upgrade advice/dilemma

[Dk638]

ok so my wife I think agreed to let me upgrade to a bigger tank, with a catch. I will have to refinish the wood floors and paint the room my current tank is in and the new one would also be in. So I'm torn between setting up a frag tank in the basement or just selling/trading my livestock for equipment for the new build. I'm afraid the livestock may not survive the stress and I don't want to break down my current tank(75 gallon) and move it to another room I think that might just stir up more problems. so I'm still thinking it over any experiences would be appreciated.

 

[TommyP]

I had to break down and move my 75 gallon while we re-did the floors and painted my living room. It was a PITA but I did it. Break it down move everything to 1 room. Then, when everything was done, move it back to it's final spot. A lot of buckets and what a mess. Since you're going to be upgrading, It's a little different. If you're afraid, just sell off the livestock you have now. I'll gladly take some lol

Best of luck and can't wait to see this upgrade!

 

[thirty6]

How much and what livestock you currently have is a factor IMO. Also how long project will take, factoring getting new tank and items to get it up and running.

Do you have a place/tank to relocate them to for period of time? If so then that's way to go, but you can fund your upgrade selling livestock and starting fresh with new build. What are you upgrading from/to?

 

[Dk638]

I'm going from 75 to 150 or 180 haven't 100% decided yet. Yeah Tom I've been thinking it through and the mess and possible deaths are scaring me. Thirty, the build plus cycle would probably take a couple months at least, I could pick up a small frag tank but not everything is gonna fit. Most of my fish have been with me over a year and they're definitely not all gonna fit but I have some coral I'd definitely like to keep. Maybe I can find someone to hold those for me, if not I'll just have to start from scratch. Thanks guys, keep the advice coming!

 

[jackson6745]

What do you have in the tank?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

setup a tank in the basement until you have everything done upstairs for the upgrade. you really are worrying to much. once everything upstairs is done (the floor) get the

Stand
Tank
sump
Plumping

Start filling up with saltwater

then hook up all equipment and run tank.

If you have live rock put it in the tank and aqauscape then wait a few hours and finish off the tank

 

[Dk638]

What do you have in the tank?

a little bit of everything sps,lps,zoas
tony I know how to set up a tank the issue is loosing a bunch of corals and fish setting them up in a new unstable tank then moving them again into the new build.

 

[thirty6]

i think what tony was getting at is setting up a temporary tank to house your livestock, or even relocating the current 75 until the other one is up and running.
i know its a pia but sounds like your tank is doing well i would empty that current tank, house in brutes or similar with pumps, heaters, then move 75 to area that wont be disturbed, and reset it until the upgrade takes place.
i emptied my current tank to put a pvc sheet on bottom of glass not that long ago (i know should have done at the start) bc tank is setup bb and i worried too much about it. i put water and fish in brutes, rocks in brutes and corals in a rubbermaid tub with heater and powerhead and everything was fine. i lost one shrimp in the process everything else was fine. if i had a mini cycle it didnt effect anything. i would suggest having plenty of ro water made a head of time either way

 

[Dk638]

Yeah thirty, I know that's an option but definitely pita.
Also what about the sandbed? I'm worried I could have a major cycle
With disturbing that and I don't think I should move the tank with the sand in it.

 

[thirty6]

yea, problem i didnt run into but that would potentially be an issue. i would not move tank with sand unless your moving it while on stand

thats def a two or three man deal, but possible if stairs are not in the mix

 

[Dk638]

stairs definitely involved

 

[thirty6]

Were you planning on using Sand in new build? If not set 75 bb with the rock and toss the sand

 

[Dk638]

I think I'm using sand in the new build but I would go with new anyway, maybe throw a cup of the old in. right now I'm thinking of getting an aio frag tank and selling most of my sps and some lps, keeping a couple of fish, I'm kinda attached to my hippo he's very healthy. I don't know feels like a big decision. lol

 

[TommyP]

I'm attached to all of my fish too would hate for anything to happen to them. I wish I had room I would totally hang on to everything for you. I did see an AIO frag tank for sale yesterday just not sure where the person was located..

 

[thirty6]

I think I'm using sand in the new build but I would go with new anyway, maybe throw a cup of the old in. right now I'm thinking of getting an aio frag tank and selling most of my sps and some lps, keeping a couple of fish, I'm kinda attached to my hippo he's very healthy. I don't know feels like a big decision. lol

makes sense to me

 

[Dk638]

Custom king hooking me up with a sweet aio setup
Diy 3w LEDs, nice

 

[thirty6]

Nice, pretty cool looking light stand

 

[Dk638]

I might have to keep this after the build!