HELP!!! switching tanks and dont know what to do..

reefrookie5150 · 02/17/2010, 01:22 PM

Ok I am upgrading my 40 breeder to a 72 bowfront..now obviously i am gonna need more water but how do i do this...is this gonna cause a cycle...i dont have anywhere to put my corals and fish..or is it safe to just throw them all in at once....please, any help would be awesome...thanks..

hemi-cuda · 02/17/2010, 04:46 PM

Use ALL the water from your 40 breeder(and sump if you have one) and use ALL the filter material and DO NOT clean a thing from your filters or for that matter do not clean NOTHING! Just move everything and take your time! If your sand is deep(God, I hope not!) be very careful! Good and BAD live in the depth's we can not see! How old and how deep is the sand? VERY IMPORTANT! Be sure to keep the new water at the same temp.(at least within two/three degrees) and salinity as close as you can to the 40 breeder. If you can mix the new water(I'm assuming RO or DI or Both) up at least a day ahead of time and drop in an airstone (for 24hr.s Min.) and a heater(to keep temp.) It's just like getting a 50% water change(I know in emergency's I've done this many times without problems!). Let me know on the tank bottom as this is the turnover that could lose the game for ya! The rest is a can of corn!

lordofthereef · 02/17/2010, 06:13 PM

Treat it as if you were doing a water change. get the parameters to match and just dump it in. I would personally just replace sand be it SSB or DSB.

chuckreef · 02/17/2010, 06:38 PM

A 40 is small. I would relocate the entire contents of the 40 to a rubbermaid tote out of the way and keep everytning there for up to a week or so.
Presuming its goes in the same spot, witht 40 out of the way, slowly set up the new tank correctly and then move and arrange the LR to the 72, followed by the sand the next day, followed by the corals and fish the next few days.

fasteddie99 · 02/17/2010, 07:46 PM

I am getting ready to do the same thing, I am going from a 55 to a 90. My intentions are to cycle the 90 with new sand and 40-50 pounds of extra live rock. Once it cycles I will slowly move things over starting with something like Xenia

Your probably gonna get several different suggestions and most or all would work.

Good luck

reefrookie5150 · 02/17/2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hemi-cuda

Use ALL the water from your 40 breeder(and sump if you have one) and use ALL the filter material and DO NOT clean a thing from your filters or for that matter do not clean NOTHING! Just move everything and take your time! If your sand is deep(God, I hope not!) be very careful! Good and BAD live in the depth's we can not see! How old and how deep is the sand? VERY IMPORTANT! Be sure to keep the new water at the same temp.(at least within two/three degrees) and salinity as close as you can to the 40 breeder. If you can mix the new water(I'm assuming RO or DI or Both) up at least a day ahead of time and drop in an airstone (for 24hr.s Min.) and a heater(to keep temp.) It's just like getting a 50% water change(I know in emergency's I've done this many times without problems!). Let me know on the tank bottom as this is the turnover that could lose the game for ya! The rest is a can of corn!

the sand is probly about close 8 months or so maybe 10..thats howlong i have had it setup...the depth changes all the time because of the diamond goby sifting through all of it..he moves that sand all over the place...but i would say on average it is about 1" deep or so mayb a little more...but it changes so much..

tibob32 · 02/17/2010, 09:10 PM

When I switched from my 28 to my 66 I didn't get a cycle. Rinsed the sand real good in salt water, moved everything over (didn't add anything) and fed a bit less over the following days. Bacteria population is supposed to be able to double daily. With that in mind, don't cause any excess ammonia and you shouldn't have any problem. If you want to be on the safe side, put some LR in the sump to help with filtration

ChuckG · 02/17/2010, 09:16 PM

I don't think most move the sand over.. I'd throw out the sand and the water that is covering. Maybe collect a cup or two of the top half inch of the sand bed and put it into the new tank.

