moving a 180 gallon 3 hour drive. cycling question

billyboy69 · 12/04/2013, 09:40 AM

Im picking up my tank in two weeks my plans for it is to turn it into an SPS reef so there is going to be a few upgrades to made but for now I'm going to leave it running the way it is. my question is if i save most of the tank water and for now leave the wet-dry hooked up is it going to cycle ??? will it be safe to add the emperor and the yellow tang?

tektite · 12/04/2013, 09:47 AM

Saving the water won't be what keeps a cycle from happening as it doesn't have much bacteria. Transport the live rock submerged in water and keep it at tank temp, then you shouldn't have much of a cycle. Be VERY careful with the sand, do not re-use it. When you are removing livestock and live rock from the tank, do your best to not disturb it. Once you do disturb it, like when removing the rocks that are in the sand, do not keep any of the water remaining in the tank. Rinse the sand out very well before putting it back in the tank or replace it with new sand.

foundnemo11 · 12/04/2013, 09:48 AM

I actually moved my tank last month. 75 gallon

I ran into a few problems luckily I was in town..

My advice is to save water and make a lot more ? For some reason I was missing about 20 gallons out of thin air

Also don't rush.. I did not get my overflow box on as tight as I needed and it leaked a little when filling back up. ( so I had to drain it down to tighten back up.

I had a shallow sand bed about an inch thick. I didn't clean it although I should have as most say but I was fine. My nitrates went from 0 - 20 after the move but they are back down after a couple waterchanges.

If you have a deep sand bed I'd replace it. Unless it's fairly new. Mine was a little over a year.

It sucks good luck make sure to write a plan and double check it and make sure you have enough help . Whatever time u plan it will take ..double it

spider1218 · 12/04/2013, 10:16 AM

Dido I move a tank 1200 miles once and lost very little keep rock wet and you should have no problems

billyboy69 · 12/04/2013, 10:23 AM

i live in Ontario Canada so freezing is something Ill really need to think about. I'm renting a U-Hall. was thinking about using Rubbermaid's or garbage cans for the rock and water

tektite · 12/04/2013, 10:47 AM

If the rock won't be kept at tank temp but in the cold for 3 hours, you can expect a pretty strong cycle after setting the tank back up unfortunately.

billyboy69 · 12/04/2013, 11:01 AM

Im thinking my girlfriends going to have to drive up with the SUV and bring the rock and the fish back ...was just save trying a little money on gas, now we gotta drive two big gas suckers with V8s up north then pick up the U-hall.....oh well the guy was selling the tank for $2800 i got it down to $1500 so i can't complain much

TruReef · 12/04/2013, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyboy69

i live in Ontario Canada so freezing is something Ill really need to think about. I'm renting a U-Hall. was thinking about using Rubbermaid's or garbage cans for the rock and water

maybe get a few heaters/pumps in the tubs. you should be able to run them with a spare car battery and a inverter..

billyboy69 · 12/04/2013, 11:37 AM

thanks everyone I have two weeks to plan this so it should work out. I really like TruReefs car battery idea. how long do you think i should leave the tank set up with the wet-dry ones its home?? id like to switch over to a refugium asap

tektite · 12/04/2013, 02:36 PM

Assuming a 100% efficient inverter (never happens), with a deep-cycle battery (not car battery), you'll get ~1 hour of run time for a 300W heater for every 25Ah or so of the battery. Over a 3 hour period, in your temperatures, the number of large heaters you would need would be high, and given the price of the deep cycle batteries you'll need, the cost for the necessary batteries, inverters, and heaters would be astronomical...extra gas for the SUV would be much much cheaper

If you keep the bioballs wet and at tank temperature during the transfer, I would leave it on for a week or so. It will help add more bacteria to combat any cycle that may start.

billyboy69 · 12/04/2013, 03:06 PM

yes I'm thinking its better to spend a little more on gas...I live close to Niagara Falls so its not like we live in the North-pole...sometimes all we get is rain on Xmas

...but we are driving north of Toronto its a little colder up that way

msmith619 · 12/04/2013, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tektite

Be VERY careful with the sand, do not re-use it. When you are removing livestock and live rock from the tank, do your best to not disturb it. Once you do disturb it, like when removing the rocks that are in the sand, do not keep any of the water remaining in the tank. Rinse the sand out very well before putting it back in the tank or replace it with new sand.

I disagree. I moved my 56 gallon reef this July. It has a 6 inch Deep Sand Bed (DSB) and I put the tank with about 4 inches of water in the back of my Jeep, along with fish, live rock, and all the tank water in Rubbermade tubs. The water sloshed like crazy and really stirred up the sand during the six hour drive.
I put the aquarium back together the next morning. I had to replace the live rock and corals by feel as I could only see a couple of inches in the tank. Everything did fine, no fish, invertebrate, or coral losses except for one skunk shrimp who was crushed by shifting live rock in one of the Rubbermade tubs.
In the wild, storms and tides stir up sand and sediments periodically. I think we don't give our reef friends credit for their ability to withstand those conditions for short periods of time.

anbosu · 12/04/2013, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msmith619

I disagree. I moved my 56 gallon reef this July. It has a 6 inch Deep Sand Bed (DSB) and I put the tank with about 4 inches of water in the back of my Jeep, along with fish, live rock, and all the tank water in Rubbermade tubs. The water sloshed like crazy and really stirred up the sand during the six hour drive.
I put the aquarium back together the next morning. I had to replace the live rock and corals by feel as I could only see a couple of inches in the tank. Everything did fine, no fish, invertebrate, or coral losses except for one skunk shrimp who was crushed by shifting live rock in one of the Rubbermade tubs.
In the wild, storms and tides stir up sand and sediments periodically. I think we don't give our reef friends credit for their ability to withstand those conditions for short periods of time.

