Changing everything from tank to tank.

fattyratrat · 07/11/2008, 09:41 PM

I have a 60 gallon tank with a ton of rock, ton of sand, and a 48 gallon fuge crammed with a ton of rock, a ton of macro, and a bunch of mineral mud. For fish I have two false percs, one fairy wrasse, and one diamond goby. I also have a ton of coral frags from candy canes, GSP, yellow turbinaria, monti digis and monti caps.

My question is here... I am going to downgrade from my 60 gallon to a 40 gallon with a 40 gallon sump/fuge. I would like to keep all of my livestock and as much of the rock and sand as i can put in the 40. How should I go about doing this? There will be Ammonia spikes in the 60 gallon if i remove too much rock at one time right? And if i use all old stuff, will the 40 have a full blown cycle? I am just trying to plan out how i need to do this thing to get the 60 empty.

thanks for the help.

americanredneck · 07/11/2008, 09:48 PM

I just went through the same process except to a larger tank. I wanted to keep all I could. I removed my live rock as gently as possible and just kept the top layer of sand and added it to new. I only had a very small rise in any/all levels.

fattyratrat · 07/11/2008, 09:53 PM

wow, that makes me feel good. But i wonder if it would work that way when downsizing. I feel like i should either make the move all in one day really fast, or do it very gradually. Doing it fast would just preserve all of the nitrifying bacteria on the rock to the new tank. But i also worry about if i put a surface of a rock loaded with bacteria in the sand and it dies, that could be bad. Another worry is the DSB. It seems like disturbing the DSB in my tank now and just plopping it in a new tank would cause some surges in levels.

fattyratrat · 07/11/2008, 11:44 PM

any other thoughts on this?

Gold Stripe · 07/11/2008, 11:47 PM

Is the new tank going where the old one was? If so then it gets a little harder. But basically if you are going to do it all in one day then get a bunch of rubbermaids and buckets and go like this:

Tear down old tank with fish in a container of new water, rock in a container of original tank water and corals in a container of original tank water and/or some new water. Make sure all containers have heat and flow. If it is hot where you are then make sure containers stay in the a/c to keep temp regulated. In the fish container make sure there is surface agitation to keep the water oxygenated.

Scoop the top 1-2 inches of sand off VERY CAREFULLY and put in a container of original tank water just enough to keep it damp. Dispose of the rest of the sand or put it in a separate container to rinse and use later for fill in.

Set up your new tank with NEW SAND.

Add the 1 to 2 inches of original sand that you took off the top of your old sandbed.

Add your rock and the water from the rock bin but leave room for about 30% new water.

Add the 30% new water.

Let the system run for a couple hours.

Add your corals to the new tank.

Add your fish to the new tank.

You may get a small spike but nothing that will do any harm.

I followed this very plan when I downsized and lost nothing in the swap. You're looking at 8 to 10 hours here to do it right.

johnjamieson · 07/11/2008, 11:47 PM

if i were to do it, i would move it all over in 1 day. but im also very impatient.

fattyratrat · 07/11/2008, 11:50 PM

the new tank is going to be set up right beside the old one. Should i still do all that rubbermade stuff or just move water, move sand, move rocks, move corals, move fish (respectively)?

Gold Stripe · 07/11/2008, 11:56 PM

You still need to get the fish and corals out before you start messing with the sandbed. Get them in a separate container. Then move your rock. Then add your new sand. Then move your top 2 inches of old sand. Then fill with 70% old water and 30% new water. Let run a couple hours to clear and stabilize. Then add your corals and fish back. If you rush it you will be sorry so take your time. You do not want ANY sand storms. A little is fine but as little as possible!

fattyratrat · 07/12/2008, 12:00 AM

why do you keep stressing take only 2 inches of the old sandbed? is there a problem with taking the whole old one?

