Switching from 30 gal to 55 gal help

[jerseydiablo]

first off, hi, I'm new :roll:

2nd, this will be a long read, sry :lol:

I've had a 30 gal long reef setup for almost 6 months now

I've done minimal to medium research but I didn't go crazy despite the urge to (this craps like crack I swear)

in my tank there's a Clown (nemo kind) 2 blue & yellow damsels, & 1 sometimes green/ sometimes blue damsel

2 emerald crabs, a deco crab
1 condy
a few vry small frags with some nice polyps on them
& 1 small grasping hands coral frag ( not sure what it's called)
50 lbs live sand
some snails, hermits, copeods, live rock
also about 15 red mangrove plants
about 5 lbs live lava rock
couple bunches of macro algae

a fluval 404
a penguin bio wheel 350
a seaclone 100 skimmer
& 2 powerheads
plus 2 long bubble strips

a 36" Jebo Odessya Dual compact 110W 50/50 light strip
Plus an Corallife 50/50 power compact
(they both somehow fit perfectly with the Penguin on back

anyways, things have been great, I've lost a total of 2 fish (very early on)
& 1 condy ( got stuck in filter 3 different times before dying)

I've just got a steal for a 55 Gal with stand & canopy off craigslist (great place to find used stuff BTW)

problem is the tank needs to go into the exact same spot as the 30 gal is now

here's my plan...

setup the 55 with new live sand & a very small amount of water right beside the 30 gal

it's on a wood floor so I figure I'd be able to slide the tank very carefully with just the sand and a small amount of water (just above the sand) 3-4 inch sandbed once I'm ready

going to get a big giant tub, syphon out the 30 gal, & put pretty much everything in the 30 gal into the tub

once I can move the 30 gal, I'll then slide the 55 gal into place, then dump the live sand I currently have in the 30 into the 55

add live rock, corals, condy, etc
then drip acclimate the fish after that

anything other than all that I should know about or do differently?

I understand I'll eventually need new lights ( for now I'll just place any corals/ condy up as high as I can on the live rock )

my filters & powerheads (plus maybe 1 more) should be good for a while
and I'll need a better skimmer as well

anyways, thanks for reading all that and I'd appreciate any help i could get

 

[Anonymous]

:welcome:

As far as the move I would do a few things differently. I would transfer all the live stock to a container like you said. In addition transfer as much tank water as you can without pulling any funk out of the sand. If it were me I would ditch the sand and start fresh. You will mix up alot of the nasties that are in there already and will introduce problems in the new tank.

Again, if it were me I would trear the 30 down and get it out the way then set the 55 up in the place. To acclimater the corals you can get all your stuff transfered to the 55 then add the make up water slowly.

Is this 55 drilled for an overflow? If not you should look to get it drilled before you start. Adding a sump tou you system would make your life better. I think a 20 long or somthing about that size woulf make a good sump.

IMO you gear does need to be upgraded. Especally your lights and skimmer.

What kind of corals are you planning to keep? Your water flow also looks like it needs improving.

 

[jerseydiablo]

thanks

it's not drilled for overflow, could you point me where to get started on that?

also, I'm assuming I'd be able to have it drilled and then plugged until I'm ready to pickup a sump?

I'm going to be upgrading everything in time (spent too much already)

skimmer & pumps/flow I'm working on now

the corals I have react great to my lighting now, but I know I'll need to keep them up pretty high in the 55 to keep them going for a bit until I can afford to upgrade

for now my corals listed are all i have and will only be adding small frags at a time every now and then, but eventually I want it all, all in due time though


think I'll use your advice and tear down the 30 before doing anything in the 55

the sand I'll get all new then, just keeping all the live rock, lava rocks & plants

 

[Anonymous]

To get the tank drilled check with the local fish store or glass shops. They should be able to qoute you a price to get it drilled. I would get it drilled on the back sice often times bottom are temperd and temperd glass will shatter if you try to drill it. For a 55 you should et it drilled for atleast 1" piping. Purchase a bulkhead fitting first so you know what size hole you need. If you get it done at a LFS they may be able to supply the bulkhead and make sure you have the correct size hole.

You can plug it if you like. IMO you will save some headach if you do it in one shot. If you need to plug it, install the bulkhead fitting, then put a valve and cloes it. This way you have a good place to complet the plumbing when you are ready.

I'm glad to see you are looking at upgrading you gear. Just a suggestion, you may want to do the upgrades before you add corals. You would have better luck with the corals that way.

 

[Meloco14]

Sounds like you have a good grasp on things. If you want to do the 55 right I would definitely get it drilled like Wazzel suggested. I had a sumpless 55 for 3 years and was never happy with it. If I were to do it again I would definitely drill it and add a sump. It sounds like the 55 will be a long term tank for you and you want to upgrade the equipment and do it right. This is great, and will give you the best chance for success. But my suggestion would be to just wait and not set up the 55 yet. Nothing is wrong with your current 30 gallon right? So don't mess with it. Keep it running until you are ready to set up your new improved 55 setup in one fell swoop. If you transfer all of your stuff into the 55 with inadequate lighting, filtration, etc, you just increase the risk of losing some of your livestock, plus it makes certain upgrades a pain. It will be much easier for you to plan out the new system with a dry tank. You can get it drilled and set up the plumbing, you can plan out powerheads or a closed loop, you can get your new lighting and new skimmer. Then set it all up at once and put your livestock into a fully functioning better system. Obviously this means you will not be able to set up the new tank for some time, but it might be better this way. If you really want to set up the 55 asap then just make sure you get it drilled first. Also, why not use the 30 gallon tank as the sump on your new tank? Unless you had something else planned for that tank, this will save you the cost of buying a sump. HTH

 

[jerseydiablo]

ok, I don't think drilling is going to be an option
I've called 5 glass places in my area and no one is willing to do it, or knows anyone who does

unfortunately, time is an issue here, I don't have the room anywhere for a setup like the 55 except for the spot it's going to end up

I had to pick it up, it was a steal 8O


we are having a huge birthday party for my 2 year old daughter and having it out is not an option

went down to tropiquarium and was suggested a Pro Clear prefilter/skimmer Model 60/72/125 ($50 bucks) to go along with what I have (fluval 404) & my spending limit
+ my bio wheel 350 and they say I should be good


as for my 30 gal, it was promised to a buddy of mine who's now a cop
I need those PBA cards :twisted:

 

[waymack97]

grabbing hand coral might be xenia. good luck.
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Asthma Forum

 

[jerseydiablo]

grabbing hand coral might be xenia. good luck.

yup, thats it

thanks

 

[shavo]

i have a 125 on carpet in my basement and when i changed over from fresh to salt i went out and bought those "moving men" i can by myself move my 125 very slowly and i moved my tank half full very easily. it was on carpet but i used to move furniture for a living and those things are actually incredible. i left them under my tank just incase and i have had to move my tank out a few inches a few times and i can actually do it. i am 150 pounds and I move a 125 seriously by myself. just a thought if you needed some ideas i am new here to
good luck and let us know how you do!

 

[TheJGMProject]

wow...that moving tool sounds great. where do youget something like that?

 

[jerseydiablo]

the switch over went great BTW

did it all in about 5 hours one night last weekend, everything survived and is flourishing

will update with some pics later on