50g to 180g and more.....

enzo0000 · 01/18/2014, 08:13 AM

Cheers everyone,

Need a good recommendation on how to go from a 50g (with 40g sump) to a new 180g (with a 100g sump).....

Currently the tank has SPS, LPS, Zoa's etc... and 4 fish...corals are growing out of control and need to upgrade. Wife's approval

It will be a bit of time, but would like to get everything set before i make the transition.

What i'm asking is....Do i just treat the transition as a really big water change? 90g too 280g seems a bit much? I really don't want to have to cycle the new set up as I will be using some of the equipment from the smaller tank system (lights, pump, tunze's etc..) on the new system.

Please help

Vincenzo

Mark Bianco · 01/18/2014, 08:21 AM

Are you planning anything new as far as live rock or new sand if you use sand?

sjwitt · 01/18/2014, 08:28 AM

You will have to cycle the new tank. I did a similar transition 55 to 185. I set the new tank up in it's permanent location after moving the 55 g to a temporary spot (beside it). My process was fill new tank, put in new sand bed, moved all live rock from 55 g and added more because it wasn't nearly enough in the bigger tank. I moved some of the corals and added some cleaners hermit crabs and peppermint shrimp (had aiptasia on LR) and let the tank cycle for a couple of weeks. When it got to the algae stage I moved my Rabbit fish over and he had a field day with all the grazing. After that, everyone else went in and I shut down the 55 g. If memory serves it took 6 weeks but I didn't loose anything.

enzo0000 · 01/18/2014, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Bianco

Are you planning anything new as far as live rock or new sand if you use sand?

Yes, I'm planning on adding more rock and sand

enzo0000 · 01/18/2014, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjwitt

You will have to cycle the new tank. I did a similar transition 55 to 185. I set the new tank up in it's permanent location after moving the 55 g to a temporary spot (beside it). My process was fill new tank, put in new sand bed, moved all live rock from 55 g and added more because it wasn't nearly enough in the bigger tank. I moved some of the corals and added some cleaners hermit crabs and peppermint shrimp (had aiptasia on LR) and let the tank cycle for a couple of weeks. When it got to the algae stage I moved my Rabbit fish over and he had a field day with all the grazing. After that, everyone else went in and I shut down the 55 g. If memory serves it took 6 weeks but I didn't loose anything.

My problem is twofold...All my LR has coral on them and i'm afraid to kill the corals by putting them in a new tank and the new LR will be dead when i purchase it.....I need most of the equipment from the old tank to put in the new tank.

How long did you wait until you started moving your corals over?

I'm going to have to cycle dead LR in a trashcan for about 6 weeks...does anyone know if that water can be used? Think its only going to have a powerhead for waterflow from what i've read?

Anyone else have suggestions?

01/18/2014, 08:13 AM	#1
enzo0000 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 94	50g to 180g and more..... Cheers everyone, Need a good recommendation on how to go from a 50g (with 40g sump) to a new 180g (with a 100g sump)..... Currently the tank has SPS, LPS, Zoa's etc... and 4 fish...corals are growing out of control and need to upgrade. Wife's approval It will be a bit of time, but would like to get everything set before i make the transition. What i'm asking is....Do i just treat the transition as a really big water change? 90g too 280g seems a bit much? I really don't want to have to cycle the new set up as I will be using some of the equipment from the smaller tank system (lights, pump, tunze's etc..) on the new system. Please help Vincenzo

01/18/2014, 08:28 AM	#3
sjwitt Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: USA, East Coast Posts: 896	You will have to cycle the new tank. I did a similar transition 55 to 185. I set the new tank up in it's permanent location after moving the 55 g to a temporary spot (beside it). My process was fill new tank, put in new sand bed, moved all live rock from 55 g and added more because it wasn't nearly enough in the bigger tank. I moved some of the corals and added some cleaners hermit crabs and peppermint shrimp (had aiptasia on LR) and let the tank cycle for a couple of weeks. When it got to the algae stage I moved my Rabbit fish over and he had a field day with all the grazing. After that, everyone else went in and I shut down the 55 g. If memory serves it took 6 weeks but I didn't loose anything. __________________ Lighting = (3) 250W MH, (2) 14K and (1) 20K. (4) 96W Actinic. (1) ECOXOTIC 48in STUNNER 24W Magenta/453NM Blue LED Current Tank Info: 185 g, Mixed Reef. w/ LPS, SPS, Inverts, and Fish. Eight RBTAs and counting.

01/18/2014, 08:21 AM	#2
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	Are you planning anything new as far as live rock or new sand if you use sand?