Upgrading my 90 to a 220 - Procedure questions

[lars65inc]

I have the luxury of keeping my current 90 DT running while i set up my 220. Would it be helpful to plumb the 220 system into the 90 system and let it run for a while before moving everything? My 90 is pretty well stocked. And they will be right next to each other.

I'm planning to use new rinsed sand and a LOT of new rock. If I could place most of the new rock in the 220 with a few pieces of seed rock from the 90, would that help keep the fluctuations to a minimum?

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Zacktosterone]

Just cycle the rock and sand and tank in the 220... Leave the 90 gallon alone. Transfer fish over slowly over the few weeks AFTER THE LARGER TANK IS CYCLED.

 

[dave.m]

I don't understand. Why wouldn't you keep both tanks running?

Dave.M

 

[lars65inc]

I don't understand. Why wouldn't you keep both tanks running?

Dave.M

Have you met my wife? ....LOL! The stand is older and I don't trust it anymore. I've had a ton of "leaks" and am concerned with the integrity of the stand.


So, the thought is to essentially start the 220 as a "fresh tank" rather than trying to port the 90 over to the 220?

 

[Raoul5Duke]

I recently did something similar as I had a ~ 150 gallon system up and running while I built my 360 DT & system. I used new sand along with some live rock from the other system. I let the system cycle for a couple of weeks and used some bacteria in a bottle from Dr. Tim's, although there are several. Once I felt the bacteria had time to thrive I put in a few test corals and some snails. They seemed to be fine so I finally just transferred everything over at the same time and it worked fine. I found it difficult to keep two systems running due to some equipment breakdowns on the old tank and the fact I needed some of the old equipment on the new tank.

 

[lars65inc]

I recently did something similar as I had a ~ 150 gallon system up and running while I built my 360 DT & system. I used new sand along with some live rock from the other system. I let the system cycle for a couple of weeks and used some bacteria in a bottle from Dr. Tim's, although there are several. Once I felt the bacteria had time to thrive I put in a few test corals and some snails. They seemed to be fine so I finally just transferred everything over at the same time and it worked fine. I found it difficult to keep two systems running due to some equipment breakdowns on the old tank and the fact I needed some of the old equipment on the new tank.

Thanks guys! Hopefully it'll go smoothly.