Upgrading 135-300

[jlnielsen13]

Hey Chicago guys and gals,

I posted this on the big forum but looking for some local help:

Hoping to get some advice from some of you guys! I am upgrading my current 135 gallon fish only to a 300 gallon softie reef. I already have a 140 gallon reef in a different room but am excited about this larger tank! I have a ton of questions and wanted to run them by you guys- it is going to be a difficult transfer because the tank is going in the same spot! I will be transferring a 1 foot Sohal Tang and a 1 foot queen angel along with a couple smaller fish.

1. Any general advice on the move is appreciated-

2. Can this be done in one day or should I try to find arrangements to house my fish for a week or so?

3. Should I save any of the old water, to be honest it isn't that clean, so is there any advantage to saving 100 gallons of old water or should I just start out fresh?

4. If parameters are okay, can I transfer the fish in that day? I guess it would be like a hospital tank but with live rock?

5. Any protein skimmer suggestions for a 300 gallon? If I am only going softies can I buy one rated for 200 gallons?

6. Any advice on storage containers or where to house all this extra water I will need to make?

Thanks to everyone for the help!

Looking forward to any and all ideas- I don't know what I got myself into here!

Jim

 

[ali1]

2. Same day is fine
3. I would use 25% of the water
4. As long as you bring in the same LR and sand, your fine
5. I would look into the SRO models.. reliable
6. Brute cans/tubs at home depot are your best friends.

 

[Volcano1]

I moved everything from a 300 to my 420. Tryed to do it in one day,turned into 2. I housed all my fish corals,rock etc in rubbermaid stock tanks.Put a pump and heater in each.I used what water I had left in the stocks tanks,mixed with the new water. I would use some old water to help age to new tank and keep things more stable.Everything seemed to make the move ok. I had the same problem, new tank going in old spot.It takes a while to get everything out,move old tank, put new tank in, plumb and hook up new tank.Plus a while to make the extra water if your using ro.Then there always seems to be a hiccup some where.

 

[power boat jim]

I have moved several tanks, plan for more then one day though you could safely make the transfer in one. Use all the old water you can. I just didnt use the last few inches of it before I removed the sand from the old tank. I used it to rinse the sand and then dumped out. Good luck with the new build.

 

[dom418]

1. Don't rush.
2. Always plan for the worst. You may have a pluming leak or something that will go wrong
3. I would use much of the old water especially since you are doubling tank volume, I wouldn't want all new water
4. If using the old water and rock/sand sure.
5. I like Reef Octopus brand
6. Buy a bunch of trash containers and return when finished lol

 

[mrbnx]

I would ask the community to see if anyone can spare some brutes prior to, so you can premix your water. I got rid of my extra 32G.

 

[Volcano1]

I do have 2 150 stock tanks, but I am out in the boonies.

 

[johnike]

I have access to a 300 gallon stock tank if it would help you out.
Like Volcano1, I'm out in the boonies as well.