Tank Change Over

[new2saltyfish]

well yesterday i finally bought a bigger tank (a 55 gallon compared to the 30 gallon i have now). my nano has been running for about 3 months now in good health and i was wondering how i switch my 30 gallon to my 55. Im going to need more live rock and everythign so i was wondering how i go about changing everything over to the new tank. detailed steps would be appreciated.

 

[afmo]

well yesterday i finally bought a bigger tank (a 55 gallon compared to the 30 gallon i have now). my nano has been running for about 3 months now in good health and i was wondering how i switch my 30 gallon to my 55. Im going to need more live rock and everythign so i was wondering how i go about changing everything over to the new tank. detailed steps would be appreciated.

My guess would be to leave your 30g running, and set up the 55gal with any LR/sand that needs to cure, and let it cycle. Once the tank is cycled, then move your existing stuff over, aquascape, etc....

just a guess at how i would do it tho...

 

[bobf]

I would have thought it more simple than that - why not just transfer stock, water and LR all at the same time and add more SW (same temp and salininty, obviously) - how would that be different to a bigger water change than usual?

Practically, you will no doubt need to use a third vessel of some sort as a bit of a 'holding' tank while youtransfer LR and sand first, then fish, corals and other livestock.

Can't see why another cycle would start if all you're doing in reality is increasing the water volume.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah i agree with bobf, you're current LR is able to support the bio load for the fish you have now, you can transfer everything over without any cycling, the only thing you need to get more of is powerheads as you need to maintain 20x turnover

you can then add more LR in bits and bobs later

 

[GrantyBoy]

but when you add more live rock at a later level you will cause a mini cylce again.

Personally I would setup the 55g and cycle it with the new live rock. Once the tank has gone through its cycle add your currentl setup with it. I would also add half the water from your old setup at the same time.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

shouldn't start a mini cycle unless you put in shed loads of uncured LR all at once, if you just add a small amount at a time or get cured LR you should be fine.

 

[SkiFletch]

shouldn't start a mini cycle unless you put in shed loads of uncured LR all at once, if you just add a small amount at a time or get cured LR you should be fine.

Agreed, it really depends on where you get your rock from...

There are really 5 things you need when transferring tanks:
RO water, LOTS of it
Pre-mixed saltwater, LOTS of it
Buckets, buckets, and more buckets
An empty laundry basket full of towels
Hoses

 

[GrantyBoy]

everyday's a school day

 

[new2saltyfish]

well i ordered 2 more bags of crushed coral, and i need about 30lbs more of live rock. im just wondering if when i add the live rock, it will start a cycle again and could possibly kill the fish.


( so basically its ok if i empty everything from my 30 gallon into buckets...rocks, fish, sand, and water... get 30lbs more of live rock and the live sand and put it in the new tank with the temp and salt levels ready, add my old rocks in, add the water in, and then the fish in)

so will this basically be able to be done in one day if im understand everything correctly, or does the new rock have to adjust and is 20 gallons ( because tank is 55 and i currently have 30 gallons of set water from the old tank) and will the new 20 gallons of water have to cycle as well or will the old 30's water mix with it and make its all ok.


thanks if you can reply and understand what i wrote lol.

 

[bobf]

well i ordered 2 more bags of crushed coral, and i need about 30lbs more of live rock. im just wondering if when i add the live rock, it will start a cycle again and could possibly kill the fish.


( so basically its ok if i empty everything from my 30 gallon into buckets...rocks, fish, sand, and water... get 30lbs more of live rock and the live sand and put it in the new tank with the temp and salt levels ready, add my old rocks in, add the water in, and then the fish in)

so will this basically be able to be done in one day if im understand everything correctly, or does the new rock have to adjust and is 20 gallons ( because tank is 55 and i currently have 30 gallons of set water from the old tank) and will the new 20 gallons of water have to cycle as well or will the old 30's water mix with it and make its all ok.


thanks if you can reply and understand what i wrote lol.

So long as your new rock isn't out of the water for more than an hour or two (or maybe a little longer) then cycling won't be a problem. Even if there is a little die off, your existing LR and substrate (that'll be 'live' too!) can cope with it. Nobody should die!

Here's what I'd do ... (others may chose to refine this list)

Day before or 2 days before the 'move'
1, get your new tank in position, mount powerheads/heater etc - leave skimmer and say 1 powerhead on old tank for now.
2, mix up some new salt water in the new tank, using RO of course, - fill it to about halfway, get it up to temp and salinity of old tank.

Moving day
3, Go pick up new LR and substrate stick LR straight in new tank, go rinse new substrate (less it's live sand - don't bother with it - not needed)
4, Add washed substrate to new tank
5, catch all fish, livestock etc and transfer to barrels/buckets/bath etc
6, Siphon half (ish) water from old tank and put it into new one
7, Remove LR from old - transfer to new tank
8, Ditto old substrate to new tank
9, Fill tank with old water
10, Stop - check levels (nitrate/nitrite/phos/calc/alk) and adjust if necessary
11, Start acclimation for livestock ie, lower water level in the bucket and gradually add tank water
12, transfer livestock to new tank
13, get the kettle on
14, post a few picks on here

job done.

 

[new2saltyfish]

ok thanks a lot that makes it a lot easier. i wish i took a few pics of the 30 before break down because i did the first few steps before the new tank transfer today. ill be sure to take pics up of the transfer once its done and ill try to update every day so keep posted.