Tank Move, advice needed

[tnorthern]

I am in the process of moving from Elk Grove, CA to Santa Rosa, CA about a two hour move, I have my old tank running in Elk Grove and I have a new tank with freshly mixed saltwater running in Santa Rosa, what is the best way to transition the livestock to the new tank with a minimal amount of loss? This is mixed reef going from a 135 gallon tank to a new 210.

Will I need to have a cycle in the tank with the fresh saltwater before I can add livestock? I am wondering if I can use some of the old water from the tank to avoid shock on my corals? The only thing that I am not moving is the sand bed, all live rock and live stock will be moved. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

 

[tnorthern]

Bueller? Anyone?

 

[jbird0420]

The new tank will need to cycle for at least a month. If you can add a couple of damsels or something hardy in that new tank to speed up the cycle process.

If you occasionally can add some old tank water to the new tank as well. To help speed up that process.

 

[0 tds]

I am new to sw (about a year) so take my comments with caution... Using the same LR will help but you will have a cycle to deal with so watch it close for the first week or so. Any time you stir things up you run the risk of a mini cycle. The key will be to protect the LR (and fish / corals) on the 2 hour trip. Make sure you have everyting ready on the other end including extra SW mixed and ready you go if you need to do a quick WC. Good luck. I am about to do a move tanks my self so I look forward to what others have to say.

 

[geccles]

I'll be making a 1 hr move later this summer. I plan to empty the tank into 5 gallon buckets w/ one rock in each bucket and making the move as quick as possible. As soon as I get to the house, put airstones in the buckets, heat to equal tank temp, & transfer water & all. Depending on how much water you're moving you would do an acclimation process as well.

As long as the live rock remains submerged and the move is quick I am expecting little die off. We'll see if I'm right or wrong.

I would agree with adding as much old waster as possible to stabilize water chemistry.

 

[jbird0420]

If you can try to salvage as much of the old water as you can. I'm going to be moving soon. 2 big tanks a 225g FO and 180g Coral tank. I plan on getting a few big brute trash cans, coolers, and bags.

It's easy just have to plan.

 

[tnorthern]

Thanks for the input guys. I've got tons of buckets and 4 Brutes so moving everything won't be an issue. I will put my corals and fish in coolers so the temp will be less of an issue. I was thinking I wouldn't need to wait for the new tank to cycle since I have about 250 pounds of live rock that has been in my tank for two years. It will amount to a huge water change but i will make sure the chemistry is the same.

 

[0 tds]

Please don't use damsels. They are mean and hard to catch later. I made that mistake and when I added a 30$ fish, that darn 6$ fish tried to kill it and I had to take him out. He was so fast that I had to take out all of my rock to catch the darn things. I ended up killing one (net + fish + glass = not good for fish) and took the other one back to the LFS (no store credit). Then had a mini cycle but not too bad. I know better now and will never have damsels again.

Most of the bacteria live on the rock with a smaller amount in the water so by moving all of the rock at one time you should be ok, but again take my comments with caution.

 

[smokenax]

You should be o.k. We moved my friends tank with no losses
sps tank,dump all your old water in new tank and level off with
New mixed water,do not add the sand as it could release toxic
Sulfur,also run lots of activated carbon,it will help with any die
Off.