buying a used tank complete set up

MR.paddler · 01/18/2010, 11:24 AM

I am buying a used 34 Solana complete with live rock etc.. I have to move it about an hours drive. Plan on draining all water except enough to keep sand moist. Should I place the liverock in buckets with water from the tank? Then when I get it home, should I place the live rock, then add new water? let it cycle....

Any help would be appreciated

tommyb · 01/18/2010, 11:41 AM

I would try to keep as much of the water as you can and then fill the rest with new water. There shouldn't be much of a cycle if any.

cdbias2 · 01/18/2010, 11:46 AM

That sounds OK but please be careful moving a tank with the sand in it. Smaller tanks seem to do OK with this. When I moved my 125g I tried but ended up having to remove the sand at the last minute.
Use new water and save the old water for transporting livestock/rock and scrubbing down sensitive items.

d2mini · 01/18/2010, 11:49 AM

Being that it was not my tank and I didn't know how well it was taken care of, not sure I would use much of the old water. By moving/disturbing the sand bed it's probably going to at least have a short cycle and need a couple large water changes anyway.

the_rider · 01/18/2010, 11:54 AM

I wouldn't use the old sand, you dont know how well it was kept, if he/she has problem with nitrate and if a lot of detritus was trapped in it... I would use water to transport liverock and keep half of it to transfer in the tank. The other half used for LR transportation may not be usable if there is a lot of detritus release by the rock during transportation.

Then you reaquaspace, 50% new water, put sand, let it cycle if you have a cycle then you are ready to add a CUC, then fishes coral etc

Playa-1 · 01/18/2010, 11:57 AM

I think it all depends on what you're moving. "34 Solana complete with live rock etc.."
If that etc.. includes livestock then you may want to adjust your planning. If there is no livestock involved then your plan sounds just fine to me. Depending on how old the sandbed is, you may want to clean or replace it. I would plan to keep the liverock submerged in water and make an effort to maintain temp and water movement during the move if possible.

davenia7 · 01/18/2010, 01:25 PM

And FYI, I'm jealous. I soooo want a Solana.

ebruce01 · 01/18/2010, 01:28 PM

How do you clean sand if you dont mind me asking?

Playa-1 · 01/18/2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebruce01

How do you clean sand if you dont mind me asking?

It takes a case of beer, a couple of clean 5 gallon buckets and a water hose on the back patio.

01/18/2010, 11:24 AM	#1
MR.paddler Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Georgia Posts: 37	buying a used tank complete set up I am buying a used 34 Solana complete with live rock etc.. I have to move it about an hours drive. Plan on draining all water except enough to keep sand moist. Should I place the liverock in buckets with water from the tank? Then when I get it home, should I place the live rock, then add new water? let it cycle.... Any help would be appreciated

01/18/2010, 11:49 AM	#4
d2mini Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 10,344	Being that it was not my tank and I didn't know how well it was taken care of, not sure I would use much of the old water. By moving/disturbing the sand bed it's probably going to at least have a short cycle and need a couple large water changes anyway. __________________ -dennis Elos Diamond 120xl \| Elos Stand \| Radion G4 Pros \| GHL Profilux Controller \| LifeReef Skimmer \| LifeReef Sump Photos taken with a Nikon D750 or Leica M.

01/18/2010, 11:54 AM	#5
the_rider Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Montreal Posts: 449	I wouldn't use the old sand, you dont know how well it was kept, if he/she has problem with nitrate and if a lot of detritus was trapped in it... I would use water to transport liverock and keep half of it to transfer in the tank. The other half used for LR transportation may not be usable if there is a lot of detritus release by the rock during transportation. Then you reaquaspace, 50% new water, put sand, let it cycle if you have a cycle then you are ready to add a CUC, then fishes coral etc __________________ DT (The Zen Garden): Miracles Custom Rimless 155G (60x30x20) Marinetech Sump full equip 80G Marinetech 3200 GPH Deltec SC2560 Tunze 2x6105, 2x6055 2xKoralia 4 (In sump) Profilux III ATI Sunpower 6x54W + BLAU 6x54W FRAG : Miracles Custom Rimless (24x24x12) Illumagic M-60S Koralia 4 Live: Fish :One Spot Foxface, CBB, Trio of Royal Gramma, Borbonius Anthias, Multicolor Angel, Multifasciatus Angel, Semi-Picasso Pair

01/18/2010, 01:25 PM	#7
davenia7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Goose Creek, SC Posts: 238	And FYI, I'm jealous. I soooo want a Solana. __________________ 5 gal. salt nano 20L salt nano 55 gal. malawi cichlid community

01/18/2010, 01:28 PM	#8
ebruce01 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Raleigh NC Posts: 96	How do you clean sand if you dont mind me asking? __________________ Tank: 40Breeder

01/18/2010, 11:41 AM	#2
tommyb Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Commerce Twp, MI Posts: 66	I would try to keep as much of the water as you can and then fill the rest with new water. There shouldn't be much of a cycle if any.

01/18/2010, 11:46 AM	#3
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	That sounds OK but please be careful moving a tank with the sand in it. Smaller tanks seem to do OK with this. When I moved my 125g I tried but ended up having to remove the sand at the last minute. Use new water and save the old water for transporting livestock/rock and scrubbing down sensitive items.

01/18/2010, 11:57 AM	#6
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I think it all depends on what you're moving. "34 Solana complete with live rock etc.." If that etc.. includes livestock then you may want to adjust your planning. If there is no livestock involved then your plan sounds just fine to me. Depending on how old the sandbed is, you may want to clean or replace it. I would plan to keep the liverock submerged in water and make an effort to maintain temp and water movement during the move if possible.