Tank Transfers

[zt444a]

I am going to transfer everything between my 58 and the 90 this afternoon when I get home.

Is there anything special I should do? What does everyone do to try and keep from breaking corals and such?

Will the fishies be ok in a bucket for a bit with a heater and some circulation?

What is the best order of operations? Pull out the rock then grab the fish and put them in a bucket? Followed by scooping the sand and transfering it?

Then the rest of the water, rock, and then fish?

I will just be nervous until I get everything moved over I guess...

Howie

 

[DrBDC]

What does everyone do to try and keep from breaking corals and such?

Be carefull and it will still happen anyway.

Will the fishies be ok in a bucket for a bit with a heater and some circulation?

sure, but heater is probably unnecessary unless they're there for hours.

What is the best order of operations? Pull out the rock then grab the fish and put them in a bucket? Followed by scooping the sand and transfering it?

Then the rest of the water, rock, and then fish?

Sounds great. I would only bring a seeding amount of sand from the top layers instead of mixing in the anoxic areas from the old bed. As soon as there is exposure to oxygenated water that bacteria is toast anyway and will re-establish itself in the deeper layers on it's own.

 

[zt444a]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8877581#post8877581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBDC

Sounds great. I would only bring a seeding amount of sand from the top layers instead of mixing in the anoxic areas from the old bed. As soon as there is exposure to oxygenated water that bacteria is toast anyway and will re-establish itself in the deeper layers on it's own.

I definately about avoiding the anoxic areas of the old tank sand bed, but it is only a year old, and I also added a sand bed recharge kit not too far back.

About 2 months ago I was really digging around in one corner of the sand. It was all clean and white for the most part, and not smelly at all. It turned my water so milky that I was worried, but the corals and fishies came through just fine.

I have had snails, conchs, a cuke and plenty of spaghetti worms, etc. for the sand bed. I even added a Diamond watchman goby to see if he might help as well.

Think I might chance it...

 

[DrBDC]

I'd run an extra good amount of carbon at first just in case of stirring something.

 

[Im Lon 2]

When moving my sand I tried to stir up as much as I could and syphon out the junk before moving the sand, so I was taking all the nasty stuff with me.

 

[capncapo]

Take only the top 1/2 inch of sand and order your recharge kit now. You will have a fair amount of die-off of the sandbed critters.

Don't chance it .... you'll lose.

 

[zt444a]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8878335#post8878335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capncapo
Take only the top 1/2 inch of sand and order your recharge kit now. You will have a fair amount of die-off of the sandbed critters.

Don't chance it .... you'll lose.

Capo I just recharged the sandbed about two months ago. Which helped immensely. Been digging around in it too, and the sand looks quite clean really....

Howard

 

[StupidsReef]

For the most part Howie, you have the right ideas. I agree with Roy 100% about the heater. I would not put it in the bucket unless you plan on leaving them in there for hours on end. I'd try to use 75% of the water from the 58 if not all of it placing it into the 55g sump and place the rock in there while moving the fish and sand. Good luck, and enjoy the new system!

Stupid.

 

[zt444a]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8878394#post8878394 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by StupidsReef
For the most part Howie, you have the right ideas. I agree with Roy 100% about the heater. I would not put it in the bucket unless you plan on leaving them in there for hours on end. I'd try to use 75% of the water from the 58 if not all of it placing it into the 55g sump and place the rock in there while moving the fish and sand. Good luck, and enjoy the new system!

Stupid.

Good idea Stu, I will try and put most of the rock (with corals) in the sump, after I clean out my old sump. Then fish in bucket, and go from there.

Howie

 

[capncapo]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8878356#post8878356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zt444a
Capo I just recharged the sandbed about two months ago. Which helped immensely. Been digging around in it too, and the sand looks quite clean really....

Howard

In that case I would only take the top 1/2 inch of sand, expect die-off and order a recharge kit.

 

[zt444a]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8878429#post8878429 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capncapo
In that case I would only take the top 1/2 inch of sand, expect die-off and order a recharge kit.

Don't be a $#%&

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[capncapo]

It's like that old saying Howard ..... you can lead a Howard to water......

 

[Nanook]

Howard: "How should I do this?"

RCer's: "Like this, this and this!"

Howard: "OK, I am going to do it like I want to though!"

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[zt444a]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8878948#post8878948 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Nanook
Howard: "How should I do this?"

RCer's: "Like this, this and this!"

Howard: "OK, I am going to do it like I want to though!"

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Actually, the opinions on the sand are running about 50/50. I had a couple from some of our LFS's tell me to just carefully scoop from one tank to the other, and then if that sand is not enough, add some new.

My sand bed is acutally pretty clean, with a bunch of it having been very recently moved and shoveled around because I went into panic mode when I dropped a nut (aluminum thank god) into the tank and could not find the damn thing.

I will run lots of carbon for awhile regardless of what I do with the sand.

I did take some advice on the live rock there Nook, which should arrive tomorrow. I decided to buy new stuff and see what interesting things develop during and after curing.

So not all is disregarded...



Howard

 

[stlouisguy]

So are you putting your old tank into the new one with new live rock??? I know your stuff is all in containers rigtht now. Your new live rock will probably do a hard cycle

 

[zt444a]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8882632#post8882632 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
So are you putting your old tank into the new one with new live rock??? I know your stuff is all in containers rigtht now. Your new live rock will probably do a hard cycle

The old tank stuff is in the new system currently. I was a bit short on water, but corals and fishies are in the sump with movement and heaters, and skimmer

the new rock will cure in a tub in the garage, as I like my home and being married.. did not think the wife would appreciate the smell. If the smell gets too bad in the garage, and starts to invade the house, I will do some big water changes, and then plead ignorance... which in some cases is not far off the mark...

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[DrBDC]

How much rock is getting cured and how much did you already have?

 

[JxMetal]

why do the fish and corals get put in the sump? noob question i guess.

 

[zt444a]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8883579#post8883579 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBDC
How much rock is getting cured and how much did you already have?

I will be curing about 75 pounds of new rock. I have a total of about 75 pounds of rock in the tank and sump now.

My fish are currently in the sump, corals too, to let the dust storm in the tank settle some before I put stuff the display. Not to mention I was a bit short on water! HTF did that happen?!? :lol:

Your tank and sump are in my garage Jeff, though they need cleaning. Let me know when you want to pick them up.

 

[Im Lon 2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8884711#post8884711 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zt444a
My fish are currently in the sump, corals too, to let the dust storm in the tank settle some before I put stuff the display.

I had to do that with my tank when I moved to. The tank was so cloudy I didn't want to loose corals, or have to rearrange everything again after the tank settled.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8884711#post8884711 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zt444a
Not to mention I was a bit short on water! HTF did that happen?!? :lol:

Yeah it doesn't make since.. Do a water change take out 5 gallons put it into a 7 gallon buck with a line, put the same amount of water back in the bucket to put back in the tank and you are like a quarter inch short?