Gold Stripe · 07/12/2008, 12:04 AM

DSB has oxygen free bacteria below 2 inches. When it is exposed to oxygen it dies and causes major water quality problems. Going to bed now. Talk more in the AM.,

07/11/2008, 09:41 PM	#1
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	Changing everything from tank to tank. I have a 60 gallon tank with a ton of rock, ton of sand, and a 48 gallon fuge crammed with a ton of rock, a ton of macro, and a bunch of mineral mud. For fish I have two false percs, one fairy wrasse, and one diamond goby. I also have a ton of coral frags from candy canes, GSP, yellow turbinaria, monti digis and monti caps. My question is here... I am going to downgrade from my 60 gallon to a 40 gallon with a 40 gallon sump/fuge. I would like to keep all of my livestock and as much of the rock and sand as i can put in the 40. How should I go about doing this? There will be Ammonia spikes in the 60 gallon if i remove too much rock at one time right? And if i use all old stuff, will the 40 have a full blown cycle? I am just trying to plan out how i need to do this thing to get the 60 empty. thanks for the help.

07/11/2008, 09:48 PM	#2
americanredneck Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PA Posts: 21	Transfering I just went through the same process except to a larger tank. I wanted to keep all I could. I removed my live rock as gently as possible and just kept the top layer of sand and added it to new. I only had a very small rise in any/all levels.

07/11/2008, 11:47 PM	#5
Gold Stripe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 977	Is the new tank going where the old one was? If so then it gets a little harder. But basically if you are going to do it all in one day then get a bunch of rubbermaids and buckets and go like this: Tear down old tank with fish in a container of new water, rock in a container of original tank water and corals in a container of original tank water and/or some new water. Make sure all containers have heat and flow. If it is hot where you are then make sure containers stay in the a/c to keep temp regulated. In the fish container make sure there is surface agitation to keep the water oxygenated. Scoop the top 1-2 inches of sand off VERY CAREFULLY and put in a container of original tank water just enough to keep it damp. Dispose of the rest of the sand or put it in a separate container to rinse and use later for fill in. Set up your new tank with NEW SAND. Add the 1 to 2 inches of original sand that you took off the top of your old sandbed. Add your rock and the water from the rock bin but leave room for about 30% new water. Add the 30% new water. Let the system run for a couple hours. Add your corals to the new tank. Add your fish to the new tank. You may get a small spike but nothing that will do any harm. I followed this very plan when I downsized and lost nothing in the swap. You're looking at 8 to 10 hours here to do it right. __________________ I swear its the last coral I will buy honey ...... I promise!

07/11/2008, 11:56 PM	#8
Gold Stripe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 977	You still need to get the fish and corals out before you start messing with the sandbed. Get them in a separate container. Then move your rock. Then add your new sand. Then move your top 2 inches of old sand. Then fill with 70% old water and 30% new water. Let run a couple hours to clear and stabilize. Then add your corals and fish back. If you rush it you will be sorry so take your time. You do not want ANY sand storms. A little is fine but as little as possible! __________________ I swear its the last coral I will buy honey ...... I promise!

07/12/2008, 12:04 AM	#10
Gold Stripe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 977	DSB has oxygen free bacteria below 2 inches. When it is exposed to oxygen it dies and causes major water quality problems. Going to bed now. Talk more in the AM., __________________ I swear its the last coral I will buy honey ...... I promise!

07/11/2008, 09:53 PM	#3
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	wow, that makes me feel good. But i wonder if it would work that way when downsizing. I feel like i should either make the move all in one day really fast, or do it very gradually. Doing it fast would just preserve all of the nitrifying bacteria on the rock to the new tank. But i also worry about if i put a surface of a rock loaded with bacteria in the sand and it dies, that could be bad. Another worry is the DSB. It seems like disturbing the DSB in my tank now and just plopping it in a new tank would cause some surges in levels.

07/11/2008, 11:44 PM	#4
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	any other thoughts on this?

07/11/2008, 11:47 PM	#6
johnjamieson Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 17	if i were to do it, i would move it all over in 1 day. but im also very impatient.

07/11/2008, 11:50 PM	#7
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	the new tank is going to be set up right beside the old one. Should i still do all that rubbermade stuff or just move water, move sand, move rocks, move corals, move fish (respectively)?

07/12/2008, 12:00 AM	#9
fattyratrat Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 278	why do you keep stressing take only 2 inches of the old sandbed? is there a problem with taking the whole old one?