Upgrading tank - best steps?

dburt520 · 02/25/2014, 09:55 AM

So I am planning on a tank upgrade (going from a BC 29 to a Mr. Aqua rimless 40b) and will be transferring all of the coral in my BC (not much..., duncan, torch, frogspawn, mushrooms and a few different zoas) as well as my 2 clownfish. I will also be transferring the rock when it is time so I had a few questions:

1. I will obviously be purchasing some additional rock as I only have 25 ish lbs in the BC. I am building a sump that will also have rock/sand/cheato in the fuge. Should I put the new rock in first, let it cycle or transfer the rock I currently have now first and hope the biological is enough to not have a cycle at all?

2. Should I transfer tank water from BC to 40b?

3. I have be using some of the equipment items off of my BC (controller and power is the main items, however the MP10 will be going as well. Can someone briefly breakdown a time line of how I should do the transfer. Obviously I don't want to kill anything...

I will not be transferring the sand, I will be going a different direction on that.

I am probably missing a question or two right now and will be asking more in this thread I'm sure.

Pife · 02/25/2014, 10:23 AM

Let it cycle with the new rock. You can tansfer water but don't.

thegrun · 02/25/2014, 10:34 AM

1. Yes cycle the new rock before the transfer. If you cycle the rock you will not have a new cycle when you transfer your livestock.
2. Yes, reuse as much of your old tank's clean water as possible to minimize the shock of new water parameters. When you get down towards the bottom the existing tank's water is going to get murky, don't use that water.
3. The process is slightly different if the new tank is going to set where the old tank is at, but in general:
1. Lay down egg crate (if you choose to use it) to help anchor your rock in place.
2. Fill the tank 1/3 with new saltwater. Heat the new water and adjust the alkalinity to be close to your existing tank's parameters. I like to have water in the tank from the start to minimize the amount of time the rock is exposed to air, although it does make aquascaping a little more difficult. Then transfer around 1/3 of existing tank's water into the new tank.
3. Start transferring the rock into the new aquarium. You will need to decide where the old and new rock will be placed. As your aquascape comes together and starts to increase in height you may need to transfer more water from the old system to keep the rock underwater.
4. Once your aquascape is complete add new dry sand (if you are going to have a sand bed) that you have already washed to remove all the fine dust. I would not reuse your old sand; use all new sand to avoid a cycle. You can add a cup or two of sand from your old aquarium on top of the new sand to seed it, but your old live rock that was in contact with the old sand bed will transfer all the organisms that live in the sand bed so you can skip the sand transfer if you want.
5. Fill the tank to the operating height with any remaining clean water from your old system and new saltwater if needed.
6. Transfer your fish.

The process always takes me longer than I expect, plan on a long day. Good luck, let us know how the move goes.

RennyRen · 02/25/2014, 10:35 AM

Put the new rock in and let it cycle. You wouldn't want to risk putting your coral through a cycle.

02/25/2014, 09:55 AM	#1
dburt520 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 370	Upgrading tank - best steps? So I am planning on a tank upgrade (going from a BC 29 to a Mr. Aqua rimless 40b) and will be transferring all of the coral in my BC (not much..., duncan, torch, frogspawn, mushrooms and a few different zoas) as well as my 2 clownfish. I will also be transferring the rock when it is time so I had a few questions: 1. I will obviously be purchasing some additional rock as I only have 25 ish lbs in the BC. I am building a sump that will also have rock/sand/cheato in the fuge. Should I put the new rock in first, let it cycle or transfer the rock I currently have now first and hope the biological is enough to not have a cycle at all? 2. Should I transfer tank water from BC to 40b? 3. I have be using some of the equipment items off of my BC (controller and power is the main items, however the MP10 will be going as well. Can someone briefly breakdown a time line of how I should do the transfer. Obviously I don't want to kill anything... I will not be transferring the sand, I will be going a different direction on that. I am probably missing a question or two right now and will be asking more in this thread I'm sure.

02/25/2014, 10:23 AM	#2
Pife Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 7,408	Let it cycle with the new rock. You can tansfer water but don't.

02/25/2014, 10:34 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	1. Yes cycle the new rock before the transfer. If you cycle the rock you will not have a new cycle when you transfer your livestock. 2. Yes, reuse as much of your old tank's clean water as possible to minimize the shock of new water parameters. When you get down towards the bottom the existing tank's water is going to get murky, don't use that water. 3. The process is slightly different if the new tank is going to set where the old tank is at, but in general: 1. Lay down egg crate (if you choose to use it) to help anchor your rock in place. 2. Fill the tank 1/3 with new saltwater. Heat the new water and adjust the alkalinity to be close to your existing tank's parameters. I like to have water in the tank from the start to minimize the amount of time the rock is exposed to air, although it does make aquascaping a little more difficult. Then transfer around 1/3 of existing tank's water into the new tank. 3. Start transferring the rock into the new aquarium. You will need to decide where the old and new rock will be placed. As your aquascape comes together and starts to increase in height you may need to transfer more water from the old system to keep the rock underwater. 4. Once your aquascape is complete add new dry sand (if you are going to have a sand bed) that you have already washed to remove all the fine dust. I would not reuse your old sand; use all new sand to avoid a cycle. You can add a cup or two of sand from your old aquarium on top of the new sand to seed it, but your old live rock that was in contact with the old sand bed will transfer all the organisms that live in the sand bed so you can skip the sand transfer if you want. 5. Fill the tank to the operating height with any remaining clean water from your old system and new saltwater if needed. 6. Transfer your fish. The process always takes me longer than I expect, plan on a long day. Good luck, let us know how the move goes.

02/25/2014, 10:35 AM	#4
RennyRen Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 22	Put the new rock in and let it cycle. You wouldn't want to risk putting your coral through a cycle.