Tank rebuild

[FinalPhaze987]

ALRIGHT! I got the ok to go ahead and order a new tank to solve my leaky tank problem. i live in cali so we have a problem with earthquakes here...leaking tank + earthquake = a big expensive mess...

im looking to do everything right the first time but had a couple questions about certain things. im going from a 135 glass to a 170 bow front truvu, so im pretty excited about things..

1. Can i switch everything over in one day? or should i spread it out over a couple?

2. there will be about 75 pcs of assorted corals (SPS,LPS, a kenya and a colt) going into my 60 gal qt...the problem i see is the qt only has a bakpak skimmer and i seio...no sandbed and only a 96w pc light..can this sustain the corals through the move? if so, how long would you think?

3. will moving a 6'' DSB from the old tank into the new throw off my biological filtration?

4. (x4) 250w MH or (x3) 250w MH w/ 4 72'' VHO's?

5. can i plumb a couple returns from a closed loop on the bottom of the tank (so the water shoots upward toward the rock @ 45 deg.)?

6. and how high should the intake for a closed loop be?

Sorry theres so many questions..i just want to make sure i have things prepared so i dont have to post later "HELP! all my corals are dead!"

Thanks for taking the time to read all this...any input is appreciated..

 

[Entacmaea]

1. Can I switch everything over in one day? or should i spread it out over a couple?

- (is the new tank going in the same place as the old o??)you can do it in one day, but since you should probably start a new sand bed, expect some new cycling. I would set up with new tank, with the new sand bed, seeded with some sand from your new tank, add a few pieces of LR and let that cook for a while. Then move everything over... If your new tank is going in the same place as the old one, then it is harder...

2. there will be about 75 pcs of assorted corals (SPS,LPS, a kenya and a colt) going into my 60 gal qt...the problem i see is the qt only has a bakpak skimmer and i seio...no sandbed and only a 96w pc light..can this sustain the corals through the move? if so, how long would you think?

They should be fine for a couple days, I would think. Can you rig up another light?

3. Will moving a 6'' DSB from the old tank into the new throw off my biological filtration?

I would start anew- you have the potential to transfer over a bunch of detritus and gunk, not to mention toxic stuff in certain zones in your sand bed. I would start with new sand, and seed it with some of your previous sand bed, from its top.

4. (x4) 250w MH or (x3) 250w MH w/ 4 72'' VHO's?

I would go 3 250's with VHO, so you can do just VHO actinics, or fade in/out dusk and dawn. But that is just my preference...

5. can i plumb a couple returns from a closed loop on the bottom of the tank (so the water shoots upward toward the rock @ 45 deg.)?

I would sleep less well with the bottom of my tank drilled, but that is just me! It is up to you- I think you can achieve other CL solutions that are just as effective, without adding the risk of leaks and your tank draining...

6. and how high should the intake for a closed loop be?

The higher the better- again, less risk of leaks/draining the tank...

 

[Anonymous]

1. Can i switch everything over in one day? or should i spread it out over a couple?

Yes you can if it is all acclimated properly.

2. there will be about 75 pcs of assorted corals (SPS,LPS, a kenya and a colt) going into my 60 gal qt...the problem i see is the qt only has a bakpak skimmer and i seio...no sandbed and only a 96w pc light..can this sustain the corals through the move? if so, how long would you think?

The skimmer will not be an issue. If it is going to be less than a week I would not even wory about it. For the lights, two or three days in the dark will not harm anything. Longer than that I would look to putting up some temp lights. I would be more concerned with temp and circulation. Get a few maxijets and a heater and/or fan to regulate things.

3. will moving a 6'' DSB from the old tank into the new throw off my biological filtration?

Do not move the old sand bed, start over and ditch the old one.

4. (x4) 250w MH or (x3) 250w MH w/ 4 72'' VHO's?

three will be fine

5. can i plumb a couple returns from a closed loop on the bottom of the tank (so the water shoots upward toward the rock @ 45 deg.)?

Yes you can

6. and how high should the intake for a closed loop be?

Low enough so it does not suck air. If it were me I would go half way down or deeper.

 

[FinalPhaze987]

Thanks for the replies...

The new tank will be going in the same place as the old one, so this will make things a little harder..

I like the idea of starting a new sandbed and seeding it with some sand from the old..if i was to do this would i have to start another cycle for the bed alone? or will the live rock i already have be enough (240 lbs or so)

im going to pick up a heater and maybe a poly reactor to run carbon for the qt...lights might be a problem though...i dont know how i will justify another MH when my girlfriend ask...i could pull one out of the old setup, but it would be a bit of a pain since all the wires are already ran and secured within the wall..

thanks again!

 

[Anonymous]

With the new tank going in place of the old I would make plans for atleast a week of your critters sitting in storage. Temp control and circulation is a must. As far as lights a few VHO bulbs if you have them would hold you over.