Best temporary housing method?

Rue · 12/09/2007, 01:35 PM

I think I'm going to have to redecorate my tank shortly - early in the New Year perhaps...I need to move the rockwork around to max. space...

If I get a plastic tub...mix fresh SW for it...put in the heater etc., will that do for a day or so while I muck with everything? Or is there a better way to do it...I want to min. stress on my critters...

yellowwatchmen · 12/09/2007, 01:36 PM

I would not use new saltwater use water form your tank. Yes put a heater and some powerheads in there and it should be fine.

Rue · 12/09/2007, 01:38 PM

Thanks! I forgot totally about powerheads!

This is why I ask all you pros first...before I go ahead and do something I'll regret later!

Snowboarda42 · 12/09/2007, 01:49 PM

make sure you don't point the powerheads at anything directly. Better to "bounce" the streams off of a wall or the bottom of the bin.

If you can, try to make ~20x turnover per hour of the bin you're keeping them in. So if you're keeping them in a 20G bin, go for 400gph at least.

mcrist · 12/10/2007, 02:35 PM

Depending on how much rock youâ€™re talking about but I use kiddy pools to place my rock in so I can see what I have. It does take up a lot of space but it sure is nice to see what pieces you have while you build your structure.

Rue · 12/11/2007, 08:58 PM

Thanks! I have an old heavy-duty plastic livestock water bowl thingy (quite large) that isn't useful for watering livestock (too shallow)...I think if I scrub that out, it will do nicely...

I'm actually scared to do this! So I'll be procrastinating as long as possible...but I'll start putting all the equipment I need together...

mcrist · 12/12/2007, 07:17 AM

It's not that bad to reaquascape a tank. I agree it can be a pain but how much rock are we talking about? I find it easier if you have someone helping that can just stand back at watch and say whether or not it looks good.

Rosseau · 12/12/2007, 08:12 AM

If I were you I would just want to make sure that the container is nice and clean before you put anything in it. That would be my only concern.

If you want to avoid the potential of a cycle I would try not to stir up the sand bed too much during the move.

stingythingy45 · 12/12/2007, 08:35 AM

If you're talking less that an hour in a bin than you don't need any PH or even a heater.Just fill that plastic bin with your tank water down to the sand bed and remove the rock/corals whatever to it.As long as you're not working in a cold basement things will be fine.
I just did this with about 60lbs of LR cover in corals and had no problems at all.I don't think you'll have a cycle.
But you might have a cyano bloom for a week.
Go for it and stop procrastinating!

Toddrtrex · 12/12/2007, 10:18 AM

When I re-did my 58, I keep my fish ( and SPS and an LTA ) in rubber maid bins for 2 days. Just had a heater and powerhead in each. I used the old rock and the water from the tank. Everything came out of the ordeal fine.

Here is the mess.

mcrist · 12/12/2007, 10:21 AM

I don't think I have ever seen a powerhead so cruded up...

Toddrtrex · 12/12/2007, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcrist
I don't think I have ever seen a powerhead so cruded up...

LOL Yea there was a reason for redoing the tank --- after a knee surgery and then screwing up my back, the tank was very neglected.

Rue · 12/12/2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stingythingy45
...As long as you're not working in a cold basement things will be fine...

LOL...I'm in a very cold basement (figured it was cheaper and easier to heat a tank in the winter than chill a tank in the summer)...although I can crank up some space heaters for when I redecorate the tank...my unheated goldfish tank is holding steady at 60 F...

BTW...not a lot of rock...only some 30 lbs...

You were all making feel better and more confident...until I sawToddrtrex's powerhead...now I'm scared all over again...

Toddrtrex · 12/12/2007, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rue

You were all making feel better and more confident...until I sawToddrtrex's powerhead...now I'm scared all over again...

Wow, that was a low blow.

But funny.

Mind you, I was planning the re-do for over a month, so cleaning the powerheads took the back burner.

And take a look at the powerheads now, punk.

Rue · 12/13/2007, 08:49 AM

...very nice! Now you're good to go again for a long time! Well, at least in SW 'time'...

