Tearing down and rebuilding without killing everything

[stephent89]

A guy on craigslist is selling a fully stocked 60g softy and lps tank with stand, metal halide fixture, sump and supplies for $300. I couldn't turn it down since I love this hobby! However, I don't really like his tank or stand so I'm gonna just buy a 75g at the lfs that's on sale. My question is are there any tricks to tearing down all of this and moving everything without killing everything? There's only a few gobies and a hawkish in there, but there's a good bit of coral. The good news is that everything is pretty much soft corals with the exception of a torch coral. Any advice, tricks or experience is much appreciated!

 

[schatzi]

use 5 gal buckets with lids to move all the rock and livestock. you can then transfer everything and probably be off to a good start but expect to keep an eye on nitrate levels. the livestock and rock will last in the buckets for at least a few hours, plenty long enough but you should still have a plan. I moved 6 buckets that had 7 fish and a couple hundred pounds of rock and set it up in my basement within a few hours.

 

[KyleO]

Just don't try to move the sand (if it has a sand bed more than 1" thick). I killed an entire tank of fish trying to recycle the sand bed without cycling it first. If you have the time to move the sand bed into the tank without the fish and coral for about a week, it will cycle easy enough, but if not, plan on new sand.

I am getting ready for another tank move and since I do get to do it a second time, I will be replacing the sand bed with live sand.......

 

[biggles]

As you have quite a few corals to transfer i would buy a 20-30gal plastic tub, fill it half new saltwater and half with the old tank water. Put all the rock and corals in there once it's up to temp and they will be fine with a powerhead or two and the heater. Doing it this way will allow you to get everything else right over a day or two before you transfer to the new tank. You can do the straight tank to tank swap, have done this and it went fine but the storage tub method next time was way less stressful on the fish, corals and especially me lol. Totally agree about the sandbed - get new sand or wash the old stuff well. Good luck i hope everything goes smoothly.

 

[Esage]

Just don't try to move the sand (if it has a sand bed more than 1" thick). I killed an entire tank of fish trying to recycle the sand bed without cycling it first. If you have the time to move the sand bed into the tank without the fish and coral for about a week, it will cycle easy enough, but if not, plan on new sand.

I am getting ready for another tank move and since I do get to do it a second time, I will be replacing the sand bed with live sand.......

This is a lesson I learned the hard way. I would not reuse the sand after the move, just buy new sand.

 

[stephent89]

Ok thanks for the advice! I'll make sure to buy new sand