when changing tanks, how much...

[Reggae Fish]

...water should I switch? I currently have a 72 and sump and will be going to a 120 with a bit larger sump. One problem is that I'm switching from black sand to a more natural color so I won't be keeping my sand in my display. I was going to keep as much sand as possible in my fuge...What amount would be recommended. Obviously, I'm going to keep as much as I can but is there a minimum?

Also, how much water do I have to or should I keep? I was thinking about using 100 gallons new and 50 old.

Thoughts/suggestions?

 

[capncapo]

How deep is your sand bed?

 

[Reggae Fish]

Currently I have probably 80 lbs...Hard to say how deep it is because it is different among different parts

 

[capncapo]

Then you didn't have DSB?

If not, I'm not sure I would keep more than needed to seed another bed.

According to an expert ( no longer on RC ) many times, sandbeds can become nutrient sinks unless used as a properly set up and maintained DSB. He recommend exactly what I just did.

Even with a DSB he recommended tohat you keep no more than the top 1/2 inch.

 

[Reggae Fish]

So, just keep the top 1/2 inch and place it under the new sand, correct?

What about using 100 new water and 50 old...Will I create any spikes or cycles due to that large of a water change and the removal of the sand bed or is the majority of stuff in the rock?

 

[sirreal63]

In my 125 I moved 100 lbs of southdown over from the old 75 which gave me about 1 to 1-1/2" of sand and I wouldn't go any deeper than that. I didn't rinse mine but I did let it settle for a few weeks under heavy skimming just in case there were some nasties in there, I didn't have an ammonia spike or abnormal phosphate or nitrate reading but I still let it settle under heavy skimming before I added any fish.

 

[Reggae Fish]

can I take the top 1/2 inch, put that in my sump since I use black sand and use the new sand in the display? Here is what I was planning on doing. suggestions/comments would be great

I'm trying to do this in one day.

#1 my next water change while a bit emptier, I am going to move the current tank so I can get the new tank in there.

#2 Setup sump, top off reservoir

#3 Put approx. 50 gallons of new water in the tank.

#4 Take out all corals and place on eggcrates in current water

#5 Siphon 50 old gallons into new tank

#6 Move rock over

#7 Put fish into brute

#8 Add remainder of water

#9 Add corals and fish

#10 Get top 1/2 inch of sandbed and put it in sump

#11 Sift through old sand to get all snails, starfish, etc...

What do you think?

 

[capncapo]

I would place it on top of the new sand.

 

[Reggae Fish]

But I'm switching from the black sand to the Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand

 

[capncapo]

You can place it underneath it then but it may take a little longer to seed the other bed.

Are you taking one tank down to replace it with another or are you capable of having both tanks up at the same time?

 

[Reggae Fish]

Ok...I'm just concerned things will die???Is that what might happen with the sand not being seeded really?

I don't have the capabilities of keeping both up at one time. I figure it will be a pretty chaotic day or so...I will basically have them next to each other and doing some siphoning and rock movement. I'm just worried about killing anything...Should I be overly worried about that like anemones, etc...

Also worried about creating a mini cycle and seeing some spikes

 

[capncapo]

Normally, new sand has a small cycle. Generally, it's nothing to worry about.

To keep the stress from the move to a minimum I think I would use as much old water as you can. Otherwise, I don't see a big problem. Make sure that the parameters of the new water match the parameters of the old.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Thanks for your help...So does my list seem like that will work or any suggestions?

Thanks for the help and sorry again about the tour and I hope you understand.

 

[sirreal63]

I would put the fish and corals in the sump, light and heat and skim the sump, just like it was the tank. Set the new one up, but don't hook up the sump to it, seed it with some of the old sand and let it cycle with most of the rock that doesn't have corals attached to it and skim it wet for a week or so. Once that is done and you know you have no ammonia to contend with then I would slowly transfer everything over and run the sump on the new system. You are still introducing your aged water to the new water but in a more friendly way than putting things into a new setup.

That is basically what I did for the 125 except I was able to keep the old tank intact as my corals were all in the 58 and not the 75 I transferred from.

 

[Reggae Fish]

I don't have the ability to run 2 tanks for even a few days. Not only not having the equipment to do so but with 2 little kids, it makes it even more difficult

Isn't the majority of my stuff in my rock?

 

[sirreal63]

put your livestock in the sump, take the old tank down, set up the new tank, let it cycle then connect the new tank to the old sump.

the live rock in the new tank will help it cycle faster as will some of the old sand.

 

[DrBDC]

The main thing you will lose by not using your old sand is denitrification. Your nitrates may rise higher than they have before but give it 4-8 weeks of some tlc and it'll be good to go on nitrates. That's the only issue I had/have anyway. Within a couple days all the corals were happy, fish never cared. I did seed my new sand with a few cups of the old sand but I didn't want to bring phosphates as much of my old sand had hardened. Maybe since Clark is changing tanks, he could donate a few cups. Mine is still working or I'd offer. I could grab a cup of the lionfish tank sand if needed.

 

[pewter_jean]

I might be off base here, but it is just an idea. Could he put some of the "Black sand from the old tank, put it in nylon bag, or pantyhose, and just sit it on the new sand bed for a few weeks. Wouldn't that seed the new sand. Then after the new sand is started, just take out the bags, or stockings. and throw the old black sand back into his sump, or away?