Tank downsizing advice

socalchris · 05/02/2009, 12:07 PM

Hi guys, i'm looking for some advice:

I'm downgrading from my 60gal glass tank to a 40gal acrylic. I'm doing this because of a leak in my glass tank.

My plan was to transfer the few corals I have from my display to a 10gal that I set up about a week ago. My livestock is as follows:

1 Ocellaris Clown
1 Green Digi frag
1 Red Monti frag
1 mushroom rock
1 frogspawn (about 3 heads i think)
1 long tentacle plate coral

really not much livestock for a tank that's been up for about a year...

my first questions are:

1. At what rate/order should I transfer my livestock? (Ex: Maybe both frags one day, then a few days later the plate coral, then a couple more days for frogspawn?) Or does it really not matter?

2. Sand bed is about 3"-4" deep. Should I save the sandbed or just get new sand and re-seed?

3. My display tank has a 6x39w T5 Teklight. My 10gal has a 70w Sunpod MH. How will the corals deal with the change? Anything I should do to make it easier on them?

Thanks for any help....and I might update with more questions as I do this downgrade. Here's a FTS shot for those who are wondering what I'm downgrading from. It's an old pic from when I first set up so it's nothing too special...

Aurora D. · 05/02/2009, 12:30 PM

1. I would move the fish first because there will be a tiny cycle any time you add fish to a tank, then the corals in no specific order.

2. I would definitely save the sandbed. If you feel you need to reseed just add a cup of an established tanks sand, no need to buy so much uneeded sand.

3. I thought you said it was from a 60 to a 40 gallon?

3.

socalchris · 05/02/2009, 12:35 PM

Yes it's from a 60 to 40...the 40 is being polished/buffed by the acrylic place. The 10gal is going to be a temporary tank until the acrylic is done being buffed.

Aurora D. · 05/02/2009, 03:15 PM

Hmmm.. I can only say you should probably make sure to put the corals at a depth in the 10 gallon tank where you think there is about an equal amount of light as what they were experiencing in the regular tank.

05/02/2009, 12:07 PM	#1
socalchris Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 761	Tank downsizing advice Hi guys, i'm looking for some advice: I'm downgrading from my 60gal glass tank to a 40gal acrylic. I'm doing this because of a leak in my glass tank. My plan was to transfer the few corals I have from my display to a 10gal that I set up about a week ago. My livestock is as follows: 1 Ocellaris Clown 1 Green Digi frag 1 Red Monti frag 1 mushroom rock 1 frogspawn (about 3 heads i think) 1 long tentacle plate coral really not much livestock for a tank that's been up for about a year... my first questions are: 1. At what rate/order should I transfer my livestock? (Ex: Maybe both frags one day, then a few days later the plate coral, then a couple more days for frogspawn?) Or does it really not matter? 2. Sand bed is about 3"-4" deep. Should I save the sandbed or just get new sand and re-seed? 3. My display tank has a 6x39w T5 Teklight. My 10gal has a 70w Sunpod MH. How will the corals deal with the change? Anything I should do to make it easier on them? Thanks for any help....and I might update with more questions as I do this downgrade. Here's a FTS shot for those who are wondering what I'm downgrading from. It's an old pic from when I first set up so it's nothing too special...

05/02/2009, 12:30 PM	#2
Aurora D. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 325	1. I would move the fish first because there will be a tiny cycle any time you add fish to a tank, then the corals in no specific order. 2. I would definitely save the sandbed. If you feel you need to reseed just add a cup of an established tanks sand, no need to buy so much uneeded sand. 3. I thought you said it was from a 60 to a 40 gallon? 3. __________________ Cats, Gardens, and Reefs... OH MY!!

05/02/2009, 03:15 PM	#4
Aurora D. Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 325	Hmmm.. I can only say you should probably make sure to put the corals at a depth in the 10 gallon tank where you think there is about an equal amount of light as what they were experiencing in the regular tank. __________________ Cats, Gardens, and Reefs... OH MY!!

05/02/2009, 12:35 PM	#3
socalchris Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 761	Yes it's from a 60 to 40...the 40 is being polished/buffed by the acrylic place. The 10gal is going to be a temporary tank until the acrylic is done being buffed.