Merging a 38 and 120 into a 150

phoenix3717 · 05/13/2009, 12:04 AM

Hello All,

I'm looking for some advice on how to merge two separate tanks into one single 150. I have a 38 up and running and a 120 up and running in two separate locations. I need to move the 120 by this Friday and the 38 by next week. Is there a way I can reuse everything in the two tanks? I was hoping to use the live sand in both tanks to seed the 150 but am concerned about kicking up all the waste in the sand. Will I be OK doing so? Would it be OK to use the sand and then add a new layer of new live sand over the top? Like I said, I'm looking for advice/suggestions on how to make this move.

The plan is to basically move all my livestock into holding buckets, save as much water as possible from the 120, move the sand from both tanks over, add the live rock and livestock, refill, and hope for the best. I know there are some issues with this but don't know a better way. Anybody out there have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks in Advance!

Tangweed · 05/13/2009, 07:00 AM

I would get new sand and use as much water from the 120. Mix new salt water for the difference... almost like doing a water change. That's how I would do it.

jenglish · 05/13/2009, 08:26 AM

I might use a few handfulls of the old sand to get some critters, but I would use mostly new sand

BigCountryEsq · 05/13/2009, 11:02 AM

You could re use ur sand, but it would need to be completely cleaned.

Seed this newly cleaned sand with a couple cup fulls of your original sand.

nikon187 · 05/13/2009, 11:22 AM

Agree with what others have said. New sand with a handful or 2 of your old sand to seed

phoenix3717 · 05/13/2009, 11:52 AM

thanks for the info....looks like I'll be picking up a lot of sand today...anybody know any great deals out there?

05/13/2009, 12:04 AM	#1
phoenix3717 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 45	Merging a 38 and 120 into a 150 Hello All, I'm looking for some advice on how to merge two separate tanks into one single 150. I have a 38 up and running and a 120 up and running in two separate locations. I need to move the 120 by this Friday and the 38 by next week. Is there a way I can reuse everything in the two tanks? I was hoping to use the live sand in both tanks to seed the 150 but am concerned about kicking up all the waste in the sand. Will I be OK doing so? Would it be OK to use the sand and then add a new layer of new live sand over the top? Like I said, I'm looking for advice/suggestions on how to make this move. The plan is to basically move all my livestock into holding buckets, save as much water as possible from the 120, move the sand from both tanks over, add the live rock and livestock, refill, and hope for the best. I know there are some issues with this but don't know a better way. Anybody out there have any advice or suggestions? Thanks in Advance!

05/13/2009, 07:00 AM	#2
Tangweed Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mohnton, PA Posts: 1,002	I would get new sand and use as much water from the 120. Mix new salt water for the difference... almost like doing a water change. That's how I would do it. __________________ Thanks! Jeremy Current Tank Info: 90 gal with 40 gal breeder sump / fuge, Octo skimmer, lights and some water.

05/13/2009, 08:26 AM	#3
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	I might use a few handfulls of the old sand to get some critters, but I would use mostly new sand __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

05/13/2009, 11:22 AM	#5
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	Agree with what others have said. New sand with a handful or 2 of your old sand to seed __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

05/13/2009, 11:02 AM	#4
BigCountryEsq Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Merritt Island, Florida Posts: 42	You could re use ur sand, but it would need to be completely cleaned. Seed this newly cleaned sand with a couple cup fulls of your original sand.

05/13/2009, 11:52 AM	#6
phoenix3717 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 45	thanks for the info....looks like I'll be picking up a lot of sand today...anybody know any great deals out there?