Switching to a bigger tank
- Thread starter Nick55766
- Start date
It's safest to cycle the additional rock you plan on adding to the 75 before the transfer, although if you use dry rock without any dried on organics you can simply transfer the rock and livestock over all at once, but there is a slight chance of a cycle that way. Cycle the new rock either in a separate container like a brute trash can or in your new 75 gallon tank. I would use all new sand. It is less expensive and IMHO better to use dry sand rather than "live" sand. Be sure to rinse the new sand well before adding it to your tank or you will have a dust storm for several days.
Easy. Water goes into one end (usually the left) and the pump sits at the extreme right---or vice versa. In one end, out the other. SKimmer resides in the middle. Heater in the middle. No bioballs, nuthin', just space for water. If you have a lot of space you can install a fuge in the middle.
To determine how much water, best to FILL the new tank from the sump. Water goes in, pump it up to the tank, stop when pump runs dry, add more water, over and over, until for the first time, water pours down from the top. Give it a couple more gallons, and that's it. Theoretically there will be 5-6" of empty above that waterline. That means if the power goes out, the sump can hold all the draindown from the tank above, everything in the downflow box to the top of the drain pipe, without flooding your floor.
To determine how much water, best to FILL the new tank from the sump. Water goes in, pump it up to the tank, stop when pump runs dry, add more water, over and over, until for the first time, water pours down from the top. Give it a couple more gallons, and that's it. Theoretically there will be 5-6" of empty above that waterline. That means if the power goes out, the sump can hold all the draindown from the tank above, everything in the downflow box to the top of the drain pipe, without flooding your floor.
