when doing water changes.

 

[Neoz]

I thought about that Gary. I plan to use some of the existing sand to the new sand to help seed it. But what about the rock? That would have to happen all at once.

I'm trying to minimize die off on the rock and stress to my existing livestock. Removing all the fish would be best correct?

 

[JBrown]

try and ramp up the new lighting slowly, as far as the rock when it out of the tank try and wrap it in some wet newspaper

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

try and ramp up the new lighting slowly, as far as the rock when it out of the tank try and wrap it in some wet newspaper

I agree with Josh. Holding the rock in a water filled brute would be even better.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I thought about that Gary. I plan to use some of the existing sand to the new sand to help seed it. But what about the rock? That would have to happen all at once.

I'm trying to minimize die off on the rock and stress to my existing livestock. Removing all the fish would be best correct?

rock re-stack would probably best happen in one day.

Depending on your fishes it might be better to remove them.
In my case they know me very well and I'd probably leave them in the aquarium.