swapping a 90 for a 130, placement/leveling questions

[Noslen34]

Hi guys,

I'm upgrading my 90 bowfront to a 130 gallon cube starfire tank and I have 2 questions.

1) I want to place the new 130 where the 90 exists now. How do i go about doing this as? Should i empty water into buckets and then poor it into the new 130? Should i get rid of the sand (it was only 1-2 inches and the tank has only been running since April 2013) Should i place my all my 9 fishes and 2 shimps in a 20 gallon for a day or two and then transfer them over once the liverock is placed in a 130 gallon?

2) I know my tank will not be levelled (the floor is slanted away from the wall). Should i shimmy the stand or use styrofoam under the stand?

Thanks for all your help.

 

[AZBigJohn]

There are several threads about moving tanks; especially going to a larger tank, you will probably have a mini-cycle from new baserock, sand and such. I leave that part of your question to people much more experienced than I.

As for your slanted floor, I would think you should do both. I would certainly shim the stand level, but also use styrofoam under the tank to further keep the tank safe.

 

[ca1ore]

Upgrading a tank in the same spot is a bit more complex than putting the new on elsewhere, but it is essentially as you suggest. You will need to have a temporary holding facility for your animals, rock and water. Do keep as much of your old water as possible. I see no reason not to put the fish right back into the new display - I have always done it that way. I also always make sure to have a fresh batch of GFO on a newly relocated tank.

Reusing sand is debatable. Given the age of your tank and the sand depth, I'd be inclined to reuse it. Perhaps put a layer of new sand on top in the new tank to minimize the cloudiness. As long as you are using the same sump, I'd think any cycling would be negligible.

Never put Styrofoam under a stand to level it. If you are going to use foam, it goes between the tank and the stand, but even in that application it is not a substitute for a level stand. Use wooden, or even better, composite, shims to level the stand and shim regularly under the length of the stand. You will create all sorts of potential headaches if you don't start with a level tank.

 

[Noslen34]

Upgrading a tank in the same spot is a bit more complex than putting the new on elsewhere, but it is essentially as you suggest. You will need to have a temporary holding facility for your animals, rock and water. Do keep as much of your old water as possible. I see no reason not to put the fish right back into the new display - I have always done it that way. I also always make sure to have a fresh batch of GFO on a newly relocated tank.

Reusing sand is debatable. Given the age of your tank and the sand depth, I'd be inclined to reuse it. Perhaps put a layer of new sand on top in the new tank to minimize the cloudiness. As long as you are using the same sump, I'd think any cycling would be negligible.

Never put Styrofoam under a stand to level it. If you are going to use foam, it goes between the tank and the stand, but even in that application it is not a substitute for a level stand. Use wooden, or even better, composite, shims to level the stand and shim regularly under the length of the stand. You will create all sorts of potential headaches if you don't start with a level tank.

Thank you. I will shim the whole lengh of the tank and skip out on the styrofoam.

Do you think the 20 gallon can hold all 9 fishes and 2 shrimps for a couple of days or should i just get it into the new tank as quick as possible?

 

[mr_bigl]

a 20 would hold them for the time being. just make sure its covered.