hemi-cuda · 02/17/2010, 09:30 PM

Listen...tibob32 agrees Rinse the sand in a little salt water, sand should smell like sand, maybe the beach in Maine or even like Murrell's Inlet in SC. not like rotten eggs,(Hydrogen Sulfide). The Diamond Goby should keep most of the sand in good shape as long as it's only an inch deep....I've done this many times to systems much larger than yours and we were always VERY consistent on Temp. control when moving everything. I'm assuming the change is in your own house and not across the state. Hopefully the day you decide to do this change over will be a warmer day and if not just turn up the heat in the house to help keep everything consistent in Temp. Ever heard of El Nino? Yup, Temp changes can be a horrible experience! Agreed on the feeding,,,Personally I would not feed for a few days just to be sure everything went o.k. Like I said just move everything filter wise and DO NOT clean a thing. All the bacteria in the filter media will not mind a few hours of interruption, besides bacteria live everywhere there is circulation, over the live rock, filter media, and even on the glass where water moves over it.

reefrookie5150 · 02/18/2010, 11:47 AM

hey i appreciate all the help guys...yeah it will be in my own house...i still have to drill the tank...i dont know what to do or what is better, a closed loop or just drill 2 holes, one for overflow and one for return...any opinions..and yes i will watch the temp really close and wont feed...thanks again...

steelhead77 · 02/18/2010, 12:09 PM

So I've gone from a 72 Bowfront to a 125 and just a month ago, from the 125 to a 180. Both swaps were done in a (very long) day. Each time I've re-used all of my sand plus added new. As long as your sand smells like the ocean and not like sulfer, you'll be ok. I removed all of my rock and placed it into rubbermaid totes along with some tank water. Same with the fish and corals. For a 40 breeder, probably 4 or 5 18 gallon totes should do it. Keep the temp normal for the fish and corals and don't worry about the rock. A couple days before the swap, mix up about 40-50 gallons of new water and let it perculate as normal. When you do the swap, you should be able to re-use most of the existing water, all except when you you get down to the bottom and it gets grungy from the sand. Scoop out all your sand using a new plastic dustpan and put it in a bucket. DO NOT RINSE! As long as it does not stink, it will be ok. Set up your new tank and add back the sand (and add any new if needed). Put your rock back in the new tank along with the old water. Add the new water to the correct level, then add your fish and corals. You may get a small cycle after a week or so, but no biggie. Everything should be fine.

This process has worked twice for me with no major losses of fish or corals. Of course YMMV. Good luck!

L98-Z · 02/18/2010, 12:19 PM

I went from a 180 to a 75 gallon and didn't reuse any old water. I went barebottom, so I didn't reuse the sand either. Only the rocks were reused. I went through a small algae outbreak, but otherwise no issues to any corals or fish.

02/17/2010, 01:22 PM	#1
reefrookie5150 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: omaha NE Posts: 52	HELP!!! switching tanks and dont know what to do.. Ok I am upgrading my 40 breeder to a 72 bowfront..now obviously i am gonna need more water but how do i do this...is this gonna cause a cycle...i dont have anywhere to put my corals and fish..or is it safe to just throw them all in at once....please, any help would be awesome...thanks..

02/17/2010, 06:13 PM	#3
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Treat it as if you were doing a water change. get the parameters to match and just dump it in. I would personally just replace sand be it SSB or DSB. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

02/17/2010, 07:46 PM	#5
fasteddie99 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,028	I am getting ready to do the same thing, I am going from a 55 to a 90. My intentions are to cycle the 90 with new sand and 40-50 pounds of extra live rock. Once it cycles I will slowly move things over starting with something like Xenia Your probably gonna get several different suggestions and most or all would work. Good luck __________________ 125 gal LED lighting Super Reef Octopus XP-3000 SSS Current Tank Info: 125

02/17/2010, 04:46 PM	#2
hemi-cuda Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 52	Use ALL the water from your 40 breeder(and sump if you have one) and use ALL the filter material and DO NOT clean a thing from your filters or for that matter do not clean NOTHING! Just move everything and take your time! If your sand is deep(God, I hope not!) be very careful! Good and BAD live in the depth's we can not see! How old and how deep is the sand? VERY IMPORTANT! Be sure to keep the new water at the same temp.(at least within two/three degrees) and salinity as close as you can to the 40 breeder. If you can mix the new water(I'm assuming RO or DI or Both) up at least a day ahead of time and drop in an airstone (for 24hr.s Min.) and a heater(to keep temp.) It's just like getting a 50% water change(I know in emergency's I've done this many times without problems!). Let me know on the tank bottom as this is the turnover that could lose the game for ya! The rest is a can of corn!

