Tips on Transferring fish/rocks to new same size tank?

godzen · 03/20/2012, 09:54 AM

I plan on transferring live rocks/livestocks from an established tank to a brand new exact same tank with the exception of new sand. I'm buying the livestocks from another person. Any tips on how I should go about do this? This will be FOWLR display for now

1. Since it is a new tank, I will mix SW directly in it w/o sand because I don't have the live rocks yet (want live rock sitting on the glass)

2. ONce livestocks available, shut everything off, drain 30% of water, put in live rocks, then put in sand and fill up with water. Meanwhile, a couple of fishes sitting in bucket

3. Will let this mix for at least an hour before introducing the fishes in new tank and fill the rest of tank with new SW.

opinion?

philosophile · 03/20/2012, 10:11 AM

If you can put the sand in first, and then dig out holes and put in the live rock, since it'll take a day or so for the sand dust to clear up.

godzen · 03/20/2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by philosophile

If you can put the sand in first, and then dig out holes and put in the live rock, since it'll take a day or so for the sand dust to clear up.

hmmm...didn't think of that...was afraid of the sand stir up...

seapug · 03/20/2012, 12:16 PM

Get it set up and running as far in advance as possible with the sand so it has time to settle and clear. Immediately put in a couple live rocks (buy a couple small ones from the LFS or if the seller is nearby, go grab a couple from the tank) and let it run like that for as long as possible before the transfer actually occurs. Once the transfer time comes, the process you described will work fine.

The main point is the longer the new tank is up and running before the livestock is transferred, the less likely you are to have any problems. If you can push it out 30 days in advance I can almost guarantee it'll be a completely hassle free task.

Sk8r · 03/20/2012, 02:23 PM

Put in the sand and water. Link the 2 tanks, ie just pass water back and forth via a pump and gravity siphon, one tank a little lower. The bacteria from tank A will colonize tank B within 5 days, approx, and both will be cycled tanks. Set some dead rock on the bottom---no need to bury your good live rock. It'll come live, too, maybe give you a little hair algae, but that's temporary. Reverse the height situation and you could use tank A as as the sump for B. I fear if you muck up Tank A moving rock over to B, you'll disturb the A sandbed and crash Tank A, and Tank B will be a raw uncycled tank, with no place for your fish.

My own situation: I constantly maintain a full sandbed/rock set up in my sump/fuge, so anything done to the display has the fuge sandbed/rock to carry everything, and vice versa: I can create new live rock in a matter of weeks without even disturbing my set up: one raw rock isn't going to trouble 54 g of established rock and sand. If you can set up that situation in advance, you'll be bulletproof.

godzen · 03/20/2012, 02:47 PM

All great advice...However, having two tanks link side by side is impossible given I'm buying liverstocks from craigslist. This transfer will happen within the week. From the recommendations, I will go ahead and put in some pukani base rock I have along with new sand first, run it for a couple of days, drain 50% of water, make the transfer and refill with new saltwater...That sound okay?

tebstan · 03/20/2012, 02:57 PM

How big are the fish? Setting them up in holding tanks for a few days while the sand settles won't be much different than quarantining, if you have the space and equipment.

godzen · 03/20/2012, 03:16 PM

I guess my question is with the plan I have right now, the fishes are going to do okay yeah? It's only two fishes. If Need be, I can do 10% WC daily for the 1st week. This is a 60 gal tank

03/20/2012, 09:54 AM	#1
godzen Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 47	Tips on Transferring fish/rocks to new same size tank? I plan on transferring live rocks/livestocks from an established tank to a brand new exact same tank with the exception of new sand. I'm buying the livestocks from another person. Any tips on how I should go about do this? This will be FOWLR display for now 1. Since it is a new tank, I will mix SW directly in it w/o sand because I don't have the live rocks yet (want live rock sitting on the glass) 2. ONce livestocks available, shut everything off, drain 30% of water, put in live rocks, then put in sand and fill up with water. Meanwhile, a couple of fishes sitting in bucket 3. Will let this mix for at least an hour before introducing the fishes in new tank and fill the rest of tank with new SW. opinion?

03/20/2012, 10:11 AM	#2
philosophile Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,149	If you can put the sand in first, and then dig out holes and put in the live rock, since it'll take a day or so for the sand dust to clear up. __________________ 90 gallon mixed reef XPS1000SSS skimmer, 2 radions gen 1, tunze osmolator w/ kalk dispenser, 70 lbs pukani, mp40w x2; 1 tomini, 1 clown 2 mandarins. Vinegar dosing, and micro bubble scrubbing.

03/20/2012, 12:16 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Get it set up and running as far in advance as possible with the sand so it has time to settle and clear. Immediately put in a couple live rocks (buy a couple small ones from the LFS or if the seller is nearby, go grab a couple from the tank) and let it run like that for as long as possible before the transfer actually occurs. Once the transfer time comes, the process you described will work fine. The main point is the longer the new tank is up and running before the livestock is transferred, the less likely you are to have any problems. If you can push it out 30 days in advance I can almost guarantee it'll be a completely hassle free task. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

03/20/2012, 02:23 PM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Put in the sand and water. Link the 2 tanks, ie just pass water back and forth via a pump and gravity siphon, one tank a little lower. The bacteria from tank A will colonize tank B within 5 days, approx, and both will be cycled tanks. Set some dead rock on the bottom---no need to bury your good live rock. It'll come live, too, maybe give you a little hair algae, but that's temporary. Reverse the height situation and you could use tank A as as the sump for B. I fear if you muck up Tank A moving rock over to B, you'll disturb the A sandbed and crash Tank A, and Tank B will be a raw uncycled tank, with no place for your fish. My own situation: I constantly maintain a full sandbed/rock set up in my sump/fuge, so anything done to the display has the fuge sandbed/rock to carry everything, and vice versa: I can create new live rock in a matter of weeks without even disturbing my set up: one raw rock isn't going to trouble 54 g of established rock and sand. If you can set up that situation in advance, you'll be bulletproof. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/20/2012, 02:57 PM	#7
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	How big are the fish? Setting them up in holding tanks for a few days while the sand settles won't be much different than quarantining, if you have the space and equipment. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

03/20/2012, 02:47 PM	#6
godzen Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 47	All great advice...However, having two tanks link side by side is impossible given I'm buying liverstocks from craigslist. This transfer will happen within the week. From the recommendations, I will go ahead and put in some pukani base rock I have along with new sand first, run it for a couple of days, drain 50% of water, make the transfer and refill with new saltwater...That sound okay?

03/20/2012, 03:16 PM	#8
godzen Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 47	I guess my question is with the plan I have right now, the fishes are going to do okay yeah? It's only two fishes. If Need be, I can do 10% WC daily for the 1st week. This is a 60 gal tank