Transferring tanks

[Fishie Nut]

I posted this in the Reef forum, but...

I'm starting a new 225 gallon reef and want to incorporate my existing 100 gallon reef. Once the new tank is set up, what are the steps to transferring the old tank into the new?

Do I use the old tank's LS to cycle the new tank? Do I use the sand in the refugium in the new fuge?

I have a large amount of "dead" live rock that has been stored in the garage that I'm going to use. And the LR that is in my current tank. I though I would use some of the Live Rock and Live Sand from the old tank to help "liven" up the dead LR and LS for the new tank.

Is there a thread with a checklist of some type or a rule of thumb I can follow?

Thanks fo the help: George

 

[Konadog]

George, are you transferring any livestock? That will change what you do.

If not:
You can mix your new rock with your old rock, and as for transferring sand, only use the top 1/2" to 1" of the old sand and place in on top of the new sand. That's where all the life is. Once the tank cycles you can start adding livestock. If your not putting sand in the tank (going BB) then you can put all the sand in the refugium. That's where I have my sand, and it's really only for critters, not to act as a DSB.

What size is your new tank (L x W x H) I have a 225 and love it!

 

[Fishie Nut]

Ken:
I've got a 225. I want to transfer everything from the old to the new. I'm working on getting the new ready. Here's what I"ve got (get ready):
TANK: Lee-Mar 225g 72x30x24" nonEurobraced, black back, tempered glass on back and lower panels, drilled for 1.5" plumbing, center black overflow, 2x1.5" drains w/ dual Durso. 4 main return inlets and 4 closed loop inlets

STAND: 40" tall, beveled, powder coated (virtually salt-water and rust-proof with nominal maintenance) braced steel stand.

PLUMBING: Schedule 80 gray PVC plumbing and fittings. Ball valves/gate valves/check valves Hayward or Spears for easy takedown/maintenance/moving. 9 Hayward union ball valves, 3 Spears gate valves, 1 Spears check valve, drains/plumbing are all 1/5" and skimmer plumbing is 1"

PUMPS: Sequence Reeflo Barracuda (main return) 4300 gph
Sequence Hammerhead (closed loop) 5800 gph
Gen-X PCX-55 (Becket skimmer)
WAVE: 2 Tunze 6100 w/ multi-controller 3100 x2 gph alternating
and magnets. Used to create wave effect in conjunction with CL
TOTAL FLOW: 13,700 gph (adjustable)

LIGHTING: 4x96w power compacts on 2 PFO ballasts. Every bulb has an on/off switch. PLAN: Lumenarcs (with the air duct set-up) running 250w HQI and the 4x96watt compacts (Actinic)

2x65w NOVA PC fixture in refugium

SUMP: SoCal Creations custom 90+gallon acrylic sump
Chamber one - Overflow drains into filter socks in the first chamber (also drilled from inlet to skimmer pump), baffling optimized to 6-9" waterline. 1" bulkhead drilled in the sock compartment for the skimmer pump
Built in 20+-gallon refugium/ isolation. Built in 3-probe holder
All drains and inlets for the pump are valved off, making it cake to service the sump, dry it out, change out pumps, etc. All edges have been de-horned by very fine grit sandpaper.

SKIMMER: My Reef Creations MRC-3 Beckett skimmer w/ dual injectors, quick release union, set up for ozone. Schedule 80 hard-lined w/ a Spears gate valve at the skimmer pump for better tuning.

CALCIUM: Korallin c3002 Ca reactor w/ 5lb co2 tank and German regulator
CHILLER: Aqualogic 1/3 hp drop-in chiller.
DOSER: AquaMedic 3 channel digital programmed doser
CONTOL: Neptune AquaController Jr./DC8/pH/temp
1 Milwaukee pH controller
1 Milwaukee ozone controller

Approx 475lbs Kaelini LR/ 250 lbs Aragalive sugar grain LS
Auto Water storage: 2 55-gal drums
RO/DI 5 stage w/ 2 de-ionization chambers
Dual PhosBan Reactor daisy chained

I will not be at the meeting tonight -- wedding. See you soon. I need all the help I can get.

George

 

[Konadog]

Nice George! Same tank size as mine! Funny, your stand is the same size as mine also, I love the tall stand!

 

[David P]

George sounds like you should let the tank "cycle" with the old "dead" LR and new sand. Im undecided what to do about the sand. If you want a sand bed then yeah seed it with your old sand (wait untill it cycles though) You CAN move the old sand over when you move all the rock and livestock... but who knows how much gook you have in there... I would wait till new rock is cycled then re aqua scape with all your rock and your live stock should be ready to stretch their legs in the newer tank.


Questions:
why schedule 80 on all your plumbing? Just to look cool?
Why a check valve, do NOT plan on the check valve for a power outage, it is not a matter of if but when a check valve fails.
Why such a large pump for your sump return? Other than having a good velocity going into your overflow to remove surface contaminates, I cant think of a reason to have that much water running through you sump when you skimmer only process ~700 gph? Wont that just make more noise in the overflow and sump as water splashes?
Why drop in chiller instead of inline? I obviously have not seen your setup (yet) but I like the idea of running the chiller remotely to keep the heat out of the stand and away from the water

Im sure you know my questions are not insults by any means but pure curiosity as to how other people set up tanks.


Dave

 

[Fishie Nut]

No offense taken

No offense taken

Dave:

No offense taken. I need all the help I can get.

***Send me a email on what went on at the meeting -- recipe for food? Who gave the presentation? Roundtable? Everything you can think of*****

This is what I got when I bought the system. It was all plumbed and pumps and everything, including the check valve. It is not my design, but I've got it, so I figured I'd use it. The only thing I'm changing is the plumbing from the the overflow into the sump. Going with flex pipe.

Sch 80 -- your guess is as good as mine. I've got the drop in chiller. It's like a $900 item and it works, so why not. I've got that in the garage, with my auto water change system, RO/DI, Ca Reactor and Kalk reactor, all hooked up to a reef doser. I'm going to change about 3.5 gallons a day, 25 gallons a week, 100 gallons a month on a 275+ system.

Here's a diagram of what I'm doing:

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I got this from the DYI or Lighting forum on RC. What a great idea.

Is the board meeting going to be on TUESDAY, 5/29? If so, I'll send out a reminder after I do the newsletter.