Question about up grading

[anthony27]

I am going to up grade very soon probly in the next couple of month from a 43 custom high acrylic to a 55 breeder. I know how to move all the rock and the coral and the fish. But what about the sand, If i move the sand from one tank to the next I am going to stir up alot of stuff that will raise the levels. How do I go about doing this with out walking into a total nightmare. :irked:

 

[albano]

But what about the sand

when you remove the sand, you rinse it (in a separate bucket) before putting in into the new tank. Use the salt water from the old tank... you should have plenty extra, because you'll be doing a water change as part of the swap.

 

[multivit]

To avoid nightmare, get new sand.

 

[ocholoco]

hey

dont get new sand, that would just cause the sand to have to cycle. Things can get really bad. Belive me.

 

[anthony27]

i knew not to get new sand cause I def do not want to cycle out a tank with coral in it that is the nightmare of it all. I will wash out the sand and then put it back in I am going to need alot of bins for this. Is t true how ever that the tank goes throught a cycle when this is going on. considering you are moving the sand

 

[scarf_ace1981]

you won't have a problem if you put dead sand in the new tank and seed it with a cup of your old live sand.

btw how deep is your old sand bed???

 

[reefman]

u will have a cycle regardless. follow scarf advise to reduce cycle time.

 

[anthony27]

i have 4 inches deep

 

[KathyC]

Do you plan to keep the bed in the new tank at 4"?

You can always cycle new sand before you add it to the new tank ya know ..big bucket, powerhead, heater (if necessary), a little food every now (to feed the bacteria & critters in the sand) & of course adda cup of your old sand and in a month or so, poof... clean cycled sand to add to your new tank.

All new tanks go through a cycle, small though it may be, there always is a slight one due to the new plumbing, the new tank iteself and everything else that you may transfer over that was cleaned of the slime/goo/whatever that was on it.

One other thing to keep in mind is if you do choose to use your old sand and clean most of it by rinsing it with tap water..you're going to be adding phosphates to it..best to use rodi water (a pita cause you'd need lots), but if you have the time!