thinking of upgrading tanks but have a couple questions.

browning_boy20 · 12/21/2009, 01:46 PM

Currently I have a 40 G tank with HOB filter, protein skimmer and some kind of jet for water movement and I am thinking of upgrading to a 100G tank. My question is if I want to use my sand to seed some Arogonite sand that I put in the 100G how do I do that without harming my fish, corals and anenomes. I was told by digging up sand I will release alot of nitrates and ammonia that may be detrimental to my livestock. I will also be using the LR that is currently in my 40G but I will wait to put it in the 100G until it has cycled. this will be a slow process for me but I am in no hurry since I already have a tank established.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2009, 01:51 PM

That statement is only true with deep sand beds. Or if you don't have critters like stars, pods snails sifting the sand. If your sand bed is more than 3 inches deep I would set up the 100 and seed it with a cup of sand from your 40. And then clean the rest of it from the 40 before you put it in the 100.

BWIPlumbing · 12/21/2009, 02:09 PM

also you will have to let your tank cycle anyways. so you will be ok because by the time the 100 gallon cycles your levels will be fine.

browning_boy20 · 12/21/2009, 02:39 PM

so I can just dig a cup of sand out of my established 40 G and leave all of the livestock in the 40 without doing any harm by high levels and then seed the 100 with the cup of sand from the 40?
My sand bed is about 3" deep

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2009, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWIPlumbing

also you will have to let your tank cycle anyways. so you will be ok because by the time the 100 gallon cycles your levels will be fine.

but to introdice the live critters that are in your 40, I would advise to add a cup (if not all, requirements stated above) of your cycled live sand into the 100.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browning_boy20

so I can just dig a cup of sand out of my established 40 G and leave all of the livestock in the 40 without doing any harm by high levels and then seed the 100 with the cup of sand from the 40?
My sand bed is about 3" deep

a cup should be fine without harming the tank. But keep in mind that until the 100 cycles the critters from the 40 will not live long (the bacteria will but not the tiny inverts).

browning_boy20 · 12/21/2009, 02:47 PM

...

browning_boy20 · 12/21/2009, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

a cup should be fine without harming the tank. But keep in mind that until the 100 cycles the critters from the 40 will not live long (the bacteria will but not the tiny inverts).

by saying that they wont live long you mean if I put them in the 100 before the cycle is complete right

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2009, 02:52 PM

I think my answer will be the same, but to be sure, how much live rock do you have in the tank? As far as a hypoxic zone being in 3" of sand is very unlikely so I wouldn't be too concerned. + you’re only pulling a cup out.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by browning_boy20

by saying that they wont live long you mean if I put them in the 100 before the cycle is complete right

Yes exactly... you're getting the hang of it

browning_boy20 · 12/21/2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sisterlimonpot

I think my answer will be the same, but to be sure, how much live rock do you have in the tank? As far as a hypoxic zone being in 3" of sand is very unlikely so I wouldn't be too concerned. + you’re only pulling a cup out.

I have about 40 LBS LR in the 40G

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2009, 02:59 PM

You won't have a problem. Do you look at your tank at night when the lights are off? do you see critters moving around in the sand?

browning_boy20 · 12/21/2009, 03:03 PM

I really have never looked. I just bought this tank about a month ago (already set up) and I have been out of town for two weeks so I have not been able to enjoy it much. My wife has been taking care of it for me and doing a great job. I just feel it is a little crowded for my taste. It has a big Ritteri anenome, a bubble tip and alot of other corals in it so I just want to space it all out. Plus it gives me an excuse to go bigger.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2009, 03:10 PM

Oh it's not even a month old? Then you’re not going to have any problem moving the sand over to the other tank. It hasn't been established long enough to have any trapped toxins.

browning_boy20 · 12/21/2009, 03:24 PM

No, I have only had it a month it was already set up by the previous owner for two years.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/21/2009, 03:27 PM

Did you move the tank? if so you had to have disrupted the sand bed.

browning_boy20 · 12/21/2009, 03:36 PM

Yes we moved it but we left the sand in the tank for the move. When I put the water back in I poured the water on a plate so I wouldnt disrupt it.

12/21/2009, 01:46 PM	#1
browning_boy20 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 425	thinking of upgrading tanks but have a couple questions. Currently I have a 40 G tank with HOB filter, protein skimmer and some kind of jet for water movement and I am thinking of upgrading to a 100G tank. My question is if I want to use my sand to seed some Arogonite sand that I put in the 100G how do I do that without harming my fish, corals and anenomes. I was told by digging up sand I will release alot of nitrates and ammonia that may be detrimental to my livestock. I will also be using the LR that is currently in my 40G but I will wait to put it in the 100G until it has cycled. this will be a slow process for me but I am in no hurry since I already have a tank established.

12/21/2009, 01:51 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	That statement is only true with deep sand beds. Or if you don't have critters like stars, pods snails sifting the sand. If your sand bed is more than 3 inches deep I would set up the 100 and seed it with a cup of sand from your 40. And then clean the rest of it from the 40 before you put it in the 100. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/21/2009, 02:52 PM	#9
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I think my answer will be the same, but to be sure, how much live rock do you have in the tank? As far as a hypoxic zone being in 3" of sand is very unlikely so I wouldn't be too concerned. + you’re only pulling a cup out. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/21/2009, 02:59 PM	#12
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	You won't have a problem. Do you look at your tank at night when the lights are off? do you see critters moving around in the sand? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/21/2009, 03:10 PM	#14
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Oh it's not even a month old? Then you’re not going to have any problem moving the sand over to the other tank. It hasn't been established long enough to have any trapped toxins. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/21/2009, 02:09 PM	#3
BWIPlumbing Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Michigan & Toronto Posts: 91	also you will have to let your tank cycle anyways. so you will be ok because by the time the 100 gallon cycles your levels will be fine.

12/21/2009, 02:39 PM	#4
browning_boy20 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 425	so I can just dig a cup of sand out of my established 40 G and leave all of the livestock in the 40 without doing any harm by high levels and then seed the 100 with the cup of sand from the 40? My sand bed is about 3" deep

12/21/2009, 02:47 PM	#7
browning_boy20 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 425	...

12/21/2009, 03:03 PM	#13
browning_boy20 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 425	I really have never looked. I just bought this tank about a month ago (already set up) and I have been out of town for two weeks so I have not been able to enjoy it much. My wife has been taking care of it for me and doing a great job. I just feel it is a little crowded for my taste. It has a big Ritteri anenome, a bubble tip and alot of other corals in it so I just want to space it all out. Plus it gives me an excuse to go bigger.

12/21/2009, 03:24 PM	#15
browning_boy20 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 425	No, I have only had it a month it was already set up by the previous owner for two years.

12/21/2009, 03:27 PM	#16
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Did you move the tank? if so you had to have disrupted the sand bed. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/21/2009, 03:36 PM	#17
browning_boy20 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 425	Yes we moved it but we left the sand in the tank for the move. When I put the water back in I poured the water on a plate so I wouldnt disrupt it.