weekend project need advice

[jimbo78]

Built a new tank stand and a new sump/fuge. Going to be moving it this weekend and switching out the old tank stand and fuge for the new stuff. Also going to be adding a phosban reactor. Any advice about easy methods would be great. Should i do a big water change after? Should I put new stand in the fuge rather then using the old stuff?

 

[bertoni]

I'd keep everything, including live rock, in water as much as possible, and I use styrofoam insulation to try to keep the temperature up. Having some water for changes and some Amquel on hand is probably useful. I'm assuming you're going to disassemble the entire tank? I don't understand the last question.

 

[ihopss]

How old is the sand,is it deep.

 

[jimbo78]

the sand in the fuge is about 5" deep it came from another tank of mine. im just worried that trying to put it into the new fuge is going to stir it up to much.. its been in the current fuge about 2 months and was in the old tank about 8 months before that.
yes i am planning on breaking the tank down except for leaving enough water to cover the sand. i plan on keeping the LR in tubs with water and trying to clean off some of the algae before setting the tank back up

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11681636#post11681636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimbo78
the sand in the fuge is about 5" deep it came from another tank of mine. im just worried that trying to put it into the new fuge is going to stir it up to much.. its been in the current fuge about 2 months and was in the old tank about 8 months before that.
yes i am planning on breaking the tank down except for leaving enough water to cover the sand. i plan on keeping the LR in tubs with water and trying to clean off some of the algae before setting the tank back up

I would replace it with new argonite but seed it with a couple of cups from the old refugium---and critters in it will quickly reproduce again and you don't have to chance nitrate problems from the old sand bed

 

[gkyle]

I recently had to break my tank down completely (72g with 120lbs live rock), and I bought a couple of large totes to put everything in. I put all the live rock and inverts in them with heaters and powerheads, then put my fish in individual insulated coolers, also with heaters and in this case airstones. They tell you not to use airstones, but all of mine came out fine after a whole weekend in their temporary home. I didn't have enough heaters for all the coolers, so I just monitored the temp and floated ziplock bags of hot water every now and then to keep it above 74 degrees.

 

[cdbias2]

capn_hylinur
Does new aragonite not cause a cycle. I'm trying to add a 20g fuge. I've been wondering this for awhile.

 

[gkyle]

I added two bags of aragonite live sand to my 72g and didn't see any affect on water chemistry, although I thought I would.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11685210#post11685210 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cdbias2
capn_hylinur
Does new aragonite not cause a cycle. I'm trying to add a 20g fuge. I've been wondering this for awhile.

Yes the bacteria will cycle but the established live rock should take up the slack so you don't see an ammonia spike.
Its a good idea to add a cupful of sand from the old bed----the bacteria contained in the one cup ful is enough to reistablish the sand bed.

 

[jimbo78]

i think i should be all right without heaters in the totes. it satys about 75 defrees in the house and i think the whole process should only take about 5 hours tops.