Moving over to a larger tank

[tangale]

Hi Everyone,

Need some advice/opinions. I'm trying to move all my contents from a 55g over to a 75g. Not a major change in terms of volume, but eventually would get rid of the 55g to make room.

In any case, the 55 gallon has about 60lbs of live rock, and about 2" of live sand. Contents include 5 or 6 small fishes and some sps. Not too concern w/livestock as I can slowly move them over, but how do I move the live sand without possibly causing some major problems (i.e. bacteria die-off).

Also, should I not keep the sand, is there something else I can use to protect the glass bottom?

Thanks for the help!!!
Alex

 

[nanoreefer22]

Don't reuse the sand. After disturbing a sandbed that has been sitting, its just gonna cause problems in a new tank. You might just want to take a few cups of sand off the surface and use it to seed new fresh sand.

You could use marina or starboard to protect the bottom of the tank.

You might want to look into more LR if you find its not enough. But you can always buy some and cure it outside the main tank, if space allows.

 

[nycmat]

Go bare bottom its easier

 

[Quang]

Go bare bottom its easier

Not necessarily... I thought so too but now I think otherwise :splitspin

 

[nanoreefer22]

Go bare bottom its easier

With the right equipment......

 

[reefman]

i would transfer most of the sand if it's good established live sand. however, it should be done with the least disturbance to the organism in it.
i will illeterate details if interested.

 

[alfani]

depending how long you have your 55gal. if it is not long than i don't think you would have any trouble.

1. use 10gal of water from 55gal
2. move sand into new tank
3. wait 3-4 hours, water to clear
4. slowly add whatever water left from 55gal, start your pumps, skimmer, filters, powerheads, etc...
5. wait 2 hour
6. add live rock
7. fill up tank
8. wait 1 hours

 

[tangale]

Thanks for the help everyone.

1) By bare bottom, do you mean nothing at all? Isn't that a bit dangerous w/glass tanks?

2) where would I be able to buy a starboard?

3) the 55 gallon has been running for less than a year. So do you think it's ok to transfer everything little by little?

Thanks again!

 

[Tonyscoots84]

with barebottom tanks we add cutting board AKA (marina board and starboard) to the bottom so its not dangerous at all...

if you chose to go barebottom here is the link for the cutting board for the bottom of the tank... i would do some research in what else is involved in going barebottom.. flow being a big part and a big skimmer..

Cutting Board

 

[Dmitry]

You can also use eggcrate for the bottom (unless you're going bare, in that case it won't look good.) Also, I saw a set-up at NWA of a saltwater nano with no sand - the entire bottom was covered with rocks. Very unique looking set-up. You can put eggcrate on the glass and the rocks over that.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

dmitry just a thought as it might work but wouldnt that be a big dietrus trap.... with eggcrate open boxes and live rock over that....

 

[jhale]

yes, don't use eggcrate to protect the bottom. It will trap a huge amount of crap that will pollute the tank. use cutting board, or sand.

 

[tangale]

Blue or white cutting board? Will the blue give the water a nice blue tint?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

i dunno since ive neva used the blue.. i used white its a better reflector of light.... for underneath the corals which are low... its gonna be covered with purple coralline algae if ur tanks par. are in check and water is clean... of course within time... but its a matter of taste....

 

[tangale]

Been doing some more reading. My sand bed is prob 2". Does that mean that something can go wrong at anytime (there was a reference to Ver SSB as being ticking time bombs)?

 

[House of Laughter]

tangale,

I would say that your SSB hasn't captured enough bacteria to cause you a problem, but it could - I would look to see if the color has changed dramitiallcy on the fron glass (meaning, there are greens and burgandy and black colors below the surface against the glass). If your sand is still white in this area, then likely you can re-use

I would do the following:

1) Set up new tank
2) Add new sand to dry tank
3) Add a few gallons of salt water to just cover the dry sand.
4) Add as much live sand as you desire
5) Add about 20g of 55 tank water
6) Let settle for a few hours
7) Add live rock base
8) Add more tank water (in total I would use around 60% or 70 from old tank)
9) Finish off rock and fill with fresh salt water.
10) Let run a few hours with some mechanical filtration (filter socks, drip plate cover etc) and add livestock.

Good luck with it.

House