Question about transferring livestock to new tank.

BigGimp77 · 02/22/2011, 01:29 PM

I’m going to be upgrading my tank shortly.

I plan on using my new 120g tank (50 gallon sump) and turning my current 37 g tank (30g sump) into a quarantine tank. The 120 tank is cycled and ready to go.

I have to move 2 clowns, and a royal gamma. As far as corals go, I have a hammer, a torch, a leather, a candy cane, and a couple mushrooms.

What’s the best order and how fast should I transfer everything over? All that’s in there right now are about 8 snails I threw in a couple weeks ago to make sure they wouldn’t bite the dust.

greech · 02/22/2011, 02:43 PM

I see no reason why you can't move everything all at once. You're moving the same bioload to a larger volume of water. Acclimate them and let them go. I'm sure they will do great in the new digs. I wouldn't add anything else though until your current stock settles in.

The only reason I can think of holding off is if you think you may add some new fish down the road which are less aggressive than your current fish. However, lots of room in a 120 and you only have 3 small (and not overly aggressive) fish.

Congrats on the upgrade!

breiter3 · 02/22/2011, 04:43 PM

Hmm... If you've got a substantial amount of liverock you're moving over then it probably won't be an issue, but if not you'll like get a mini-cycle. Yeah you're moving the bioload to a larger body of water, but that sand, sump, filtration and whatever in the new tank isn't used to the bio load, so they won't have adequate colonization of bacteria.

Personally I'd put the corals in, watch them closely for stress, wait a week, and then add the fish.

greech · 02/22/2011, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breiter3

Hmm... If you've got a substantial amount of liverock you're moving over then it probably won't be an issue, but if not you'll like get a mini-cycle. Yeah you're moving the bioload to a larger body of water, but that sand, sump, filtration and whatever in the new tank isn't used to the bio load, so they won't have adequate colonization of bacteria.

Personally I'd put the corals in, watch them closely for stress, wait a week, and then add the fish.

Good point. I was under the impression rock was being brought over so that may have been an incorrect assumption on my part. I still think it would be fine to move them over if the tank is cycled. If it were an upgrade to a 55 gallon I would be a bit more concerned but not a 30 to a cycled 120. However, if the OP is in no rush then moving a coral over first would be a good safe test.

BigGimp77 · 02/22/2011, 06:09 PM

Thanks for the input. To Clarify, I will be taking some of the rock over. One piece of rock that is attached to my Leather coral will definatly be going over (prob a 10pd rock). I will also be taking 2/3 pieces of rock from my 30g sump and moving it to the 50g sump. In the tank right now I have about 20ish pds or so of LR. The rest is Dead rock from Marco Rocks.

I figured it would be the other way. Add the fish>> Look for stress and see how the bioload holds up>> Add coral once tank stabilizes. But I guess it makes sense to move the corals first because if there is stress it will be a lot easier to move them back into the 37g. I'm dreading trying to capture my Royal Gamma!

dwinter · 02/22/2011, 06:22 PM

If the 120g is fully cycled, and your just moving your rock and live stock over, as long as you have tested the 120 and it has gone through a cycle, there should be no issue. I have done this twice and both times there was no problem. There should be no spikes if you are not introducing any die off.

How much lr was in the 120 prior and how long did it cycle with out the existing stuff in you old tank?

breiter3 · 02/22/2011, 06:26 PM

Well I say Corals first because it's a lot easier and faster to see if their going into stress. With the fish it could be 3 days before you really know something has gone wrong, and by that time it's too late.

Just my .02

When you say dead rock, was that already put in the new tank and gone through the cycle?

BigGimp77 · 02/22/2011, 07:36 PM

In October I had gotten this tank all put together. Put the LR (20 pds) and Dry rock (100ish pds) in the tank. Threw a gallon buckets worth of sand from an established tank. Placed 2 fresh shrimp from the local grocery store into the tank. Took about 6 weeks to cycle. Threw about 6-8 snails in there.

Problem was I didn't have any lights at the time (Xmas set us back a little more then I was planing

). So I just got the lights at the beginning of Feb.

A week before I got my lights, I threw another shrimp in from the grocery store to let it cycle again. I wasn't sure if I'd have alotta die off from dec-feb with no bioload. The shrimp rotted, and I went through a tiny mini cycle. Not even one of my snails died.

Current readings are:
Amm=0
Trite=0
Trate=10

breiter3 · 02/23/2011, 07:07 AM

Ok well on that note... 120 lbs of NOW live rock can handle 3 little fishies lol. Caution is good, I think you should be fine. Just test the tank often and be ready to act if anything goes off

BigGimp77 · 02/23/2011, 10:10 AM

Ok ok sounds good. Guess I'll go 'all in' haha.

