Upgrade Help For Moving 55gal To 120 Gal

[sahmof2]

Hi Everyone,

I have had my 55 gal setup for over 3 years. I just bought a 120 gal tank that came with a 55 gal sump/refugium. the 120 gal is 24 x 24 x48 so the length is the same as my 55 gal. I am wanting to setup the 120 as I tear down the 55. I currently have over 50 lbs of live sand in the 55gal tank and over 100 lbs of live rock with coraline all over it. I have also 100+ lbs of dead crushed coral to add to the 120 gal main tank but need recommedations on when and process to add (1st or last)? I know that I will need to upgrade my protein skimmer. Looking at a euro-reef but do you all recommend something else? My 55 gal already has a nova extreme pro T5 200+ watt fixture. The 120 gal came with two 175 watt Hamilton MH light fixtures. I am only going to use the T5 due to no corals in 55 gal so 120 gal will not need higher lighting at 1st. Should I use the Hamilton fixtures when I add corals or only use the T5 I already have? Where is the line for corals where I would need more lighting than the T5 fixture I already have. I know that zoos and mushrooms are fine without using the extra MH but what about torch and hammer corals? The main question I would like answered is proper steps to take to switch the 55 gal to the 120 gal? Tons of advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance

 

[sahmof2]

I am wanting to start the switch from the 55 gal to 120 gal today or tomorrow so any advice is appreciated.

 

[Buddyboy67]

Two schools of thought here.....
1 set up the new tank and seed it with some sand and rock from your current system and leave it to cycle.
2 Half fill new tank with salt mix, add and mix old and new substrates around the rock work you are using and then top up with more fresh salt mix.

The first is the safer option but many simply transfer the tank and top up..if doing this keep a close eye on water parameters for any spikes or signs of a cycle beginning.
Those lights will do fine for many softies and lps...hold on to halides though as at those depths their light may come in handy in time unless you want to add several more tubes.

 

[seffieuk]

When i did it, i set up my new tank then moved everything over - kept an eye on water quality but everything was

Seffie x

 

[SkiFletch]

I assume from your description that the 120 will be going in the same "spot" in your furnishings as the 55 was. I did the same thing when I went from 45g to 65g and have some good advice here. First, buy a couple large plastic organizer type bins and some rope. Tie the rope tight around the upper 1/4 of the bin to prevent it from bowing out from the weight of the water. You could also consider getting a larger fiberglass bin from a tractor supply type store, the kind of thing they use for horse troughs. They work well and are pretty affordable.

If you have enough bins/buckets/room, you should also have enough water to makeup the difference, another 60 gallons or so to add.

Then, siphon the water from the 55g into the bins, and load up the bins with LR/coral. Make sure each bin has a powerhead and alternate which bin has the heater. Because it's summertime this shouldn't be too much of a problem for you.

Then, breakdown the 55g and get it out of the way. Setup the 120g in it's place. It should already have all it's sump plumbing mocked up and ready to go. Once the 120 is in there, start pumping water back up from the bins into it, and adding the LR as you go. Once all the old rock/water is in the 120, start adding the "new" water you have mixed up, and get powerheads and the heater going.

Lastly, if you have sand (forgot to mention this sooner), make sure you siphon that out and just leave it in a bowl/bucket with a little water. You can add it back later.


And my best advice of all... Towels, LOTS of towels

 

[sahmof2]

The 120 gal will not be located in the exact same place as the current 55 gal so complete tear down of old before starting on new does not have to be down. My lfs said that they would sell the MH hamiltons that came with the 120 gal and add 2 or 4 extra T5 bulbs. Any suggestions from you all? Also I have heard many discussions between protein skimmer needed or not depending on amount of live rock and if refugium is present. With this said, can I get by for awhile on a protiem skimmer that is from my 55 gal that is rated good up to 75 gal as long as I do not add many corals?

 

[SkiFletch]

Lateish reply here but for the time being you can use the skimmer you have so long as you don't overfeed. Going with multiple T5's is rarely a bad idea for lighting