Upgrading tank HELP!

Mockmo · 10/23/2011, 07:52 PM

hey, i have had my 55 gallon tank for a little over 6 months npw with no issues and its getting a little tight in there so i was thinking about upgrading to a 75 gal oceanic drilled tank that has a sump, i found on locally that was used for a freshwater cichlid tank, and hill let it go for 240 with tank 30 gallon sump and stand.

My question is if i was to do this and move all of my old coral and fish and rock to the new tank what would be the best way, and keep in mind id be needing about 40 - 50 gallons of new water.

Should i use some water from one of my friends tank when he does a water change? more sand? snail and crabs? can i use all my old water and add the fish and coral in the same night? Any information would help, im just a little worried that if i do the switch i might end up killing everything.

Thanks in advance.

furfeet26 · 10/23/2011, 11:16 PM

the best way, in my opinion, is to use as much of your old water as you can. and use all the rock that was in your old tank. I moved my 50 gallon into a 70 gallon like this with no problem, i just filled the rest with new water.

jon99 · 10/24/2011, 08:32 PM

Once you have the new tank and sump plumbed and ready to go, use all of your old water and put it in the new tank and transfer your fish and coral immediately. The water level will be a little low, but I wouldn't worry about that yet. Make sure you have a powehead or something for flow and a heater atleast temporarily in the new tank, you can move it to the sump later. Next fill your sump with new water (pre-made). Turn on the return pump but dial it back so it VERY slowly pumps the new water from your sump into the new tank. This will be sort of like a drip acclimation where you very slowly add the new water to the old and allow it to mix and not to shock your coral and fish. As water level in the sump drops add more pre-made saltwater. Soon enough the new tank will fill and begin to overflow into the sump and the old water will mix with the new. Just keep the pump dialed way back so that this process happens slowly, even over the course of a couple days. No sense in rushing things.

10/23/2011, 07:52 PM	#1
Mockmo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 80	Upgrading tank HELP! hey, i have had my 55 gallon tank for a little over 6 months npw with no issues and its getting a little tight in there so i was thinking about upgrading to a 75 gal oceanic drilled tank that has a sump, i found on locally that was used for a freshwater cichlid tank, and hill let it go for 240 with tank 30 gallon sump and stand. My question is if i was to do this and move all of my old coral and fish and rock to the new tank what would be the best way, and keep in mind id be needing about 40 - 50 gallons of new water. Should i use some water from one of my friends tank when he does a water change? more sand? snail and crabs? can i use all my old water and add the fish and coral in the same night? Any information would help, im just a little worried that if i do the switch i might end up killing everything. Thanks in advance.

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10/23/2011, 11:16 PM	#2
furfeet26 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: West Covina, CA Posts: 50	the best way, in my opinion, is to use as much of your old water as you can. and use all the rock that was in your old tank. I moved my 50 gallon into a 70 gallon like this with no problem, i just filled the rest with new water.

10/24/2011, 08:32 PM	#3
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	Once you have the new tank and sump plumbed and ready to go, use all of your old water and put it in the new tank and transfer your fish and coral immediately. The water level will be a little low, but I wouldn't worry about that yet. Make sure you have a powehead or something for flow and a heater atleast temporarily in the new tank, you can move it to the sump later. Next fill your sump with new water (pre-made). Turn on the return pump but dial it back so it VERY slowly pumps the new water from your sump into the new tank. This will be sort of like a drip acclimation where you very slowly add the new water to the old and allow it to mix and not to shock your coral and fish. As water level in the sump drops add more pre-made saltwater. Soon enough the new tank will fill and begin to overflow into the sump and the old water will mix with the new. Just keep the pump dialed way back so that this process happens slowly, even over the course of a couple days. No sense in rushing things.