Tank upgrade proceedure?

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

How would you guys do this?

Going from a 29 Biocube to a 60G Cube?

I have about 20-30 lbs of LR in the 29G tank.
My original plan was on one day take all the water/LR/corals/fish out of the biocube and put them in the 60G with new water and about 30-40lbs of "cured" LR from the LFS.

Do you think this will work? Will I loose all the corals/fish? Will the new tank cycle?

It should be like a large water change.

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

It would be if you weren't adding more rock. The new rock will probably cause you a mini cycle. It's happened to me in the past even just adding some into my existing tank. I would say if you are going to add more rock then do it in the tank before you transfer your livestock. Make sure you test the water every day to see where your parameters are at. I would let the tank sit for at least a week before adding anything to it. Provided your levels are zeroed.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Do you think a week or so with cured LR or a full 3 month cycle before moving the corals? My living room is a mess right now with 2 tanks and extension cords running across the room for the existing tank.

 

[KathyC]

How would you guys do this?

Going from a 29 Biocube to a 60G Cube?

I have about 20-30 lbs of LR in the 29G tank.
My original plan was on one day take all the water/LR/corals/fish out of the biocube and put them in the 60G with new water and about 30-40lbs of "cured" LR from the LFS.

Do you think this will work? Will I loose all the corals/fish? Will the new tank cycle?

It should be like a large water change.

Many people do a tank transfer in a single day by removing their rock/coral fish to bins and then assemble them back in the new tank.

A few things to keep in mind:
1- the new 'tank' itself, along with it's plumbing will have a small cycle as the surfaces become covered in bacteria (remember there is little bacteria in the water column itself, the majority of it is ON the surfaces of the rock/sand/tank itself). So you want to continually check your ammonia/nitrite levels and react with an immediate water change if you see these rise!)
2-If you are going to use new water in the new tank, you will want to acclimate your fish over to that water as it may not have the same parameters as your prior tank.
3- The 'live rock' some LFS's sell may not be as completely cycled as you'd like it to be. Some stores continually add new deliveries of live rock to their existing bins. Therefore those bins may be in a continual state of 'cycling'. You may have no way of knowing if the particular rock you chose went into that bin a week or a month ago. That said - there ARE some stores that keep different bins of LR and KNOW that some is fully cycled - THAT is where you want to pick your new rock from.
4- When you transport the new live rock home, do whatever you can to do so quickly (so it stays warm) and keep it as submerged in water if at all possible at all times. Even a few minutes out of water causes die-off and that is what you want to avoid the most in your tank upgrade.
5- Do be sure to have extra heaters on hand to keep the fish/corals/rock warm when changing the tanks. Water at room temperature cools off very quickly.
6- Be sure to have plenty of new water ready to go before you start.
7- You will want to check your parameters in the new tank on a daily basis - as mentioned above - to make sure there is no ammonia spike
8-It will take twice as long as you think to do the switch over


You didn't mention sand - are you using your prior sand bed or replacing all or part of it?

How long has the 29g tank been set up?

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Debating on sand. If I do it will be the Natures ocean sand in a bag not dry sand. it will be a thin layer to cover the bottom of the tank.

29G has been running for a over a year. I moved the 29G over so I can work on getting the new tank in the place of where the 29 was. I can transfer right from the 29 to the 60.

 

[jrobbins]

IMHO the bagged sand isnt worth it. Either rinse what you have and reuse it, or just buy some dry sand.

Also Kathy is dead on about the "cured" live rock from the LFS. I wouldn't trust (even from a reputable store). Once you pull it out, box it up, get it home, etc, you will already have some dieoff. maybe not a ton, but if the goal is to pull off the move with as little stress to your critters as possible, you might want to cure the new rock for a week or so first.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Do you think a week or 2 is enough? Or should I give away all the corals/fish and cycle the tank from scratch for 3+ months then when the cycle is complete start buying new corals/fish?

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Who sells dry sand?

 

[jrobbins]

depends. just test the water the rock is in. when it is good to go, the rock is good to go too.

and almost any fish or pet shop will sell dry aragonite sand.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Wont the dry sand take longer to cycle?

 

[mqur1963]

it took me 4 weeks so be patent

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Great - Living room is going to be a disaster zone for another month. This ought to go over well with the wife. maybe I am better off just getting rid of what I got in the 29G and get new down the road, What a waste of money.