Sand Bed replacement or add and saltwater

[sapsap]

I'm upgrading from 125 gal, to 180 gal. I have about 3 -4" of sand in my 125 gal. Should i use the same sand and just add some? Will it be possible to do that , so i dont have to cycle? With the aged saltwater, please define ? How many days old and can I store with out movement for how many days?
Thank you

 

[aquaman67]

How long has the sand been in the 125?

If it's been less than 6 months, I would say just move the sand.

If it's been over 6 months I would keep about a gallon jug of the sand from the 125. Then I would rinse the rest of the sand and re-use it in the 180. If you want a deep sand bed, you'll need to add some to make the bed about 6 inches deep.

If you're not going for a DSB, then you will probably have about 2-3 inches in the 180. Just add the old sand to seed the rinsed sand and you're good to go.

I'd add all the old water and then add new to fill it up. It would be like doing a water change.

I wouldn't let anything set for more than a few hours before doing the swap.

 

[sapsap]

My sand is over 6 months old. Regarding the water, I will need a lot of salt water. I will have 75 gal sump with the 180 gal. What is the maximum percentage I can add. with out going thru cycling. With the sand, should I rinse with regulat water or DI water

 

[aquaman67]

That's about 130 gallons more, about a 50% water change (125 gallons old, 130 new), the most I would attempt.

Make sure you match pH, Temp and Salinity as close as possible.

IMO, water doesn't have much to do with cycles. The bacteria live on surfaces, not in the water coulmn. The reason to keep the water is to avoid re-acclimating livestock, not to avoid a cycle.

Live rock and sand are what keep you from having a cycle. Which I believe you will see a mini cycle no matter what you do.

I would rinse the sand with DI water or old salt water from a water change.

 

[sapsap]

Thanks for answering my queries. Hope it does not go to cycling too much or I die seeing my livestock suffer.

 

[aquaman67]

I would do several water changes after the swap to keep any spikes low.

Good Luck and Congrats on the upgrade!

 

[sapsap]

Thank you. How many percent and how often?

 

[aquaman67]

The best thing to do would be to test the water and if you see an ammonia spike do a 10 % water change.

If you don't have a test kit I would do 10 % (25 gallons) on day 2, day 5, and day 8 after the swap.

 

[sapsap]

Thanks again. So far I'm very lucky and no problem with my reef. I do 20 % water change every 3 weeks. I'm sure nothing will happen drastic. Thanks a lot for your adviced.