Need advice quickly

mitsurs01 · 12/26/2009, 11:46 AM

I have been planning a 125 upgrade by combining a 45 reef and 75 fowlr. During some routine maintenence this morning, I have found a small leak on the 75 in one of the corners so this dramatically speed up the transfer plans. I have the following livestock:
2 false perc clowns- one 3 inches one 1.5 inch
Bursa Trigger- 2.5 inches
Blue Spot Puffer-2.5 inches
snowflake Eel- 5 inches
Regal Blue Tang- 2.5 inches
Yellow Tang 3.5 inches
Neon Psuedo- 3 inches
6 line wrasse 1.5 inches
a clean up crew of several Astrenia snails, turbos, red legged hermits, and a tonga nassarius snail
It is almost in emergerncy status that I get these tanks down now and the new 125 set up. I will be using a new sand bed of around 2 inches, I have a total of around 120 lbs or so of very well established live rock- both tanks over a year old, and using as much of the old water as possible. I do understand that the trigger and puffer are not reef safe, but there will be several corals that will be transferred over as well. I also have two skimmer to go the new tank till I get time to plumb it for a sump. Should I be okay doing this all and transferring all of the critters immediately, or should I expect the worst in regards to the fish since there obviously will be no established sandbed. Thank you for any replies as I am totally nervous about all this.

Reefugee · 12/26/2009, 12:03 PM

You should be fine. You may have a mini cycle during the transfer. Just keep a watch on your water parameter. Have some water ready to do a water change if needed. Make sure your water is heated to the proper temperature. In general though - you should be fine.

Also - do you have a local saltwater club in your area? If you do, you might want to post to that club's forum to get some assistance. I know the people in our local club are always bending over backward to help each other (including new people).

Goof luck!

Reefugee · 12/26/2009, 12:07 PM

Oh - if you could use a combination of old and new water , I think it might be better. First - drain out as much of the old water as possible. Have some of the water in a separate container you can use to rinse your rocks. You will discard the water used to rinse the rock. Then remove your rock. Rinse out your rock with some of the old water. Do not use any water that is left over in the tank because it will contain a lot of detritus from you moving the rock.

gtaylor67 · 12/26/2009, 12:23 PM

I you have the means you could move your 75 into a storage bin and delay the move still,till you are ready for it. Just run to the hardware store and get a 75-100 gallon tote and use till you are ready for the move.. This will give you some time to plan new tank and finish pluming for sump and what ever else you need.... Fish do not need glass only you do... LOL Best of luck

mitsurs01 · 12/26/2009, 01:04 PM

space is my other major restraint. This 125 will go inplace of the other two

ecupcar · 12/26/2009, 01:40 PM

Careful with a rubbermaid type tote, i had one crack and leak all over the floor. if you can swing it, get a water trough from farm and fleet or another of the farm supply stores. they are made to hold water and make a great sump when you are done...

garzaci · 12/26/2009, 01:50 PM

Good luck with your move. You shpould be fine and not have to big of a cycle if any

gdsmith56 · 12/26/2009, 01:59 PM

I agree that the live rock you are transferring will aid in the curing of the tank and there MAY be a mini-spike that you should watch out for. However, the trigger and puffer may actually be your bigger concern. You need to find ways to protect your corals (some type of plexiglas or reef-safe metal "cage" placed over them) or you may find that they have been stripped clean by their appetite.

csdavis · 12/26/2009, 02:00 PM

I agree with the other post about using some of your existing water, that would minimize the cycle time and should have you up and running. I would definitely recommend that you use something to hold some of the critters until you get your tank up.

mitsurs01 · 12/26/2009, 04:50 PM

so If I have a 55 gal rubermaid tote to keep the fishes in for the time being- How long would my above listed Bioload be ok in this tote without filtration, only a powerhead and heater?

