Tank Transfer...Looking for advice

[chuckawd]

I will be transferring from my 20h to my new 20l and I need some advice on exactly how to do so in one day. I was planning on doing the following:

1. Drain 10 gallons from the 20h into a 10 gallon holding tank and place all corals and fish in the 10 gallon tank.

2. Drain the remaining water from the 20H into a bucket then move the tank off the stand.

3. Put the new 20l on the stand and add the 35 lbs of LR from the 20h to the 20l

4. Add new, rinsed CaribSea sugar fine sand to the 20l with LR and seed with a few cups of my old sand.

5. Add the 10 gallons of water from the 10 gallon tank with the corals to the 20l

6. Add the corals to the 20l.

7. Put 5-7 gallons fresh new SW to the 20l

9. All done!!

What do you all think of that plan? I figure it will certainly take a few hours to get through. So will I be expecting a cycle of any kind? I will be monitoring the water super closely but the way I look at it, it's like I'm just doing a big water change because I will be using my established HOB filter in the 20l as well as my good LR. Any advice you can offer so I can get this done in one session is greatly appreciated!! Thank You!!

 

[block head]

solid plan. my only advice would be to have some extra water and a few buckets or totes around. the extra room to spread rock and coral comes in handy. towels, an extra set of hands are nice. extra heaters,air pumps,etc can be useful as well. i'd expect a small cycle ,coral might slime up for a day or two. i'd plan to run carbon and a small WC the day after. good luck!

 

[Geoff_Poz]

Chuck,

Sounds like a decent plan. You may want to use the water from the bucket instead of the 10G so the coral won't go dry while you are rebuilding the 20L. Also, you should expect at least a small cycle with the new sand and some die-off of micro-organisms.

 

[Capt_Cully]

Very sound plan and advice. Remember to try and match the new SW to the old as far as temp and SG. That'll help minimize stress. Otherwise I'd say you'll do just fine with your plan.

 

[naprestsleep]

Also give the rock a good dunking in SW to rinse any "gunk" off while you are at it. You can never have to much new SW ready, nor to many containers to separate stuff into.

Also GLOVES, too many people have been getting attacked by their tanks micro-inhabitants and getting sick lately.

 

[EllieSuz]

I've done this twice. The only difference in my procedure and yours was adding new sand the same day. I did the aquascape on a bare bottom and added rinsed, wet sand with a funnel and hose that reaches the bottom. It avoided a sand cloud in the new tank.

 

[chuckawd]

I've done this twice. The only difference in my procedure and yours was adding new sand the same day. I did the aquascape on a bare bottom and added rinsed, wet sand with a funnel and hose that reaches the bottom. It avoided a sand cloud in the new tank.

Very good tip with the sand there Ellie!! Thank you.

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I have gathered several buckets and extra heaters, powerheads, and fresh SW for the change. Some of you made me think a little more and my question is this:

Could I just put enough water from the 20H in the 10 gallon coral holding tank to cover the corals and just reuse the remaining water? That would give me about 14 gallons of water to add to the new tank plus another 6 of freshly mixed SW.

Other thank that I think I am all good!! Thanks everyone!!

 

[iamwrasseman]

that will work just fine i do it all the time just like that and just do it as fast as you can without really going crazy as you want the temp to stay as stable as possible.

 

[scolley]

Bump - doing the same thing (different sizes tanks; same principle though), and this pretty well lays out what needs to occur - including live sand considerations.

Thanks all else for laying these questions out so well OP. And thanks all for the informative replies.

 

[tmz]

Just did one from a 40long to a new 2 foot by 4 foot x4x12inch ,60g. Similar process. I also made a note that sand cloud might be a problem and slow you down . Also keep the rock submerged. Aerate the holding tank well. Watch ammonia in the new tank for a while just in case there isn't enough biofilter in the rock and new sand.Difinately match sg, temp and alk.

 

[rainydave]

Looking to do a swap from a 40b to a 58 today. I'll be following your plan.

 

[Sophie10]

Just remember to wash that oolytic sand forever! I did and I had a clear tank, though many said it would take days to clear. Wash until the cloudiness is gone. Good luck! And
+1 to ellenSuz, that's a good idea to funnel it in.