It sounds like you got lucky. I nuked a tank once stirring up the sand when I moved it to a different spot in the same room.

billyboy69 · 12/04/2013, 05:15 PM

the sands going to be rinsed thoroughly with some of the old tank water

billyboy69 · 12/23/2013, 12:27 PM

well its been home for over a week , it was a lot of work and and to get here and a little more money then i had thought it would be to move it. looks like it had a mini cycle but that apears to be over now

12/04/2013, 09:47 AM	#2
tektite I never finish anyth Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,120	Saving the water won't be what keeps a cycle from happening as it doesn't have much bacteria. Transport the live rock submerged in water and keep it at tank temp, then you shouldn't have much of a cycle. Be VERY careful with the sand, do not re-use it. When you are removing livestock and live rock from the tank, do your best to not disturb it. Once you do disturb it, like when removing the rocks that are in the sand, do not keep any of the water remaining in the tank. Rinse the sand out very well before putting it back in the tank or replace it with new sand. __________________ No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced.

12/04/2013, 09:48 AM	#3
foundnemo11 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 839	I actually moved my tank last month. 75 gallon I ran into a few problems luckily I was in town.. My advice is to save water and make a lot more ? For some reason I was missing about 20 gallons out of thin air Also don't rush.. I did not get my overflow box on as tight as I needed and it leaked a little when filling back up. ( so I had to drain it down to tighten back up. I had a shallow sand bed about an inch thick. I didn't clean it although I should have as most say but I was fine. My nitrates went from 0 - 20 after the move but they are back down after a couple waterchanges. If you have a deep sand bed I'd replace it. Unless it's fairly new. Mine was a little over a year. It sucks good luck make sure to write a plan and double check it and make sure you have enough help . Whatever time u plan it will take ..double it __________________ I am a compulsive liar, and a millionaire. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon mixed reef, mostly sps, bubble magnus skimmer nac5, Reefbreeders Photon48, hippo tang, kole tang, 2 clownfish, 3 chromis, 1 cleaner wrasse, 1 cleaner shrimp, crabs/snails

12/04/2013, 10:23 AM	#5
billyboy69 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 166	i live in Ontario Canada so freezing is something Ill really need to think about. I'm renting a U-Hall. was thinking about using Rubbermaid's or garbage cans for the rock and water __________________ Girlfriend said i should get a hobby...she has no idea what she just started lol Current Tank Info: 180g 3 250 watt MH 14k,10k , 20k two VHOS blue LEDs 40g sump

12/04/2013, 10:47 AM	#6
tektite I never finish anyth Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,120	If the rock won't be kept at tank temp but in the cold for 3 hours, you can expect a pretty strong cycle after setting the tank back up unfortunately. __________________ No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced.

12/04/2013, 11:01 AM	#7
billyboy69 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 166	Im thinking my girlfriends going to have to drive up with the SUV and bring the rock and the fish back ...was just save trying a little money on gas, now we gotta drive two big gas suckers with V8s up north then pick up the U-hall.....oh well the guy was selling the tank for $2800 i got it down to $1500 so i can't complain much __________________ Girlfriend said i should get a hobby...she has no idea what she just started lol Current Tank Info: 180g 3 250 watt MH 14k,10k , 20k two VHOS blue LEDs 40g sump

12/04/2013, 10:16 AM	#4
spider1218 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: mesa arizona Posts: 71	Dido I move a tank 1200 miles once and lost very little keep rock wet and you should have no problems

12/04/2013, 11:37 AM	#9
billyboy69 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 166	thanks everyone I have two weeks to plan this so it should work out. I really like TruReefs car battery idea. how long do you think i should leave the tank set up with the wet-dry ones its home?? id like to switch over to a refugium asap __________________ Girlfriend said i should get a hobby...she has no idea what she just started lol Current Tank Info: 180g 3 250 watt MH 14k,10k , 20k two VHOS blue LEDs 40g sump

12/04/2013, 02:36 PM	#10
tektite I never finish anyth Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,120	Assuming a 100% efficient inverter (never happens), with a deep-cycle battery (not car battery), you'll get ~1 hour of run time for a 300W heater for every 25Ah or so of the battery. Over a 3 hour period, in your temperatures, the number of large heaters you would need would be high, and given the price of the deep cycle batteries you'll need, the cost for the necessary batteries, inverters, and heaters would be astronomical...extra gas for the SUV would be much much cheaper If you keep the bioballs wet and at tank temperature during the transfer, I would leave it on for a week or so. It will help add more bacteria to combat any cycle that may start. __________________ No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced.

12/04/2013, 03:06 PM	#11
billyboy69 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 166	yes I'm thinking its better to spend a little more on gas...I live close to Niagara Falls so its not like we live in the North-pole...sometimes all we get is rain on Xmas...but we are driving north of Toronto its a little colder up that way __________________ Girlfriend said i should get a hobby...she has no idea what she just started lol Current Tank Info: 180g 3 250 watt MH 14k,10k , 20k two VHOS blue LEDs 40g sump

12/04/2013, 05:15 PM	#14
billyboy69 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 166	the sands going to be rinsed thoroughly with some of the old tank water __________________ Girlfriend said i should get a hobby...she has no idea what she just started lol Current Tank Info: 180g 3 250 watt MH 14k,10k , 20k two VHOS blue LEDs 40g sump

12/23/2013, 12:27 PM	#15
billyboy69 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 166	well its been home for over a week , it was a lot of work and and to get here and a little more money then i had thought it would be to move it. looks like it had a mini cycle but that apears to be over now __________________ Girlfriend said i should get a hobby...she has no idea what she just started lol Current Tank Info: 180g 3 250 watt MH 14k,10k , 20k two VHOS blue LEDs 40g sump