AzCondor · 12/26/2009, 04:56 PM

not long I would just do water changes on it to be safe

12/26/2009, 11:46 AM	#1
mitsurs01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 306	Need advice quickly I have been planning a 125 upgrade by combining a 45 reef and 75 fowlr. During some routine maintenence this morning, I have found a small leak on the 75 in one of the corners so this dramatically speed up the transfer plans. I have the following livestock: 2 false perc clowns- one 3 inches one 1.5 inch Bursa Trigger- 2.5 inches Blue Spot Puffer-2.5 inches snowflake Eel- 5 inches Regal Blue Tang- 2.5 inches Yellow Tang 3.5 inches Neon Psuedo- 3 inches 6 line wrasse 1.5 inches a clean up crew of several Astrenia snails, turbos, red legged hermits, and a tonga nassarius snail It is almost in emergerncy status that I get these tanks down now and the new 125 set up. I will be using a new sand bed of around 2 inches, I have a total of around 120 lbs or so of very well established live rock- both tanks over a year old, and using as much of the old water as possible. I do understand that the trigger and puffer are not reef safe, but there will be several corals that will be transferred over as well. I also have two skimmer to go the new tank till I get time to plumb it for a sump. Should I be okay doing this all and transferring all of the critters immediately, or should I expect the worst in regards to the fish since there obviously will be no established sandbed. Thank you for any replies as I am totally nervous about all this.

12/26/2009, 01:50 PM	#7
garzaci Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Richlands, NC Posts: 241	Good luck with your move. You shpould be fine and not have to big of a cycle if any __________________ Carlos No tank at all. Sold everything when I got stationed in Okinawa. Planning for when I return though. Current Tank Info: 20 gal reef tank

12/26/2009, 01:59 PM	#8
gdsmith56 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 122	Fishies I agree that the live rock you are transferring will aid in the curing of the tank and there MAY be a mini-spike that you should watch out for. However, the trigger and puffer may actually be your bigger concern. You need to find ways to protect your corals (some type of plexiglas or reef-safe metal "cage" placed over them) or you may find that they have been stripped clean by their appetite.

12/26/2009, 02:00 PM	#9
csdavis Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 54	I agree with the other post about using some of your existing water, that would minimize the cycle time and should have you up and running. I would definitely recommend that you use something to hold some of the critters until you get your tank up. __________________ 55 gallon DT with 30 gallon sump, 2x175 watt metal halides + 2x110 watt VHO actinics, [[Been dosing vodka for years, maybe I will start putting it into my tank :).]]

12/26/2009, 04:56 PM	#11
AzCondor Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 72	not long I would just do water changes on it to be safe __________________ Vegetarian-A bad hunter. Someone who survives by consuming not food, but the stuff that food eats. The vegetarian was forced to subsist on slower prey, such as the broccoli and carrot.

12/26/2009, 12:03 PM	#2
Reefugee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 6,105	You should be fine. You may have a mini cycle during the transfer. Just keep a watch on your water parameter. Have some water ready to do a water change if needed. Make sure your water is heated to the proper temperature. In general though - you should be fine. Also - do you have a local saltwater club in your area? If you do, you might want to post to that club's forum to get some assistance. I know the people in our local club are always bending over backward to help each other (including new people). Goof luck!

12/26/2009, 12:07 PM	#3
Reefugee Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 6,105	Oh - if you could use a combination of old and new water , I think it might be better. First - drain out as much of the old water as possible. Have some of the water in a separate container you can use to rinse your rocks. You will discard the water used to rinse the rock. Then remove your rock. Rinse out your rock with some of the old water. Do not use any water that is left over in the tank because it will contain a lot of detritus from you moving the rock.

12/26/2009, 12:23 PM	#4
gtaylor67 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 151	I you have the means you could move your 75 into a storage bin and delay the move still,till you are ready for it. Just run to the hardware store and get a 75-100 gallon tote and use till you are ready for the move.. This will give you some time to plan new tank and finish pluming for sump and what ever else you need.... Fish do not need glass only you do... LOL Best of luck

12/26/2009, 01:04 PM	#5
mitsurs01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 306	space is my other major restraint. This 125 will go inplace of the other two

12/26/2009, 01:40 PM	#6
ecupcar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New Lenox, Il Posts: 174	Careful with a rubbermaid type tote, i had one crack and leak all over the floor. if you can swing it, get a water trough from farm and fleet or another of the farm supply stores. they are made to hold water and make a great sump when you are done...

12/26/2009, 04:50 PM	#10
mitsurs01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: illinois Posts: 306	so If I have a 55 gal rubermaid tote to keep the fishes in for the time being- How long would my above listed Bioload be ok in this tote without filtration, only a powerhead and heater?