12/09/2007, 01:35 PM	#1
Rue Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 938	Best temporary housing method? I think I'm going to have to redecorate my tank shortly - early in the New Year perhaps...I need to move the rockwork around to max. space... If I get a plastic tub...mix fresh SW for it...put in the heater etc., will that do for a day or so while I muck with everything? Or is there a better way to do it...I want to min. stress on my critters... __________________ Authorized Pistol Shrimp/Goby Matchmaker... Current Tank Info: RSM 34g; 27g custom frag tank coming soon! FW: 25g community, 55g goldfish, 25l plakat

12/09/2007, 01:38 PM	#3
Rue Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 938	Thanks! I forgot totally about powerheads! This is why I ask all you pros first...before I go ahead and do something I'll regret later! __________________ Authorized Pistol Shrimp/Goby Matchmaker... Current Tank Info: RSM 34g; 27g custom frag tank coming soon! FW: 25g community, 55g goldfish, 25l plakat

12/09/2007, 01:49 PM	#4
Snowboarda42 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Warshington Posts: 1,094	make sure you don't point the powerheads at anything directly. Better to "bounce" the streams off of a wall or the bottom of the bin. If you can, try to make ~20x turnover per hour of the bin you're keeping them in. So if you're keeping them in a 20G bin, go for 400gph at least. __________________ 40B Mixed Reef 100% Captive Grown Corals See, that's the trouble with the world today. Not enough danger to kill off stupid people before they get old enough to breed. Bring back lawn darts! -PrivateJoker64 Current Tank Info: 40B, 20L Sump/Fuge, Mag 9.5 Return, 2x Hydor Koralia #2's, 150W 14K HQI, 139W T-5, Euro-Reef RS-80P Mesh Modded, 40LB LR, 80LB LS, 54x Turnover, Mostly SPS, Some Softys Too.

12/10/2007, 02:35 PM	#5
mcrist Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,598	Depending on how much rock youâ€™re talking about but I use kiddy pools to place my rock in so I can see what I have. It does take up a lot of space but it sure is nice to see what pieces you have while you build your structure. __________________ Mark Current Tank Info: 450 Gallon Peninsula

12/11/2007, 08:58 PM	#6
Rue Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 938	Thanks! I have an old heavy-duty plastic livestock water bowl thingy (quite large) that isn't useful for watering livestock (too shallow)...I think if I scrub that out, it will do nicely... I'm actually scared to do this! So I'll be procrastinating as long as possible...but I'll start putting all the equipment I need together... __________________ Authorized Pistol Shrimp/Goby Matchmaker... Current Tank Info: RSM 34g; 27g custom frag tank coming soon! FW: 25g community, 55g goldfish, 25l plakat

12/09/2007, 01:36 PM	#2
yellowwatchmen Moved On Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bellevue,NE Posts: 1,058	I would not use new saltwater use water form your tank. Yes put a heater and some powerheads in there and it should be fine.

12/12/2007, 07:17 AM	#7
mcrist Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,598	It's not that bad to reaquascape a tank. I agree it can be a pain but how much rock are we talking about? I find it easier if you have someone helping that can just stand back at watch and say whether or not it looks good. __________________ Mark Current Tank Info: 450 Gallon Peninsula

12/12/2007, 08:12 AM	#8
Rosseau Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 2,049	If I were you I would just want to make sure that the container is nice and clean before you put anything in it. That would be my only concern. If you want to avoid the potential of a cycle I would try not to stir up the sand bed too much during the move. __________________ Still fighting entropy.

12/12/2007, 08:35 AM	#9
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	If you're talking less that an hour in a bin than you don't need any PH or even a heater.Just fill that plastic bin with your tank water down to the sand bed and remove the rock/corals whatever to it.As long as you're not working in a cold basement things will be fine. I just did this with about 60lbs of LR cover in corals and had no problems at all.I don't think you'll have a cycle. But you might have a cyano bloom for a week. Go for it and stop procrastinating! __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

12/12/2007, 10:18 AM	#10
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	When I re-did my 58, I keep my fish ( and SPS and an LTA ) in rubber maid bins for 2 days. Just had a heater and powerhead in each. I used the old rock and the water from the tank. Everything came out of the ordeal fine. Here is the mess. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/12/2007, 10:21 AM	#11
mcrist Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,598	I don't think I have ever seen a powerhead so cruded up... __________________ Mark Current Tank Info: 450 Gallon Peninsula

12/13/2007, 08:49 AM	#15
Rue Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 938	...very nice! Now you're good to go again for a long time! Well, at least in SW 'time'... __________________ Authorized Pistol Shrimp/Goby Matchmaker... Current Tank Info: RSM 34g; 27g custom frag tank coming soon! FW: 25g community, 55g goldfish, 25l plakat