02/17/2010, 06:38 PM	#4
chuckreef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Davis, Ca. Posts: 816	A 40 is small. I would relocate the entire contents of the 40 to a rubbermaid tote out of the way and keep everytning there for up to a week or so. Presuming its goes in the same spot, witht 40 out of the way, slowly set up the new tank correctly and then move and arrange the LR to the 72, followed by the sand the next day, followed by the corals and fish the next few days.

02/17/2010, 09:10 PM	#7
tibob32 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 550	When I switched from my 28 to my 66 I didn't get a cycle. Rinsed the sand real good in salt water, moved everything over (didn't add anything) and fed a bit less over the following days. Bacteria population is supposed to be able to double daily. With that in mind, don't cause any excess ammonia and you shouldn't have any problem. If you want to be on the safe side, put some LR in the sump to help with filtration

02/17/2010, 09:16 PM	#8
ChuckG Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Batavia, Il Posts: 647	I don't think most move the sand over.. I'd throw out the sand and the water that is covering. Maybe collect a cup or two of the top half inch of the sand bed and put it into the new tank.

02/17/2010, 09:30 PM	#9
hemi-cuda Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 52	Listen...tibob32 agrees Rinse the sand in a little salt water, sand should smell like sand, maybe the beach in Maine or even like Murrell's Inlet in SC. not like rotten eggs,(Hydrogen Sulfide). The Diamond Goby should keep most of the sand in good shape as long as it's only an inch deep....I've done this many times to systems much larger than yours and we were always VERY consistent on Temp. control when moving everything. I'm assuming the change is in your own house and not across the state. Hopefully the day you decide to do this change over will be a warmer day and if not just turn up the heat in the house to help keep everything consistent in Temp. Ever heard of El Nino? Yup, Temp changes can be a horrible experience! Agreed on the feeding,,,Personally I would not feed for a few days just to be sure everything went o.k. Like I said just move everything filter wise and DO NOT clean a thing. All the bacteria in the filter media will not mind a few hours of interruption, besides bacteria live everywhere there is circulation, over the live rock, filter media, and even on the glass where water moves over it.

02/18/2010, 11:47 AM	#10
reefrookie5150 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: omaha NE Posts: 52	hey i appreciate all the help guys...yeah it will be in my own house...i still have to drill the tank...i dont know what to do or what is better, a closed loop or just drill 2 holes, one for overflow and one for return...any opinions..and yes i will watch the temp really close and wont feed...thanks again...

02/18/2010, 12:09 PM	#11
steelhead77 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Albany, Oregon Posts: 1,117	So I've gone from a 72 Bowfront to a 125 and just a month ago, from the 125 to a 180. Both swaps were done in a (very long) day. Each time I've re-used all of my sand plus added new. As long as your sand smells like the ocean and not like sulfer, you'll be ok. I removed all of my rock and placed it into rubbermaid totes along with some tank water. Same with the fish and corals. For a 40 breeder, probably 4 or 5 18 gallon totes should do it. Keep the temp normal for the fish and corals and don't worry about the rock. A couple days before the swap, mix up about 40-50 gallons of new water and let it perculate as normal. When you do the swap, you should be able to re-use most of the existing water, all except when you you get down to the bottom and it gets grungy from the sand. Scoop out all your sand using a new plastic dustpan and put it in a bucket. DO NOT RINSE! As long as it does not stink, it will be ok. Set up your new tank and add back the sand (and add any new if needed). Put your rock back in the new tank along with the old water. Add the new water to the correct level, then add your fish and corals. You may get a small cycle after a week or so, but no biggie. Everything should be fine. This process has worked twice for me with no major losses of fish or corals. Of course YMMV. Good luck!

02/18/2010, 12:19 PM	#12
L98-Z Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Warner Robins, Georgia Posts: 1,230	I went from a 180 to a 75 gallon and didn't reuse any old water. I went barebottom, so I didn't reuse the sand either. Only the rocks were reused. I went through a small algae outbreak, but otherwise no issues to any corals or fish.