stand transfer help please

[Exotic Reef]

some time this week i will be makeing a stand and will be stransfering my tank fish and corals and rock what are some things i should look at for any tips you guys can give me to handle this and less stress on everything thanks

 

[KathyC]

Should we assume you are using the same tank on the new stand?
Is the new stand going in the same place as the old one?

1- don't try and move the tank with anything in it. You will be tempting fate on breaking the tank.
2- get lots of totes and things to hold the tank water..put your rocks in one (keep them submerged so there is no die off), your fish in another, and your corals in however many it takes.
3- have an air pump for the container that your fish will be in and COVER THAT VESSEL!! A heater will also be needed (air temperature is not the same as water temp!) for the fish and vessels with the coral in them. The coral should also have a circulation pump.
4- If your sand-bed is a year or more old - replace it. Keep a cup of your old sand to seed it.
5-The switch-over WILL take you twice as long as you think it will.
6- have glue on hand for putting the frags back in the tank
7- have at least half the volume of new tank (and sump) water on hand to refill the tank (the water itself contains little bacteria), may as well use mostly new stuff to refill the tank.
8- check all of your plumbing connections for leaks before you start adding stuff back into the tank.
9- put your rock back in first and then the sand. Pouring the water onto a clean dinner-plate or a plastic bag will aid in not creating a sand storm when you refill

I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch of things, but I'm sure others will chime in

 

[Exotic Reef]

yes i am useing the same tank on the new stand and no the new stand will be in a new spot just a few steps away

 

[Exotic Reef]

i have 1 40 gallon brute 1 40 gallon breeder thats being unused and 4 5 gallon buckets should this be good or should i run to homedepot and pick up more .....i only have a 75 gallon tank and a 30 gallon sump ... also i have 1 20 brute with rodi made right now should i go add salt for the transfer (not to put anything in it just some water to have on hand )

 

[thirty6]

It reads like Kathy has done this at least once, solid advice good luck. Maybe get an extra set of hands or two

 

[Exotic Reef]

kathy why should i replace my sand if its over a year old ?

 

[KathyC]

i have 1 40 gallon brute 1 40 gallon breeder thats being unused and 4 5 gallon buckets should this be good or should i run to homedepot and pick up more .....i only have a 75 gallon tank and a 30 gallon sump ... also i have 1 20 brute with rodi made right now should i go add salt for the transfer (not to put anything in it just some water to have on hand )

See if you can borrow another Brute pail from a local reefer? Those low type totes ( like you slide under a bed) are good for holding a lot of coral during a change.
The issue with 5 G buckets is you'd need a ton of heaters to keep it all warm

IMO, I'd aim for 40G of new water on hand.

Get some cheap tarps too for the floor

 

[thirty6]

At the njrc swap a few vendors used low profile totes for frag displays, cheap and simple and allows you to spread your stuff out.

 

[Spsnut]

I don't know what your stack looks like, but Breaking down a whole tank and stacking it again is not an easy job. I would heavily weigh gathering at few steady strong hands, draining the water down and making the move; especially since its a one lift move. The whole drain and transfer could take 20 min or even less. You could probably start by moving the tank and stand first, then making a short gentle move onto the new stand.

 

[Mattl22]

Kathys advice is always spot on ! Only thing I'd add is make sure ur heater / controller r working I just did a tank move on my 40 breeder and the temp controller needed to be reset I didn't catch till a day later and water was 68 : ( also for some reason alot of coralin alage died and I guess corals weren't using as much but for whatever reason the alk /cal consumption dropped a bunch I hooked my doser to same as b4 move and the alk shot up too 11
Just something to consider basicly a little check list to check all equipment working and I'd check parameters alot over next few days

 

[Exotic Reef]

Well i did the transfer everything went well just wish inhad extra pluming parts like bulk heads i used all the tips kathy gave me and it made everything easy thank you

 

[Exotic Reef]

The new stand paint is still drying