upgrading from 150 to 300

[om619]

needed some advise on upgrading to a larger tank, I have a 150 and moving on up to a 300, wanted to know if anybody has any tips on how to make the process easy, also im going to need to add more live rock and sand, would i need to recycle the tank or is just adding the new and old sand an rock fine?
any advise would help.

 

[yettihead]

From my upgrade from a 125 to a 180, I would get new sand. It is amazing how much crap is in the old sand. I am currently upgrading from the 180 to a 280. I bought new sand, but use some sand from the previous tank to help seed the new sand. Of course I am going to reuse the live rock.

 

[om619]

with seeding the new sand, would i have to go through the whole cycling process again or not?

 

[yettihead]

Yes, you will go through a cycle again. The problem I have read about re-using all your sand is you stir up all the crap in the sand. It has settled in your current tank, but once you transfer it to the new tank, everything is released to the water column. Unless you clean your sand constantly and no crud has settled in it.

 

[builderguy]

I moved my 150 a few years ago and reused the sand. It was a DISASTER. The crap stirred up created an ammonia spike and I couldn't get it under control even with massive water changes. EVERYTHING DIED!!! I moved again, but the second time only set aside some sand from the top layer and rinsed the rest several times. I was able to reuse it without any problems...worked out great everything lived.

Bottom-line...you can reuse sand...you just have to rinse it thouroughly...that way you can save a bundle of $$$$

 

[Lightsluvr]

If you have adequate live rock and good filtration, the cycle from new sand will be minimal in that size tank... I used 400# of CaribSea Seaflor Select Grade sand in my upgrade... I rinsed the dry sand thoroughly in buckets of tap water and drained well before adding to the new tank. After the cloudiness cleared up, I added coral, then fish from the old tanks. Never lost a single living creature...

LL

 

[Alex T.]

Another reason why I've gone barebottom. I like the look of sand, but it just doens't hold up over time. Maintenance is easier, no waiting for that fateful day, and eventually it covers in beautiful coralline algae. Not one person who's seen my tank has ever noticed that there's no sand. And the best reason of all...more money for acropora!