skimmer question

[somosomo]

I have had my 29 gallon reef for about 4 years( and three moves). I run a current power compact with 130 watts (65 watts 10k and 65 watts blue actinic).For filtration i have 40lbs + of liverock and the smaller version of the Skilter. I have a koralia nano for circulation n the opposite end of the tank as t he skilter return. I change the carbon/filetr insert about once every 6 weeks and do a 6-7 gallon water change every 10 days. The only thing i add is Red Sea coral growth supplement ( one capful a week) .Most of what I keep are softies, zoos,mushrooms, xenia with a few odd pieces bought from the 2.99 bin at thatfishplace-galaxea, tongue coral, candy cane, and a tiny spot of goniopora. I also have about 10 turbo snails and some blue legged hermits, a 6 line wrasse and a 2 inch long sailfin tang..(I know the tank will be too small very soon and he wont be moving to my new 75 but both of them will be off to a friends 180..shortly)

Aside from the all out alleopathy things are doing well.

At this point it is time to upgrade and I have bought a 75 gallon long to move into. I will be moving the bulk of what I have into it.. With a few exceptions-my xenia, kenya tree, and red mushrooms grow like weeds-and will not be making the trip if i can eradicate them..

I have two questions.

First one is: I am planning on getting an Octopus HOB skimmer. I use a skilter now which is pretty low tech-but works . I like the simplicity and would like to follow along those lines-hence the HOB skimmer. But I am not sure which to buy either the 100ss( rated to 90 gallons) or the BH300f rated to 135 gallons. The tank will be bare bottomed/ or shallow sand bed ( like 1" for aesthetics) with a cleanup crew of turbos and some hermits, a boxer crab, a small tang(kole or yellow) or a cherub angel, maroon clown, some sort of wrasse( if i go with a sand bed), and 3 different small blennies/gobies ( not sure what yet). I am leaning toward the 300F. Would a skimmer rated for 60 gallons more then my tank size overskim/not work effectively or would that allow me to push my bioload higher?

Second one is: I have moved my tank physically 3 times so I have that process down to a science..IF i am going to transfer my current tanks inhabitants and the live rock into the 75 I am starting to set up whats the best way to do that?

My thought is to put in 60lbs of live rock to the 75 let it cycle and once thats done move in the other 40lbs from my 29 and the livestock .

[AngeloM3]

-No comment on the Sailfin tang

-Your livestock list for your 75g is way to much. Maroon's get about 5"-6" and are very territorial!! A kole or yellow tang in a 75g is still really kinda small for them, they wouldn't thrive. I'd stick with the clown, cherub, wrasse and a couple gobies are fine if they stay small.

-Just stick to the skimmer that is rated for 90g. You can always skim wet if you think it's not pulling enough gunk out.

-Set the 75g up... use only cured LR. Add new water to it but do a normal water change on your 29g and add the "old" water to the 75g to help it kick start the cycle. But I would do exactly what your thinking.... get the 75g up and running, let the cycle come and go then transfer everything over.

[fivesmallworlds]

The Kole tang stays small enough to keep happily in a 75g no problem! Sometimes the tang police push it... lol

I won't even bash you for having the sailfin in a 29g. Mine started in a 29g and is now in my 75 gallon.

I would think twice about the maroon clowns though for reasons stated above.

Skimmer wise I'd go with the highest rating possible. I use a octopus NW-200 in my sump. If you plan on running a sump, I'd go with the NW-200, I'm EXTREMELY happy with mine.

As for moving the LR to the new tank, I would put all of the liverock in at the same time. If you start off with the 60 lbs then cycle it and then put in the LR from the 29 you risk a chance of another cycle if the rock is out of water for too long. If you have both running at the same time however, that shouldn't be an issue.

[somosomo]

Thanks for the input..I appreciate you guys taking the time.

I am planning on going sumpless..its worked so far for me.

The way things are working out I will be running the two tanks simultaneously while the 75 cycles. When I set the 75 up I will add my add my weekly water change to it/ with the fresh made water( thanks for the idea -I really hadnt thought of that to help jumpstart the cycle) Once it cycles and sits a bit I plan on taking everything out of the 29 and placing the live rock from the 29 in the 75. I plan on making at least 2 liverock "Islands" and will use the liverock from my 29 for one of the "islands". If it goes anything like setting up the tank after a move the whole process should take no more then 2 to 3 hours.. so I am guessing a second cycle wont be an issue.

also interested to hear what anyone else has to say
thanks