switching to new tank advice please.

[bradhinz]

I currently have a 77 gallon with 80+ pounds of live rock, 2" sand bed, coral banded shrimp, 2 cleaner shrimp, nemo, yellow tang, anemone and a lawnmower blennie.

This is just a normal tank, remora pro skimmer, fluval 304 cannister filter.

I bought a 77 gallon with internal overflow, I built a new stand, also built a 20 gallon acrylic sump and have a aqua c ev120 that I will set up externally.

My question is: When I do the transfer, what would be the best way to minimize impact n the residents.

I thought about starting with 50% new rodi salt water, remainder to be siphoned from the tank before disturbing anything (live rock and inhabitants) in rubbermaid containers with the rest of the original water. Scoop the sand out and place in the new tank, followed by inhabitants.

Am I on the right track? Thanks, Brad

 

[bradhinz]

new tank

new tank

bump

 

[bradhinz]

new tank

new tank

somebody must have some input... PLEASE

 

[yoboyjdizz]

the idea sounds great you might also want to think on replacing the sand bed as well and just keep a cup full to seed the new one...

 

[drunktank]

set up ur new tank where u want it (assuming its not going in the same palce as the last one)

fill it w/ 50% RODI water as u stated - then put 50% of ur old tank water in. PLace new sand bed and a few cup fulls from old tank. Move ur LR over, set up ur aquascape- then move fish etc over.

 

[bradhinz]

new tank

new tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7296797#post7296797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drunktank
set up ur new tank where u want it (assuming its not going in the same palce as the last one)

fill it w/ 50% RODI water as u stated - then put 50% of ur old tank water in. PLace new sand bed and a few cup fulls from old tank. Move ur LR over, set up ur aquascape- then move fish etc over.

It is very tough to find any useable sand here for a decent price. The sand that is in the tank is bagged live sand from the local fish store. (4) 20 lb. bags at $50 ea. is it reuseable if its rinsed?

The play sand available around here does not pass the vinegar test.

 

[Kaiser Tang]

I would just directly transfer as much of the contents as possible. Tank out some water. Remove livestock, remove as much water as possible, remove rock, remove sand.

Add sand, add original water and top off with RO/DI water. Allow to settle. Add LR, add livestock. I think you risk acclimation problems if you change water and/or sand.

I've moved tanks like this before and never had problems. You just have to make sure your livestock has what they need (i.e. heat, light, air, etc.) live outside of the tank for a while. It will take a little while for your water to clear up.

 

[zoltetov]

have you considered going bare-bottom? It'd certainly solve your sand problem. Just an idea... (And for the record, availability issues aside, there's no acclimation-type risk in starting with a new sand bed. As was suggested, a few scoops of orginal sand to seed is all ya need, but your filtration is in the rocks and the water collumn when you use half of your original water. A new bed of sand isn't going to affect that. Availablity seems to be your larger issue. You could probably transfer your old sand bed, but in the transfer, you'll probably destroy and filtration that's developed. )

 

[Sk8r]

I wouldn't rinse it. The biggest problem is going to be the disturbance of the bioactive layers in that sand bed. Laying down new sand with a healthy dose of the old and expecting a mild cycle would probably be the best course: set up the new tank with new sand and a big dose of live sand from your current tank; move some live rock over, let run for a while until it goes through whatever cycle is going to happen.

Then when you're satisified with the chemistry, start transferring specimens, starting with your inverts and working up to one fish, allow to work for a day, then the next fish, move some more rock over, and so on, so that the new tank has a chance to work that bioload into its capacity.

If you do this slowly, with two tanks up and running until the final fish transfers, I don't think you'll risk any losses.

 

[bradhinz]

new tank

new tank

Thanks for all the help, I appreciate it. Brad