Tank transfer/re-set up

[Shillmenator]

Hello guys, new to the forum if you can't tell.. Been searching forums for the past day or so, but maybe a kind soul would maybe just answer the questions for me on here..

I have a 55 gal tank at my parents house, had it set up for like 6-7 years. I moved out 2 years ago, and didnt want to move the tank to my house unless I upgraded.. Well finally found a good deal on a 130 gal last Friday, that has been set up for couple years full of more live rock and fish.. I had to re-stain the stand and canopy, so the tank has been sitting for like 4 days now, with rocks in an extra 55 and a 60 gal garbage can with power heads. The sump has been dry for these past 4 days, and so has the tank.. So here come some questions..

1. I am planning on getting filtered ocean water, since i always had great luck with it before then the mixed salt water. Is that a good idea to get ocean water to fill most of the tank? The water I have the coral in now is from the tank i bough, and my tank is still set up but has some algae blooming.

2. If i get the water lets say in the next day, and put in all the live rock that has been submerged for 4-5 days in same water, will I have to cycle it, or can I put the fish I got with my new tank in it same day as rocks?

3. Can I reuse the same bio balls and sponge filter the sump has in it, or should I ad some of mine from my 55 when i start merging that tank into this one.

4. Read that should always get new sand, so can i buy regular sand or go with live sand? Live sand kinda pricy..

5. Waiting for all new light bulbs to come in, he had not replaced them in 3-5 years. 4 96w, 2 metal halides, and new bulb in the UV sterilizer. I know the metal halides get hot, is it ok to have them on a timer for like 3 hours in the middle of the other actinic and day light cycle?

Think thats most of the questions i been boiling in my head for past couple days.. Kinda rusty, havnt messed with tanks in years, just water changes in my old set up.. Thank you in advance for any help.

 

[itz frank]

When I set up my upgrade, I ised NSW for the first fill. I had no problems at all. However, the big risk is whether or not they sucked something nasty up when they pulled it from the ocean.

No matter which live rock you use, you'll want to monitor ammonia to make sure you aren't getting a nutrient spike but using either should work as long as you don't have any die off.

I know nothing about bio balls.

Most will prefer dry sand over live I think. I used dry sand. Live sand could cause a cycle.

The question about the lights is fine. But if you're doing a reef you may need better lighting schedule for coral exposure.


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[Lacy]

Welcome to RC.

I would use the ocean water.

You should be able to transfer the fish and rock over.

If the bio balls in your sump are dry then you should give them a good rinse and make sure there is no debris in them. I would add them slowly back in (if dry) along with some of the ones from your other tank. If they didn't dry out then just put them in as usual.

Sand
If using dead sand I would add a little at a time so you don't cause a cycle. I have never used play sand so I am not sure, but I think there is a problem with it. Hopefully someone else with experience will chime in about play sand. If you are looking to buy dry reef sand I have some for sale. Was in one of my tanks and has been thoroughly cleaned. I will need to see how much I have, but I should have at least 50+ pounds for 40.00.

What is the concern with the mh getting hot? Heating the tank water to much? If that is the case, then try putting a small fan on the sump and see if that works. I used to use mh and we did this. We ended up going with leds due to the heat in the bar room. The fan worked for the heat in the tank, but it made the room hotter. We always had to keep the ac on more.

 

[aqua tech]

I just upgraded from my 50 to a 90 here's what I did.
I used the same water from my 50 and live rock to help fill the 90. I purchased 50 more gallons of synthetic water, 35 more pounds of live rock and 60 pounds of dry sand. You can use dry or live make sure you rinse either really well before adding to you new setup you do not want to use your old sand you will stir up all the nasty stuff that you don't want in the new tank and cause a nasty cycle. I've switched out three separate tanks this way and have had no problem I add my fish and coral right way. Sometime you might get a small diatom outbreak from the small amount of die off and new sand but it's nothing to be concerned about. Good luck

 

[Lacy]

If it's dead sand even if it's throughly cleaned, I would still add it over a week or 2. It is best to have the rock work sitting directly on the bottom of the tank or some other support and not on a couple inches of sand. This will help with any shifting of the rocks if the sand moves around. Due to this it won't hurt to add it little by little. Better to do what you can to help avoid as much die off as possible or any spikes.

 

[McGee10]

The play sand is silica. it will be more problems then you will want to deal with! I you put beach sand (ground up coral) in some vinegar you will see it bubble as it melts silica will not. I used all fresh sand for my switch from 75 to 180. I have had my best success with NSW, if you are worried about parasites run strait ozone for 24 Hr's (outside). As faf as the bio balls DON'T DO IT! all it does is make Nitrates, the live rock will host the Bio load.

 

[Shillmenator]

Thank you for the replies guys.. So I am off tomorrow, so have some ocean water being delivered.. I will start transfering the live rocks over before i get the sand, and i have 2 clowns, a wrasse that i got with the tank that i guess i will drop in tomorrow as well. From what i read i should do as much of the old water in there as possible, so will pump maybe 30 gal in there from the holding tanks where the rocks have been sitting.

Lacy I deff still need to buy sand, so maybe email me or PM me with ur # and i can grab the sand tomo, and maybe pick your brain some more.

So why no to bio balls? what do i do in place of them in the sump? I will rinse them and the sponge tomo in salt water before starting to run it..

The 55 at my parents house i will just do maybe 2 water changes one tomo one maybe tuesday to get my fish in there use to the cleaner water(that tank was kinda neglected).. Should i still add some of that water when i transfer my fish and coral from that tank? or just drip this water and float them before putting them in?

Thanks again for all the helps everybody

 

[Lacy]

..... As faf as the bio balls DON'T DO IT! all it does is make Nitrates, the live rock will host the Bio load.

I don't know how many times I have heard this. I have always had success with them. Others must be doing something that I'm not. I had a 40 gallon frag tank set up for 4 - 5 years with them in a wet dry filter. Had great success with that tank. There were bio balls, skimmer and an area for filter pad/floss. I didn't even keep up with the filter pads that much, even though I probably should have. That was it. No rocks or sand in the tank or sump. I have set it back up about 2 weeks ago. I am using the bio balls again. I have put a couple of pieces of established rock in the sump only because I wanted to add corals the next day after setting it up. I am slowly adding bio balls till it is full. Once I fill that area I will remove the rock. It's not that I am short on rock, because I have plenty for sale from my 300. It's because it worked so great for me before I see no need to change things. If you are familiar with http://www.lifereef.com/trickle.html they have been making them for over 30 years. It they didn't work no one would be buying them especially since they are not cheap. Everyone has to decide what works for them and what doesn't. Bio balls worked great for me.

I don't think it's necessary to use a lot of water from the old tank. NSW is great. If you go with all NSW, be sure to slowly acclimate. There is no need to float them with a good acclimation.

What kind of wrasse is it? Some wrasses need/prefer sand to sleep in or to hide when they feel threatened. If you are going to add the sand slowly and you have a wrasse that needs a sand bed then use a container of sand. You can use a Tupperware or some other plastic container. Put several inches of sand in it. This will work till you have more send in there.

 

[Shillmenator]

Ok so with taking out the bio balls, do i have to submerge the rocks or can they sit where the bio balls were and just get the water dripped from the return on them? I mean i could submerge some of the rocks but its only like 3" of water lvl in the sump.. Thanks again