from a 90 to a 150

baldomero · 02/05/2008, 12:06 PM

im planning on upgrating from my 90 to a 150. question is how do i go about it, can i put my sand and live rock directly in the 150 and make a fresh batch of water to finish filling up the tank switch my skimmer and wet dry and fish all in one day(making sure the water parameters are the same)no corals just fish and live rock.

kzickovich · 02/05/2008, 12:23 PM

YES,

kzickovich · 02/05/2008, 12:25 PM

You'll most likly need more sand and rock. I'm sure you know that.

Shooter7 · 02/05/2008, 12:36 PM

Personally, I would do it like I did my 26g to 120g move. Set up the new tank with new sand (don't use old sand unless you're going to rinse it VERY thoroughly) and a cup or so of your current sand to seed it. Fill with water and make sure everything is running properly. Add the new rock. If you are adding a lot of new rock that isn't cured, you're going to get a cycle and you don't want your tank inhabitants going through that. In my case, I added some base rock and some very well established live rock I bought locally, thus no cycle. After testing to make sure parameters were all where they were supposed to be, I transferred my rock, corals, and fish to the new big tank. I did not add transfer any of my old tank's water (btw, you need to siphon off some of your new water until you see how much your rock is going to displace, then replace as needed). I did not add any new fish for several weeks as I allowed the tank to settle and go through some of the new tank issues that are typical (diatoms on the new sand, a little algae here and there, as well as a little cyano). Then, when I started to add more livestock, I did it very slowly, one fish at a time after going through a very thorough QT time. It worked great. Had no losses from the move and no cycle.

mg426 · 02/05/2008, 12:46 PM

I am not a big fan of reusing old sand. I just used a cupfull of the old stuff to seed the new.

baldomero · 02/05/2008, 12:48 PM

im planning on adding cured live rock and maybe 2 bags of live sand my 90 has 4 inches of sand plus my tanks only been up 6 months my sand should still be good,right

ReefGirlSara · 02/05/2008, 01:18 PM

I don't see why re-using the sand, especially only 6 month old sand, would be a problem. If it was really dirty it would stir up a lot of stuff in the water column, but if you take all the water out and put the water in a holding container(s) then move the sand from one fairly dry tank to the new dry tank, the stir-up should be minimal.

Shooter7 · 02/05/2008, 01:31 PM

As reefgirl mentioned, you are "probably ok" with reusing your current sand, however, I think it would complicate the move more. I would not want to have my fish or corals in the tank while I'm scooping the sand out. Nor would I want all of them in the new tank full of water while I dumped used sand into it. Requirement of an additional holding area for fish and corals while this swap is taking place. After moving the old sand, I'd want the new tank to run for several days with a skimmer to try and pull out any stirred up gunk. I'd also make sure that the rock was all getting any settled detritus on it blown off too. Digging up used sand can release a lot of nasties.

baldomero · 02/05/2008, 09:13 PM

very true im gonna make sure the fish are the last thing i put in the tank thanks guys

baldomero · 02/06/2008, 09:42 AM

can i drain the tank until theres just enough water to stir the sand and dump that bit of dirty water ?

02/05/2008, 12:06 PM	#1
baldomero Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: aguada,puerto rico Posts: 902	from a 90 to a 150 im planning on upgrating from my 90 to a 150. question is how do i go about it, can i put my sand and live rock directly in the 150 and make a fresh batch of water to finish filling up the tank switch my skimmer and wet dry and fish all in one day(making sure the water parameters are the same)no corals just fish and live rock.

02/05/2008, 12:23 PM	#2
kzickovich Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zion Il Posts: 959	YES, __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 Gal mixed reef 55 Gallon basement pump up Sump 25 Gal fuge 2 Mp40 DIY led light fixture Bubble King Mini 200 Gen2 skimmer BRS Duel reactor

02/05/2008, 12:25 PM	#3
kzickovich Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Zion Il Posts: 959	You'll most likly need more sand and rock. I'm sure you know that. __________________ Ken Current Tank Info: 90 Gal mixed reef 55 Gallon basement pump up Sump 25 Gal fuge 2 Mp40 DIY led light fixture Bubble King Mini 200 Gen2 skimmer BRS Duel reactor

02/05/2008, 12:36 PM	#4
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	Personally, I would do it like I did my 26g to 120g move. Set up the new tank with new sand (don't use old sand unless you're going to rinse it VERY thoroughly) and a cup or so of your current sand to seed it. Fill with water and make sure everything is running properly. Add the new rock. If you are adding a lot of new rock that isn't cured, you're going to get a cycle and you don't want your tank inhabitants going through that. In my case, I added some base rock and some very well established live rock I bought locally, thus no cycle. After testing to make sure parameters were all where they were supposed to be, I transferred my rock, corals, and fish to the new big tank. I did not add transfer any of my old tank's water (btw, you need to siphon off some of your new water until you see how much your rock is going to displace, then replace as needed). I did not add any new fish for several weeks as I allowed the tank to settle and go through some of the new tank issues that are typical (diatoms on the new sand, a little algae here and there, as well as a little cyano). Then, when I started to add more livestock, I did it very slowly, one fish at a time after going through a very thorough QT time. It worked great. Had no losses from the move and no cycle. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

02/05/2008, 12:46 PM	#5
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I am not a big fan of reusing old sand. I just used a cupfull of the old stuff to seed the new. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

02/05/2008, 12:48 PM	#6
baldomero Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: aguada,puerto rico Posts: 902	im planning on adding cured live rock and maybe 2 bags of live sand my 90 has 4 inches of sand plus my tanks only been up 6 months my sand should still be good,right

02/05/2008, 01:18 PM	#7
ReefGirlSara Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Archer, FL Posts: 709	I don't see why re-using the sand, especially only 6 month old sand, would be a problem. If it was really dirty it would stir up a lot of stuff in the water column, but if you take all the water out and put the water in a holding container(s) then move the sand from one fairly dry tank to the new dry tank, the stir-up should be minimal.

02/05/2008, 01:31 PM	#8
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	As reefgirl mentioned, you are "probably ok" with reusing your current sand, however, I think it would complicate the move more. I would not want to have my fish or corals in the tank while I'm scooping the sand out. Nor would I want all of them in the new tank full of water while I dumped used sand into it. Requirement of an additional holding area for fish and corals while this swap is taking place. After moving the old sand, I'd want the new tank to run for several days with a skimmer to try and pull out any stirred up gunk. I'd also make sure that the rock was all getting any settled detritus on it blown off too. Digging up used sand can release a lot of nasties. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

02/05/2008, 09:13 PM	#9
baldomero Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: aguada,puerto rico Posts: 902	very true im gonna make sure the fish are the last thing i put in the tank thanks guys

02/06/2008, 09:42 AM	#10
baldomero Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: aguada,puerto rico Posts: 902	can i drain the tank until theres just enough water to stir the sand and dump that bit of dirty water ?