need help transferring tanks

aliciajoshltjt · 05/28/2008, 01:02 PM

so i currently have a 29 and am going to be buying a 75 from a local reefer at the end of next week with sump and lights and everything. Am I able to put in new water for the 75 about 2/3 and then just add all of the things from my 29 or vice versa or do i have to cycle the tank all over again. Im hoping its the first and looked at as more of a water change.

HumanIMDB · 05/28/2008, 01:09 PM

So the 75 is dry now and you are looking to fill it with the everything in your 29 and just add new salt water?

Is the destination for the 75 where the 29 currently is? (i.e. can you set up the 75 and have the 29 going at the same time?)

If you can setup the 75 without touching the 29, my recommendation would be to get new substrate, fill it 2/3 of the way with new salt water, add some of your live rock from your 29, watch for a cycle (it should be small and quick), and then move everything else from your 29 over. There will likely be another small cycle but everything should be fine.

If you have to tear down the 29 to put the 75 in, then yes, just add everything at once. I would get new substrate for the 75 though. You will have a small cycle, but everything should survive.

You will then want to add more live rock one peice at a time over time and make sure it is cured to avoid additional cycles.

bdub · 05/28/2008, 01:17 PM

I recently migrated my 46 gallon to a 90 gallon. I took the long route. I filled the 90 with my R/O water and then made the added the salt to tank and let everything run for a few days checking my parameters. I then added sand sand and then after throughly cleaning all my rock from my 46 and my nano I added them with a few crabs and snails. About 3 weeks later I added my fish, dusters, anenomes, remaining crabs and snails, etc. I know this method took longer but everyone is doing great. I am still in the process of tweaking things like the powerheads, skimmer at what not but I would do again this way so I could I could make sure I had as much control as possible as I did not want to loose anything.

Good luck with your upgrade.

aliciajoshltjt · 05/28/2008, 04:39 PM

Ya the problem is that the 75 will go exactly where the 29 is currently residing. I hope I can do this without a huge issue I just figured that it would be like adding new water after a large water change, was I way off?

HumanIMDB · 05/28/2008, 05:04 PM

Lots of rubbermaid containers, towels, and extra salt water...

We helped our friends replace their 235 gallon diamond a while back. Moved everything in the tank to containers. Put some powerheads and heaters in the containers. Swapped out the tank. And then put everything back in. Everything made it through without issue.

aliciajoshltjt · 05/28/2008, 05:44 PM

i think the main thing im concerned about is my magnifica anemone

other than that i have an unlikely pair of a baby maroon and adult perc as well as a bicolor, skunk cleaner shrimp, and lawnmower blenny.

aliciajoshltjt · 05/28/2008, 07:26 PM

any more advice?

05/28/2008, 01:02 PM	#1
aliciajoshltjt Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oviedo Posts: 242	need help transferring tanks so i currently have a 29 and am going to be buying a 75 from a local reefer at the end of next week with sump and lights and everything. Am I able to put in new water for the 75 about 2/3 and then just add all of the things from my 29 or vice versa or do i have to cycle the tank all over again. Im hoping its the first and looked at as more of a water change.

05/28/2008, 01:09 PM	#2
HumanIMDB Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,556	So the 75 is dry now and you are looking to fill it with the everything in your 29 and just add new salt water? Is the destination for the 75 where the 29 currently is? (i.e. can you set up the 75 and have the 29 going at the same time?) If you can setup the 75 without touching the 29, my recommendation would be to get new substrate, fill it 2/3 of the way with new salt water, add some of your live rock from your 29, watch for a cycle (it should be small and quick), and then move everything else from your 29 over. There will likely be another small cycle but everything should be fine. If you have to tear down the 29 to put the 75 in, then yes, just add everything at once. I would get new substrate for the 75 though. You will have a small cycle, but everything should survive. You will then want to add more live rock one peice at a time over time and make sure it is cured to avoid additional cycles. __________________ Chris Rivers Will do computer support for frags. :) Click on the Red House to see our AGA92 Corner Reef Tank Build thread. Current Tank Info: 10 Gal (Aqualight 96W Quad 50/50, AquaClear Power Filter 70 with Chaeto lit by 6500K Bulb, AquaClear Power Head 20, 50w Tronic Heater), 92 Gal All-Glass Corner (Cycling)

05/28/2008, 05:04 PM	#5
HumanIMDB Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,556	Lots of rubbermaid containers, towels, and extra salt water... We helped our friends replace their 235 gallon diamond a while back. Moved everything in the tank to containers. Put some powerheads and heaters in the containers. Swapped out the tank. And then put everything back in. Everything made it through without issue. __________________ Chris Rivers Will do computer support for frags. :) Click on the Red House to see our AGA92 Corner Reef Tank Build thread. Current Tank Info: 10 Gal (Aqualight 96W Quad 50/50, AquaClear Power Filter 70 with Chaeto lit by 6500K Bulb, AquaClear Power Head 20, 50w Tronic Heater), 92 Gal All-Glass Corner (Cycling)

05/28/2008, 01:17 PM	#3
bdub Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Valrico Florida Posts: 211	I recently migrated my 46 gallon to a 90 gallon. I took the long route. I filled the 90 with my R/O water and then made the added the salt to tank and let everything run for a few days checking my parameters. I then added sand sand and then after throughly cleaning all my rock from my 46 and my nano I added them with a few crabs and snails. About 3 weeks later I added my fish, dusters, anenomes, remaining crabs and snails, etc. I know this method took longer but everyone is doing great. I am still in the process of tweaking things like the powerheads, skimmer at what not but I would do again this way so I could I could make sure I had as much control as possible as I did not want to loose anything. Good luck with your upgrade.

05/28/2008, 04:39 PM	#4
aliciajoshltjt Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oviedo Posts: 242	Ya the problem is that the 75 will go exactly where the 29 is currently residing. I hope I can do this without a huge issue I just figured that it would be like adding new water after a large water change, was I way off?

05/28/2008, 05:44 PM	#6
aliciajoshltjt Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oviedo Posts: 242	i think the main thing im concerned about is my magnifica anemone other than that i have an unlikely pair of a baby maroon and adult perc as well as a bicolor, skunk cleaner shrimp, and lawnmower blenny.

05/28/2008, 07:26 PM	#7
aliciajoshltjt Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Oviedo Posts: 242	any more advice?