- Location
- Albany, NY
This is my first major upgrade since restarting in the hobby with a 90 gallon mixed reef tank almost 2 years ago now. I have always wanted a larger tank and another member recently posted selling this new tank, stand and lights. I am locating the new tank in my dining room so that it is more visible to guests which means running new electricity, bracing the floor of my 150 year old Victorian house, leveling and preparing the tank. Luckily I still have 30 gallons of "formerly" live rock that was lost when my first salt water tank died after having reached 10 years old. I was hospitalized and was unable to care for it or even provide much instruction and my parents did their best but didnt understand what they were doing. I have started baking the formerly live rock and plan to move my existing sand and live rock to its new home once the tank is completely ready. I am sure to have a lot of questions and hope that this group will help me plan for a great habitat. So let me start with the first questions as I get pics of the new tank to document this build. Since I am upgrading from a 90 gallon tank to a 180 gallon tank, should i set up the new tank entirely and cycle it first or does the existing eco system typically expand its capacity to cycle waste as it is relocated? I am leaning to cycling the new tank, then during a major water change, transfer the existing tank.