I just got a 90 gallon tank have some questions

Kovdad · 01/12/2014, 03:10 PM

I'm new to this hobby but I've had a 55gallon up for a few months and have 75 lbs of rock and I was wondering should I fill the 90 gallon tank with new water and wait for it to cycle or could I use the 50 some gallons from my other tank to get my 90 gallon going faster I only have a clown fish 13 small snails 5 crabs. Also something to consider is that I used 20 gallons of tap water to set up my 55 everything's been good in my tank thanks for the input

Dan90 · 01/12/2014, 03:16 PM

Tap water that is months old in tank is fine. You would have issues already in your system. I would use what you have rock sand and water then add the other 35g rodi. It is effectively a water change for the 90.

syrinx · 01/12/2014, 03:23 PM

I would just swap everything over. I have done just that hundreds of times when a clent wants a upgrade. Your only real issues is if you are moving sand or gravel. If you are careful though, even that is not too big of an issue. Acclimate the crabs and such slowly, but the clown should be fine. As posted above, the 35 gallons you will be adding, is similar to a water change.

thegrun · 01/12/2014, 04:49 PM

If your question is will using water from your existing tank speed up the cycle, the answer is no, used water does not contain enough bacteria to alter the cycle duration. You need to cycle the new rock before you transfer your existing livestock to the new tank.

Kovdad · 01/12/2014, 05:35 PM

Well I was thinking I could use the 55 gallons of water I have add 35 or so and swap everything else

FishAddict87 · 01/12/2014, 07:38 PM

I just recently did this with my 55 to my new 90 and everything went smoothly. All the rock, fish and a little bit of sand. I did use some sponges to put in the sump from the old tank for the bacteria. Since you don't have many fish, I'd say go for it.

Kovdad · 01/16/2014, 05:38 AM

Well I've swapped everything over and everything seems to be good for the moment thanks for the help

Ikserk · 01/16/2014, 10:21 AM

what did you end up doing with the sand? did you transfer that to the 90g as well?

Kovdad · 01/17/2014, 08:02 PM

Yes, I had some sand already in the 90gal tank and I used the sand from the 55 and just spread over top of the sand I had

oscarinw · 01/18/2014, 08:39 AM

Keep a close eye on your water parameters for the next coupe of months or so. Having poured sand on top of established sand can cause problems via trapping living creatures in the sand and causing a problem in the sandbed that may extend to the entire system. It's happened before.

Kovdad · 01/28/2014, 11:08 PM

So far so good thanks for the input

01/12/2014, 03:10 PM	#1
Kovdad Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 24	I just got a 90 gallon tank have some questions I'm new to this hobby but I've had a 55gallon up for a few months and have 75 lbs of rock and I was wondering should I fill the 90 gallon tank with new water and wait for it to cycle or could I use the 50 some gallons from my other tank to get my 90 gallon going faster I only have a clown fish 13 small snails 5 crabs. Also something to consider is that I used 20 gallons of tap water to set up my 55 everything's been good in my tank thanks for the input

01/12/2014, 03:23 PM	#3
syrinx Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: champaign Posts: 3,160	I would just swap everything over. I have done just that hundreds of times when a clent wants a upgrade. Your only real issues is if you are moving sand or gravel. If you are careful though, even that is not too big of an issue. Acclimate the crabs and such slowly, but the clown should be fine. As posted above, the 35 gallons you will be adding, is similar to a water change. __________________ My views are based on 49years as an aquarist, 25 years as a pro reef consultant, 10 years of owning a LFS, and the results of thousands of customers tanks. But I am always learning.

01/12/2014, 07:38 PM	#6
FishAddict87 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: NY Posts: 412	I just recently did this with my 55 to my new 90 and everything went smoothly. All the rock, fish and a little bit of sand. I did use some sponges to put in the sump from the old tank for the bacteria. Since you don't have many fish, I'd say go for it. __________________ 90 gallon Softie LPS Current Tank Info: 90 full reef

01/16/2014, 05:38 AM	#7
Kovdad Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 24	Well I've swapped everything over and everything seems to be good for the moment thanks for the help Last edited by Kovdad; 01/16/2014 at 05:39 AM. Reason: Forgot letter p in help

01/12/2014, 03:16 PM	#2
Dan90 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Concord,Ca Posts: 101	Tap water that is months old in tank is fine. You would have issues already in your system. I would use what you have rock sand and water then add the other 35g rodi. It is effectively a water change for the 90.

01/12/2014, 04:49 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	If your question is will using water from your existing tank speed up the cycle, the answer is no, used water does not contain enough bacteria to alter the cycle duration. You need to cycle the new rock before you transfer your existing livestock to the new tank.

01/12/2014, 05:35 PM	#5
Kovdad Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 24	Well I was thinking I could use the 55 gallons of water I have add 35 or so and swap everything else

01/16/2014, 10:21 AM	#8
Ikserk Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 72	what did you end up doing with the sand? did you transfer that to the 90g as well?

01/17/2014, 08:02 PM	#9
Kovdad Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 24	Yes, I had some sand already in the 90gal tank and I used the sand from the 55 and just spread over top of the sand I had

01/18/2014, 08:39 AM	#10
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	Keep a close eye on your water parameters for the next coupe of months or so. Having poured sand on top of established sand can cause problems via trapping living creatures in the sand and causing a problem in the sandbed that may extend to the entire system. It's happened before.

01/28/2014, 11:08 PM	#11
Kovdad Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 24	So far so good thanks for the input