Transfering animals / rock from 50 to 150

Gobie74 · 07/01/2007, 03:07 PM

Like the subject says, I'm planning on transferring the inhabitants of my 50 gallon tank to my newly setup 150 gallon tank and have a few questions about what to expect.

First some background.

The 50 has been setup for about 7 months now, has 87 pounds of really nice, coraline covered live rock with lots of life. I have 3 fish in the tank, a Yellow tailed Damsel, a Royal Gramma, and a Firefish. There are 2 skunk cleaner shrimp, a Blood Red Shrimp, a Emerald Mithrax crab, about 10 astrea snails, 10 hermits, and 5 nassirus snails.

The 150 i set up about 2 months ago and has had saltwater in it for 1 month. I couldn't afford all live rock so bought 100 pounds of marco rocks, 6 pounds of live rock at a local store, and 30 from premium aquatics ( which is junk and I regret buying it ). It has cycled and its at the stage where diatoms and brown algae is starting to grow. Chemistry looks good, no ammonia, nitrates or nitrites. Alkalinity and calcium match between the tanks. The refugium is producing a good amount of pods and other life, and the cheato is growing well.

Now the question I keep asking myself is if the 150 is ready to take the inhabitants of the 50 or should I keep waiting. Based on what I've seen I think it should be good, but I don't want to use a sacrificial fish to be sure.

When I do transfer, should I expect the coraline on the rocks from the 50 to die back because the 150 isn't as established?

Will moving the rocks cause a cycle that might be dangerous to the fish and corals in the new tank. My gut says no since they'll only be out of the water for a minute at most, but I'm worried that the new tank wont contain the proper environment for the rocks / fish / inverts.

Sorry I rambled on, if you made it this far and can offer any advice, i'd sure appreciate it.

Yangtze Reef · 07/01/2007, 03:11 PM

i did the similar thing last year from a 75G to a 150G. Everything was fine. If you have a sand bed, you's better not to disturb it.

Ying

Gobie74 · 07/01/2007, 03:22 PM

I bought new sand for the 150 and was planning on only using a cup full of sand from the 50 to seed the sand in the 150. I'm not quite sure what I'll do with the sand in the 50.

Thanks for your reply

Reefghoul · 07/01/2007, 03:25 PM

I would throw away the sand from the 50...there is to much unknown with the old sand and people have reported to many problems using old sand. It works perfect like you have done for seeding the new bed.

Gobie74 · 07/01/2007, 08:30 PM

Any other advice?

mander · 07/01/2007, 10:33 PM

I'm certainly no expert, but I am going through a similar situation. I started up a new 125G with fresh live rock and new sand, 130lbs, and it went through its cycle in just a few days. I had a big diatom bloom on about day 3, and put in a new clean up crew around day 8. On day 14 I added a candy cane coral, zoa rock, cleaner shrimp, and transferred an open brain and torch. That was a few days ago and everyone is happy so far. No losses that I can tell of inverts...the corals are happy and eating as well.

If you're worried about starting a new cycle, I'd move the rock over slowly, a few pieces at a time and let them hang out in the tank while continuing to watch the nitrite and ammonia. Then you can move your critters once you feel comfortable with the state of the new tank.

For me, I just added 6 peppermint shrimp to try and clean up the rock of aiptasia in the old tank, and if that's successful, I'll move over a few pieces of rock that have corals attached and the fish/rest of the inhabitants at that time, just so I don't disturb the percs and their host leather which is attached to a rock covered in aiptasia. I'm guessing that process may take a few months so I'm just being patient and letting both tanks run side by side.

Not sure if that helps, but good luck with your new tank!!

07/01/2007, 03:07 PM	#1
Gobie74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 924	Transfering animals / rock from 50 to 150 Like the subject says, I'm planning on transferring the inhabitants of my 50 gallon tank to my newly setup 150 gallon tank and have a few questions about what to expect. First some background. The 50 has been setup for about 7 months now, has 87 pounds of really nice, coraline covered live rock with lots of life. I have 3 fish in the tank, a Yellow tailed Damsel, a Royal Gramma, and a Firefish. There are 2 skunk cleaner shrimp, a Blood Red Shrimp, a Emerald Mithrax crab, about 10 astrea snails, 10 hermits, and 5 nassirus snails. The 150 i set up about 2 months ago and has had saltwater in it for 1 month. I couldn't afford all live rock so bought 100 pounds of marco rocks, 6 pounds of live rock at a local store, and 30 from premium aquatics ( which is junk and I regret buying it ). It has cycled and its at the stage where diatoms and brown algae is starting to grow. Chemistry looks good, no ammonia, nitrates or nitrites. Alkalinity and calcium match between the tanks. The refugium is producing a good amount of pods and other life, and the cheato is growing well. Now the question I keep asking myself is if the 150 is ready to take the inhabitants of the 50 or should I keep waiting. Based on what I've seen I think it should be good, but I don't want to use a sacrificial fish to be sure. When I do transfer, should I expect the coraline on the rocks from the 50 to die back because the 150 isn't as established? Will moving the rocks cause a cycle that might be dangerous to the fish and corals in the new tank. My gut says no since they'll only be out of the water for a minute at most, but I'm worried that the new tank wont contain the proper environment for the rocks / fish / inverts. Sorry I rambled on, if you made it this far and can offer any advice, i'd sure appreciate it.

07/01/2007, 03:11 PM	#2
Yangtze Reef Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NJ08544 Posts: 54	i did the similar thing last year from a 75G to a 150G. Everything was fine. If you have a sand bed, you's better not to disturb it. Ying

07/01/2007, 03:22 PM	#3
Gobie74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 924	I bought new sand for the 150 and was planning on only using a cup full of sand from the 50 to seed the sand in the 150. I'm not quite sure what I'll do with the sand in the 50. Thanks for your reply

07/01/2007, 03:25 PM	#4
Reefghoul Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 161	I would throw away the sand from the 50...there is to much unknown with the old sand and people have reported to many problems using old sand. It works perfect like you have done for seeding the new bed.

07/01/2007, 08:30 PM	#5
Gobie74 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 924	Any other advice?

07/01/2007, 10:33 PM	#6
mander Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In The Triangle, NC Posts: 150	I'm certainly no expert, but I am going through a similar situation. I started up a new 125G with fresh live rock and new sand, 130lbs, and it went through its cycle in just a few days. I had a big diatom bloom on about day 3, and put in a new clean up crew around day 8. On day 14 I added a candy cane coral, zoa rock, cleaner shrimp, and transferred an open brain and torch. That was a few days ago and everyone is happy so far. No losses that I can tell of inverts...the corals are happy and eating as well. If you're worried about starting a new cycle, I'd move the rock over slowly, a few pieces at a time and let them hang out in the tank while continuing to watch the nitrite and ammonia. Then you can move your critters once you feel comfortable with the state of the new tank. For me, I just added 6 peppermint shrimp to try and clean up the rock of aiptasia in the old tank, and if that's successful, I'll move over a few pieces of rock that have corals attached and the fish/rest of the inhabitants at that time, just so I don't disturb the percs and their host leather which is attached to a rock covered in aiptasia. I'm guessing that process may take a few months so I'm just being patient and letting both tanks run side by side. Not sure if that helps, but good luck with your new tank!!