Upgrading to a bigger tank.

ohioreef71 · 12/01/2011, 03:50 PM

I've been planning my new 125g build and been trying to figure out the beat way to move everything over. The current tank is a 60g with 80lbs of rock and coral growing on most of it and 7 fish. Should I just move everything to bigger tank with current tank and sump water? Then add around another 50g of saltwater or maybe leave tank 3/4 full for a while then slowly add new water. I don't know the best way to prevent stress on all my inhabitants.

andy51656 · 12/01/2011, 05:28 PM

How long have you had your 60 gallon up and running?

fishgate · 12/01/2011, 06:50 PM

Tough call but I will be going through the same thing when I go from my 40B to my 120g. I plan on transferring everything at once. I'll start with about 1/2 filling the 120g with fresh SW the exact SG and temp of the 40B and adding some new substrate and fully seasoned rock. I'll let that sit for a few days. Then I'll transfer the 40B rock (very carefully). Then the substrate. Then the inhabitants. I'll possibly leave the fish in the 40B for a day so the water can settle a bit in the new tank. I was also going to hook up a fluval FX5 to do massive filtration and clean it daily until the water is clear.

Once it is all transferred, I'll do daily water tests and be prepared to do a lot of water changes. I'll have all my containers at the ready with at least 50-100g of prepared water. I do expect at least a mini-cycle from all that.

JohnnyRI · 12/01/2011, 07:44 PM

If you use dry rock instead of live rock you should be able to add everything with a day or so.

ohioreef71 · 12/01/2011, 08:13 PM

My tank has been up and running for about 8 months now. I don't plan on upgrading till I have everything I need. I made a lot of mistakes with my first saltwater tank. This time around things will different.

lemmy_k · 12/01/2011, 10:02 PM

I went from an 90 gal to a 180 gal in a day. Put everyone in buckets with air until the new tank was filled. When the water cleared, I put them all in the new one. I didn't lose anyone. It was a warm summer day, so I didn't need heat. It was a 10 hour project from start to finish. I used all the old rock, sand and equipment except I added more lights.
Good luck! I make new mistakes every time I set up a new tank. Hopefully I will get it all right someday!

12/01/2011, 03:50 PM	#1
ohioreef71 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 401	Upgrading to a bigger tank. I've been planning my new 125g build and been trying to figure out the beat way to move everything over. The current tank is a 60g with 80lbs of rock and coral growing on most of it and 7 fish. Should I just move everything to bigger tank with current tank and sump water? Then add around another 50g of saltwater or maybe leave tank 3/4 full for a while then slowly add new water. I don't know the best way to prevent stress on all my inhabitants.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Upgrading to Bigger Tank and New Home, here's the plan:	Stray32	New to the Hobby	3	08/28/2008 05:57 PM
Moving across country, $500 LFS credit, upgrading to bigger tank - what to buy?	JotaDe	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	2	04/06/2008 06:41 PM
Upgrading to bigger tank this weekend, nervous	The Beaut	Reef Discussion	1	08/11/2006 07:32 PM
Upgrade to Bigger tank	moga	Reef Discussion	6	05/09/2006 07:15 PM

12/01/2011, 05:28 PM	#2
andy51656 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 36	How long have you had your 60 gallon up and running?

12/01/2011, 06:50 PM	#3
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	Tough call but I will be going through the same thing when I go from my 40B to my 120g. I plan on transferring everything at once. I'll start with about 1/2 filling the 120g with fresh SW the exact SG and temp of the 40B and adding some new substrate and fully seasoned rock. I'll let that sit for a few days. Then I'll transfer the 40B rock (very carefully). Then the substrate. Then the inhabitants. I'll possibly leave the fish in the 40B for a day so the water can settle a bit in the new tank. I was also going to hook up a fluval FX5 to do massive filtration and clean it daily until the water is clear. Once it is all transferred, I'll do daily water tests and be prepared to do a lot of water changes. I'll have all my containers at the ready with at least 50-100g of prepared water. I do expect at least a mini-cycle from all that.

12/01/2011, 07:44 PM	#4
JohnnyRI Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 86	If you use dry rock instead of live rock you should be able to add everything with a day or so.

12/01/2011, 08:13 PM	#5
ohioreef71 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 401	My tank has been up and running for about 8 months now. I don't plan on upgrading till I have everything I need. I made a lot of mistakes with my first saltwater tank. This time around things will different.

12/01/2011, 10:02 PM	#6
lemmy_k Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Huntington Beach Posts: 262	I went from an 90 gal to a 180 gal in a day. Put everyone in buckets with air until the new tank was filled. When the water cleared, I put them all in the new one. I didn't lose anyone. It was a warm summer day, so I didn't need heat. It was a 10 hour project from start to finish. I used all the old rock, sand and equipment except I added more lights. Good luck! I make new mistakes every time I set up a new tank. Hopefully I will get it all right someday!