Swapping out Bob's tank

[Reef Bass]

So Bob has this awesome new tank and we're going to help him get it up and running by transferring his existing stuff to the new tank. This thread is to help plan how we're gonig to do it so hoipefully we can have thought about most of the issues before game day.

Let's start off with some assumptions. We'd like to do it in one day / session. I'm guessing the new tank will go where the old tank is, so the old will need to be drained and moved before the new one can be put in place.

We're going to need buckets and pumps and possibly heaters. Maybe extension cords. Towels.

And food and beverage, but I think that belongs on the meeting thread.

How should we proceed?

 

[Grant W]

I will be picking up the framing materials and bringing the tools I will need to build the new stand. Bob is going to pick up the prefinished maple plywood for the inside of the stand. I will be getting to Bobs house early to get ahead of the tank swap crew so the downtime is kept to a minimum. Beyond this others will have to jump in. Grant.

P.S. I will also be bringing my Holesaw bit for the plumbing and piping runs.

 

[thysrof]

I've got heaters,power heads,buckets,and a large ice chest. I think the first thing I can think of is does anyone have a large container to put rock and animals? How about an extra heater and powerhead also.

I'm getting the over flow parts together.

Does anyone have a pump we can attach to some tubing to pump the water back in the tank that we save?

Throw cloths for the floor I have one.Might need another

 

[northbay-reefer]

I do have an ocean runner 6500 pump you can borrow.

 

[Reef Bass]

Well as long as you're working extra hard Grant.

I have a couple 20 gallon mini brutes which can hold coral, rock and / or water. And a powerhead, heater and extension cord should mixing water be necessary.

Bob, just so we're clear, the new tank is going on the new stand where the old tank is? And the sump will need to move as well, to the new stand?

In terms of initial actions, I think draining and capturing as much of the existing tank water is a priority before the tank gets stirred up. So that would mean having roughly 100g of storage capacity available and container space for any corals that would be exposed as a result of draining out the water. Therefore I propose

Step 1. Turn off all pumps, heaters, filtration, skimmers, reactors, etc.

Step 2. Drain and capture existing tank water before tank gets stirred up.

 

[thysrof]

Ken,

I have the similar setup to Tom for mixing water so that's no problem. I will have 50 gallons ready to go and another 50 in Ro water ready to go just in case.

I really need some extra powerheads and heaters for the holding containers. As well as a couple more holding containers. I would guess my large ice chest would hld about 50 gallons. So you're two 20's will almost put us there.

Sense i don't pump water from a container into my tank. I hope someone can bring a pump with hose to do so.

Yes the sump will be transferred to the new stand. Grant plans on building the new stand while we're pulling the rock and animals out.

I will pull the skimmer and media reactors the night before to speed the process. I will do as much staging as possible ahead of time.

I'm also getting together the parts for the new overflow and return. Thought it best to start with new.

Owe bring your power driver if you have one so can be working t the same time.

I have very little rock structure in ther tank so pulling the rock and animals will be pretty easy.

 

[GiantBen]

How about some pics of the old setup before it comes apart?

Are you getting the prefinished ply at higgins it somewhere else?

 

[Grant W]

That's what I asked Bob to do. The same material I suggested for you.

 

[thysrof]

Yes Higgins.

 

[GiantBen]

That's what I figured. Went down there this weekend, but there were closed. I'll have to check it out during the week.

 

[Reef Bass]

Ok, with Bob having done staging / prep before, and with steps 1 and 2 accomplished, I think we'd be at:

Step 3. Remove corals.

Step 4. Finish draining tank.

Step 5. Remove substrate from old tank. Are we re-using your sand in the new tank Bob?

Step 6. Remove old tank from stand.

Step 7. Remove old stand from location where new stand is going.

Step 8. Position new stand.

Step 9. Position new tank on new stand.

Step 10. Position sump and equipment on new stand.

Step 11. Add sand and rock to new tank.

Step 12. Fill tank.

Step 13. Turn on equipment (pumps, heaters, skimmer, etc.) except lights.

Step 14. Add coral

Did I forget anything? Time wise I think step 8 could be an issue if team tear down completes before team stand build is finished.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Nice steps outline Ken, now come the details, I am more of a detail guy ... lol

When draining the tank, leave about 2" of water above the sand bed, stir up the sand and turn that water as murky as possible, this will help clean the sand. raise one side of the tank about 4" and push the sand to the higher side, this will drain the dirty water to the lower side of the tank. Use a strainer and scoop out most of the sand leaving behind the dirty stuff. Dump the rest.

This should fit in between step 5 and 6

Also Bob was talking about installing the light using the cables and hang it from the ceiling, since we have enough people there to help, couple of the people can work on hanging the light?

I think if we have before and after photos, this will make it fun and exciting to see the end result.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Also,

Bob, you probably should move the coffee table and all the small stuff to the other room and line that room floor with tarp or something because we are going to be very messy

 

[crispyreef]

I have an ocean runner 2500, heater, buckets, and anything else I can think of to bring just in case. I can also bring 10-15 clean 5 gal water jugs if need be.
my thoughts
1) fill containers with clean tank water for corals and fish
2) take out corals first, since you don't stir tank up much when doing
3) drain as much water from tank that you want to keep
4) net fish and pull rocks
5) drain the last of the water and scoop gravel
And your done! JK , but its a rough outline that has works many times for me.

 

[coralfarmer]

Chris,
How many times did we move your tank???

 

[thysrof]

I will defintely pull the coffee table. Looks like the plan is coming together.

Grant is going to show up at 8am. he needs to get started on the stand. He will probably come over before to do some planning.

 

[crispyreef]

I think it was 4 times in 2 years. Too many!

 

[northbay-reefer]

I think it was 4 times in 2 years. Too many!

I moved my 180 twice in 3 months and that was tough.

 

[elensius]

Perhaps I missed it in the posts above, but... where are the corals, fish going while the old tank is swapped out for the new one?

I have a 65 and a 48 gallon tank that wouldn't be too hard to load into the van and bring down if you want to try to house everything (including existing water) in one or two large tanks during the move... lemme know!

 

[northbay-reefer]

Perhaps I missed it in the posts above, but... where are the corals, fish going while the old tank is swapped out for the new one?

I have a 65 and a 48 gallon tank that wouldn't be too hard to load into the van and bring down if you want to try to house everything (including existing water) in one or two large tanks during the move... lemme know!

Bob has several large ice chess that he will use for keeping the corals but I am sure he could use more containers.