Question about moving tank

wantacookie · 10/22/2008, 05:06 PM

I'm going to be moving to a new place in a couple of weeks and I will be switching my 20 gallon tank to a larger tank that will be setup at my new place. My question involves the housing of the tanks inhabitants until I actually move.

I would like to start moving the tank along with the rest of my furniture and belongings. Also, to get rid of the 20 gallon tank and stand before I move. My intention is to move about 20 lbs. of rock and two false percs into a 10 gallon tank with a handful of snails and two hermits. I want to dispose of the sand that has been in this tank for around 3 years. Basically, the 10 gallon will run bare bottom around two to four weeks. I will continue my water change schedule and skimming 24/7 as normal. Will my fish be okay in the 10 gallon without the bacterial benefit the tank has had with the sand?

The new tank will be set up with new sand and the remaining 10 gallons or so I will have of old water. Can I place my fish and rock in this new tank with all new sand and be okay or will this create some sort of cycle that may harm the fish?

Thank you for any help.

Bonneville08 · 10/22/2008, 05:24 PM

In my experience, if you keep the bacteria in the rock viable by maintaining it in a well oxygenated tank you should see no ammonia or nitrite spike. The skimming will be helpful, and holding off on new additions of fish for a few weeks would be prudent. I would also recommend increasing the frequency of testing when you set up the new tank.
Good luck

wantacookie · 10/22/2008, 05:42 PM

Thank you for the advice.

I'm really hoping this all goes smoothly, and that I don't have the need for a larger place again any time soon.

There is one nass snail lurking in my sand bed, will it be okay in the holding tank without sand?

6 man reef · 10/22/2008, 07:29 PM

Snail will be OK Be sure to have as much of the biological filter move to the new tank as possible. The natural thing to do is clean as you move. Move the water as well from old to new initially. Make water changes after settling in. Have a bottle of Amquel around for an emergency. Much luck to you

sminker · 10/22/2008, 11:55 PM

in a ten gallon with winter comming up i would deffinently try to pay VERY VERY close attention to evaporation. it would take no time at all to have severe salinity swings.

smalls383 · 10/23/2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sminker
in a ten gallon with winter comming up i would deffinently try to pay VERY VERY close attention to evaporation. it would take no time at all to have severe salinity swings.

In the winter your tank evaporates less then the summer....is that what you meant???

sminker · 10/23/2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by smalls383
In the winter your tank evaporates less then the summer....is that what you meant???

no.

during winter tanks lose TONS of water compared to summer.

my 125 gallon's evaporation rate will probably double in the next few months. thank god for my RO/DI unit.

smalls383 · 10/23/2008, 12:36 AM

Ok well something is different between your tank and mine because my tank evaporates way more in the summer...someting with the ambient room temp or the fan usage on the tank.....

I dunno cause my tank evaporates about 1 gallon/day in the summer and 1/2 to 1/3 that in the winter.....

Sorry to hijack this thread...

sminker · 10/23/2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by smalls383
Ok well something is different between your tank and mine because my tank evaporates way more in the summer...someting with the ambient room temp or the fan usage on the tank.....

I dunno cause my tank evaporates about 1 gallon/day in the summer and 1/2 to 1/3 that in the winter.....

Sorry to hijack this thread...

gotta remember this also.

your from california.

im from missouri.

our temps are quite a bit lower than yours during winter. how often do you fall below freezing? during winter we rarely go above 40 degrees.

brayden · 10/23/2008, 09:21 AM

I just had to do this myself.
Save all your water when you move your livestock and any water you don't use for your holding tank, put in your new tank. I saved all my old sand as well and used it in my final set up. When you finally move your fish into your new tank, drain 10 gallons from the new tank and add the holding tank water to it. Keep the fish in a bucket during this process. This is exactly what I did and everything tunred out good.

10/22/2008, 05:06 PM	#1
wantacookie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 219	Question about moving tank I'm going to be moving to a new place in a couple of weeks and I will be switching my 20 gallon tank to a larger tank that will be setup at my new place. My question involves the housing of the tanks inhabitants until I actually move. I would like to start moving the tank along with the rest of my furniture and belongings. Also, to get rid of the 20 gallon tank and stand before I move. My intention is to move about 20 lbs. of rock and two false percs into a 10 gallon tank with a handful of snails and two hermits. I want to dispose of the sand that has been in this tank for around 3 years. Basically, the 10 gallon will run bare bottom around two to four weeks. I will continue my water change schedule and skimming 24/7 as normal. Will my fish be okay in the 10 gallon without the bacterial benefit the tank has had with the sand? The new tank will be set up with new sand and the remaining 10 gallons or so I will have of old water. Can I place my fish and rock in this new tank with all new sand and be okay or will this create some sort of cycle that may harm the fish? Thank you for any help.

10/22/2008, 05:24 PM	#2
Bonneville08 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Goodyear, AZ Posts: 513	In my experience, if you keep the bacteria in the rock viable by maintaining it in a well oxygenated tank you should see no ammonia or nitrite spike. The skimming will be helpful, and holding off on new additions of fish for a few weeks would be prudent. I would also recommend increasing the frequency of testing when you set up the new tank. Good luck __________________ Edge you mah cating myself Check out my gallery if you desire. Current Tank Info: 50 gallon mix of soft, LPS and SPS, two croceas, two maximas, a few fish, turf filter with skimmer, MH and PC lighting, chiller, Calcium Reactor and wave2k.

10/22/2008, 05:42 PM	#3
wantacookie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 219	Thank you for the advice. I'm really hoping this all goes smoothly, and that I don't have the need for a larger place again any time soon. There is one nass snail lurking in my sand bed, will it be okay in the holding tank without sand? __________________ Current Tank Description 40b w/ DIY stand and DIY 29g sump/fuge

10/22/2008, 07:29 PM	#4
6 man reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Jersey Posts: 140	Snail will be OK Be sure to have as much of the biological filter move to the new tank as possible. The natural thing to do is clean as you move. Move the water as well from old to new initially. Make water changes after settling in. Have a bottle of Amquel around for an emergency. Much luck to you

10/22/2008, 11:55 PM	#5
sminker Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 612	in a ten gallon with winter comming up i would deffinently try to pay VERY VERY close attention to evaporation. it would take no time at all to have severe salinity swings.

10/23/2008, 12:36 AM	#8
smalls383 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga, CA Posts: 483	Ok well something is different between your tank and mine because my tank evaporates way more in the summer...someting with the ambient room temp or the fan usage on the tank..... I dunno cause my tank evaporates about 1 gallon/day in the summer and 1/2 to 1/3 that in the winter..... Sorry to hijack this thread...

10/23/2008, 09:21 AM	#10
brayden Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SanDiego Posts: 438	I just had to do this myself. Save all your water when you move your livestock and any water you don't use for your holding tank, put in your new tank. I saved all my old sand as well and used it in my final set up. When you finally move your fish into your new tank, drain 10 gallons from the new tank and add the holding tank water to it. Keep the fish in a bucket during this process. This is exactly what I did and everything tunred out good.