Transfer 90g to a 220g Methods plez!

[scubadude]

I have a 90gal tank with a 20g refugium both have 5" DSB's teaming with life and I have about 100 +/- 10lbs of cured LR....this system has been up and running for over a year now and I would consider it Mature. I also have a 20gal reef tank with approximately 20lbs of LR and a 4" DSB (some life, not teaming though). Approximately half of the LR has corals attached to it....My question is should I take all of the LR (w/out corals attached) and put in my new tank to cycle? I have plenty of Southdown sand (new) how, and how much of the sand should I put from my mature tank into my new tank? I obviously want the tank to cycle quicker so I can start moving my corals into the bigger tank. But Im willing to wait a month or two if need be....My new tank has a 55gal tank for sump refugium too. All tips and procedures appreciated.

 

[KenH]

Hi Scubadude,
I made a similar move when I upgraded my 70 to a 225.

If you are just moving your existing system over without introducing new live rock, you can pretty much just move it all at once. Everything in your tank is already 'cycled' so there is not really any cycling to do.

I do not use DSB's, so I don't know if disturbing one is likely to cause a cycling spike to occur or not. I do know a lot of DSB users seem to panic when their sand beds are disturbed, so if that is a concern, I would recommend removing only part of the DSB at a time and placing it in the new tank along with a little of the live rock over the course of maybe a week, watching for any ammonia/nitrite spikes. If everything looks OK, I would then move the remaining LR and coral all at one time.

In my case, I was also adding about 200lbs of new LR, so I cycled them in Rubbermaid tubs for two weeks before adding everything to the new tank. Here is a journal of my tank move experience that you might find useful. http://www.reefcorner.com/big_tank_journal.htm

--- Ken