Tank Swap POSSIBLE?

[Coolibabes]

I currently have a 10ft x 1.5ft x 2.5ft fish tank (1yr old) and the width or shall we say lack of width is driving me crazy!

I am considering purchasing a 10ft x 3ft x 2.5ft and was wondering if I can just do a straight swap between the two tanks. The 6ft sump with 2ft fuge with 20cm DSB will remain untouched thoughout this whole process.

Below is a possible plan of action:....

I have 2 x 200lt drums to store the live sand and live rock. I will purchase another 500lt drum to temporarily house the livestock (21 fish and a small amount of coral).

Schedule:
Friday....remove all live rock, catch all livestock (this is going to be heaps of fun!) remove all livesand...existing tank is empty!

Saturday...remove old tank and replace it with the new one. Align all the plumbing of the new tank to the existing plumbing going to and from the sump giving it 24hrs for any glueing to cure.

Sunday...fill the tank and check for leaks then replace live sand, live rock, and livestock in the new tank!

One hectic weekend I know and sleep will not be an option.

Is this at all possible or am I setting myself up for a tank crash?

Did I miss something?

Should I wait a while before adding the livestock?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

 

[lastlight]

My concern would be disturbing the sand bed like that but others know more than I. Is it shallow and do you vacuum it regularly? If you do I think it would be a safe move.

 

[boilermaker1]

Honestly, I think you're best taking monday off as well. All the sand will need to settle, and there probably will be some junk that gets kicked up/off the live rock, you're going to want that to settle before you put fish back in. Having moved my tank several times (and its no where that big), going start to finish in 4 days is a feat in and of itself. Before the fish go back in, check all your water parameters. Even if its the same stuff going back in, you may get some changes.

 

[mm949]

sounds good just make sure u pump out the water first w/o distrubing bactors....while storing heavy flow/airration
and mix up 30% of fresh SW

 

[chuck3]

MUST MOVE THE SANDBED IN LAYERS!!!!

MUST MOVE THE SANDBED IN LAYERS!!!!

Your DSB has a certain type of aerobic bacteria on top. . . and aneorobic stuff down below. . . which doesn't do well in the presence of lots of oxygen. . . since it's used to cracking down nitrate molecules to access oh-two. What you need to do is take a bin and deposit in it the TOP INCH of sand. . . then cover with a bit of water. Then take three more bins. . . scooping the top third of sand depth into the first bin. . . then the next third. . . and finally the bottom third, careful to add enough water to each bin to cover the sand. Then, in your new tank. . . add the 'layers' in reverse order. . . the the bottom sand from the old tank is now the bottom sand in your new tank. Since your new tank is bigger, add the 'extra' sand either all at once in the bottom. . . or add it to each 'layer' in the same spot (e.g. along the back wall) since it will be dead to start off with. Do this right, and you should have no problem. Do it wrong. . . and you're headed for a crash.

Chuck

 

[Coolibabes]

Re: MUST MOVE THE SANDBED IN LAYERS!!!!

Re: MUST MOVE THE SANDBED IN LAYERS!!!!

Thanks so much for all the replies

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15590273#post15590273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lastlight
My concern would be disturbing the sand bed like that but others know more than I. Is it shallow and do you vacuum it regularly? If you do I think it would be a safe move.

The sand in the tank it is only about 2-5cm deep and is not intended to be a DSB. I have never vacuumed it before though.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15593497#post15593497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chuck3
Your DSB has a certain type of aerobic bacteria on top. . . and aneorobic stuff down below. . . which doesn't do well in the presence of lots of oxygen. . . since it's used to cracking down nitrate molecules to access oh-two. What you need to do is take a bin and deposit in it the TOP INCH of sand. . . then cover with a bit of water. Then take three more bins. . . scooping the top third of sand depth into the first bin. . . then the next third. . . and finally the bottom third, careful to add enough water to each bin to cover the sand. Then, in your new tank. . . add the 'layers' in reverse order. . . the the bottom sand from the old tank is now the bottom sand in your new tank. Since your new tank is bigger, add the 'extra' sand either all at once in the bottom. . . or add it to each 'layer' in the same spot (e.g. along the back wall) since it will be dead to start off with. Do this right, and you should have no problem. Do it wrong. . . and you're headed for a crash.

Chuck

The actual DSB (20cm deep) is in my sump but will not be disturbed at all throughout the whole process.