The last piece of my puzzle comes today. I bought some computer fans I'm gonna hang in the canopy. Soon as thats completed (hopefully by the weekend) I'll be ready to xfer everything over. I'll probably tentativly schedule the big move for Sunday.

The big tank is gonna have a bit more flow then my currenty tank. I should probably start thinking about where to play my Torch/Hammers... HMM!

02/22/2011, 01:29 PM	#1
BigGimp77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 318	Question about transferring livestock to new tank. I’m going to be upgrading my tank shortly. I plan on using my new 120g tank (50 gallon sump) and turning my current 37 g tank (30g sump) into a quarantine tank. The 120 tank is cycled and ready to go. I have to move 2 clowns, and a royal gamma. As far as corals go, I have a hammer, a torch, a leather, a candy cane, and a couple mushrooms. What’s the best order and how fast should I transfer everything over? All that’s in there right now are about 8 snails I threw in a couple weeks ago to make sure they wouldn’t bite the dust.

02/22/2011, 02:43 PM	#2
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	I see no reason why you can't move everything all at once. You're moving the same bioload to a larger volume of water. Acclimate them and let them go. I'm sure they will do great in the new digs. I wouldn't add anything else though until your current stock settles in. The only reason I can think of holding off is if you think you may add some new fish down the road which are less aggressive than your current fish. However, lots of room in a 120 and you only have 3 small (and not overly aggressive) fish. Congrats on the upgrade! __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

02/22/2011, 06:22 PM	#6
dwinter Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Barrie Posts: 117	If the 120g is fully cycled, and your just moving your rock and live stock over, as long as you have tested the 120 and it has gone through a cycle, there should be no issue. I have done this twice and both times there was no problem. There should be no spikes if you are not introducing any die off. How much lr was in the 120 prior and how long did it cycle with out the existing stuff in you old tank? __________________ . Current Tank Info: Cadlights 100g Artisan, 2x Kessil 360, RO 150SSS, 2x MP40, Apex, dual BRS reactor, LPS Tank

02/22/2011, 07:36 PM	#8
BigGimp77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 318	In October I had gotten this tank all put together. Put the LR (20 pds) and Dry rock (100ish pds) in the tank. Threw a gallon buckets worth of sand from an established tank. Placed 2 fresh shrimp from the local grocery store into the tank. Took about 6 weeks to cycle. Threw about 6-8 snails in there. Problem was I didn't have any lights at the time (Xmas set us back a little more then I was planing). So I just got the lights at the beginning of Feb. A week before I got my lights, I threw another shrimp in from the grocery store to let it cycle again. I wasn't sure if I'd have alotta die off from dec-feb with no bioload. The shrimp rotted, and I went through a tiny mini cycle. Not even one of my snails died. Current readings are: Amm=0 Trite=0 Trate=10

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02/22/2011, 04:43 PM	#3
breiter3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 98	Hmm... If you've got a substantial amount of liverock you're moving over then it probably won't be an issue, but if not you'll like get a mini-cycle. Yeah you're moving the bioload to a larger body of water, but that sand, sump, filtration and whatever in the new tank isn't used to the bio load, so they won't have adequate colonization of bacteria. Personally I'd put the corals in, watch them closely for stress, wait a week, and then add the fish.

02/22/2011, 06:09 PM	#5
BigGimp77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 318	Thanks for the input. To Clarify, I will be taking some of the rock over. One piece of rock that is attached to my Leather coral will definatly be going over (prob a 10pd rock). I will also be taking 2/3 pieces of rock from my 30g sump and moving it to the 50g sump. In the tank right now I have about 20ish pds or so of LR. The rest is Dead rock from Marco Rocks. I figured it would be the other way. Add the fish>> Look for stress and see how the bioload holds up>> Add coral once tank stabilizes. But I guess it makes sense to move the corals first because if there is stress it will be a lot easier to move them back into the 37g. I'm dreading trying to capture my Royal Gamma!

02/22/2011, 06:26 PM	#7
breiter3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 98	Well I say Corals first because it's a lot easier and faster to see if their going into stress. With the fish it could be 3 days before you really know something has gone wrong, and by that time it's too late. Just my .02 When you say dead rock, was that already put in the new tank and gone through the cycle?

02/23/2011, 07:07 AM	#9
breiter3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 98	Ok well on that note... 120 lbs of NOW live rock can handle 3 little fishies lol. Caution is good, I think you should be fine. Just test the tank often and be ready to act if anything goes off

02/23/2011, 10:10 AM	#10
BigGimp77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 318	Ok ok sounds good. Guess I'll go 'all in' haha. The last piece of my puzzle comes today. I bought some computer fans I'm gonna hang in the canopy. Soon as thats completed (hopefully by the weekend) I'll be ready to xfer everything over. I'll probably tentativly schedule the big move for Sunday. The big tank is gonna have a bit more flow then my currenty tank. I should probably start thinking about where to play my Torch/Hammers... HMM!