Upgrading to 90g logistics?

[matthewscars]

im going from a 55 to a 90.

I will be doing a DIY rockwall project for the new tank. The new tank will be going into the same spot as the 55g.

My questions is, with building a rock wall and using various rocks and GreatStuff foam... will there be a cycle? How should I go about doing this?

I have figured out the actual logistics of moving the tank, but dont know about the waterchange. 55 gallons to 90 gallons of water is a lot.

Do i just put all my current water in the tank with all my current rocks and call it a day without a massive cycle?

help!

 

[Amoore311]

ok here's the deal with the foam rock wall.


You're going to be doing something like Kanin's I'm assuming. Combination of foam and rock on egg crate.

In order to do this you need to use base rock. The epoxy takes a bit to cure and leaving live rock out of the tank for that amount of time is going to be a problem.



I would order base rock for the back structure. Either marco or bulk reef supply. Then soak that rock in salt water for at least 3 weeks. The dry rock will have a ton of die off that you need to cycle through before you can put it in the display.

Once your ammonia in your rock tank is @ 0, get to work on the back wall. Your existing live rock I would do Pillars to compliment the back wall. Drill them with a masonry bit and use acrylic rods or small diameter pvc to support them.


Once you move everything to the large tank don't add any fish to quickly. You shouldn't have a cycle at all, but 1/2 of your rock won't have any filtration capability until your previous rock has a chance to seed it.

Add fish slowly and you should be fine. There's really no reason at all to use any of the previous water. Also, if your doing a sand bed, use all new sand. It's a real hastle to re-use old sand b/c you have to really clean the hell out of it.


Water changes aren't a big deal. I change like 15% a month, I only have 3 fish in my 90 and I feed very sparingly. You would need to adapt your water change schedule to fit the needs of your tank.

 

[matthewscars]

So i could build the entire rockwall with macro/base then put that in the 90 and fill it with water. Add a heater and PH and let it cycle. Id need the sump for the 55. After it cycles I could add the Cured LR from my 55g in the 90g (make islands with it), hook up the sump and that is that? Wait a bit to insert the fish and coral in but that plan SHOULD work right?

I agree, new sand is a must.