how much new water can I safely use?

joesreeftank · 01/29/2014, 11:17 PM

I am moving my 120 into a new 120 in wall tank, i have increased the size of the sump by 20 gal, my question is how much new water can I safely use when I make the move this Saturday?
I will be moving all live rock, lots of it all live sand Fish and corals.
I would like to do as large of a water change as I can safely do.

Thank You. Joe

Blown 346 · 01/29/2014, 11:20 PM

Depending on how old the sand bed is, you might not be able to use it. I would keep as much old water as you can. Most of the bacteria is located in the rock so a cycle wont be as worry some.
If you can save say 80 gallons or so of water, the rest can be topped off with new saltwater. Just make sure the salinity is the same as well as the temp.

Reefahholic · 01/30/2014, 03:25 AM

Sounds like solid advice.

If I were you I think I would do at least a 60% WC and you should be fine. I do a 50% about every 3-4 weeks. Depending on the way my tank looks. Never had problems. However, I am fighting cyano due to over feeding my sun coral.

Good luck on the move!

joesreeftank · 01/30/2014, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blown 346

Depending on how old the sand bed is, you might not be able to use it. I would keep as much old water as you can. Most of the bacteria is located in the rock so a cycle wont be as worry some.
If you can save say 80 gallons or so of water, the rest can be topped off with new saltwater. Just make sure the salinity is the same as well as the temp.

Thank You, My sand bed is only about 1.5 inches deep and I do clean it once a month with water changes, I know there are different opinions on should I be cleaning the sand bed however I have only been in the hobby for about two years and the guys that helped me set up my 5 year established reef tank instructed me to do this.

It would make the move to the new tank easier if I used new sand however I was thinking I needed to use the old sand? Not sure, whats your take??

joesreeftank · 01/30/2014, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reefahholic

Sounds like solid advice.

If I were you I think I would do at least a 60% WC and you should be fine. I do a 50% about every 3-4 weeks. Depending on the way my tank looks. Never had problems. However, I am fighting cyano due to over feeding my sun coral.

Good luck on the move!

Thank You, My sand bed is only about 1.5 inches deep and I do clean it once a month with water changes, I know there are different opinions on should I be cleaning the sand bed however I have only been in the hobby for about two years and the guys that helped me set up my 5 year established reef tank instructed me to do this.

It would make the move to the new tank easier if I used new sand however I was thinking I needed to use the old sand? Not sure, whats your take??

Sugar Magnolia · 01/30/2014, 09:33 AM

I'd suggest saving a few cupfuls of your live sand and using all new sand seeded with the live sand you saved. Even though you clean the sand bed monthly, you'll be shocked at how dirty the sand is. Disturbing that much sand will cause a mini cycle.

Blown 346 · 01/30/2014, 03:49 PM

I agree with above. Once you start moving sand around you release all the nasty stuff that will take a tank down in days.

billdogg · 01/30/2014, 03:59 PM

When I upgraded from a 60g cube to a 120 last August, I used all the sand and all the loose pieces of rock. (the main piece of LR was a big chunk of pumice siliconed to the bottom, so it stayed in place) I used none of the old water. Because the 60 had been set up since 1992, the sand was a bit, um, funky. I used the 60's water to rinse it all until clean and then put it in the 120 to seed the new sand i had put in it. The new water was mixed to the same SG and temp as the 60's, so i just caught the fish and dropped them in without issue. Ditto for the corals, although I must say that they were way easier to catch!

I tested the water daily for a couple weeks, with no indication of any cycle whatsoever.

phillrodrigo · 01/30/2014, 08:02 PM

All the bacteria is in the live rock. While some say technically you could trash it all as long as the luve rock stayed fresh im not that daring. I would save as much as possible and use it. The betrer your parameters are the more I would save. If you have issues I would use less. No matter what you always run the risk of a cycle. Ditch the old sand start with new. I started a nano with rock from my 75 all new water and it never cycled.

Portsie · 01/30/2014, 09:05 PM

I just upgraded to a 90 from a 72. I replaced all the sand, used all my old rock, and added 25lbs of new rock. I used all new water. No problems, all corals and fish are great.

jarrod13 · 01/30/2014, 09:31 PM

A question for the three of you that just posted about switching tanks or starting a new tank, what did you do about the filtration media? Use the old stuff or was all that new too?

Timfish · 01/30/2014, 09:36 PM

I've done 50% water changes without issues but if you are moving everything I would try to save and use as much stuff from your old system as possible. The sand you've been cleaning regularly I would not hesitate to add to your new system but the sand under the rocks may be pretty funky, it's something you'll have to evaluate when you pull the rock out.

okienine · 01/30/2014, 09:41 PM

I just had to move to a new tank due to a leak, i used existing sand but i went ahead and cleaned it prior to moving by rinsing it till clean, moved existing live rock, and used about 50% of the original water column, tank looks great and all inhabitants are doing great. if I had to do it again I would of saved several cups of the sand bed before disturbing it to seed it once cleaned, as it was I used Bio Spira to kick start the sand.

Blown 346 · 01/30/2014, 09:56 PM

Like said if you rinse the sand out you wount have any issue of introducing bad bacteria and risk a cycle. I have moved my tanks twice and never re used the sand for the reason of having create a issue. Like said all the bacteria is mainly in the rock.

If you can save a cup or two you can, but your new sandbed will be crawling with life in no time.

You will be surprised even though you clean the sand bed how much gunk is left behind when you break the tank down.

JohnoL · 01/31/2014, 12:24 AM

I recently moved my 120g. I used 100% new water and experienced no issues.

erickcooper · 01/31/2014, 05:06 AM

Not to hijack this post (it seems relevant anyway), but since y'all are discussing moving sand beds, I'm moving from a 75 to a 125 and adding a sump/refugium. I'm adding a completely new sand bed to the new tank but am thinking about seeding the refugium with sand from the current tank. It's been set up for almost 8 years. I won't be saving a lot of it, but plan to rinse it in the current salt water before moving it. Sound ok to rinse it and get some of the dirt out?

billdogg · 01/31/2014, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod13

A question for the three of you that just posted about switching tanks or starting a new tank, what did you do about the filtration media? Use the old stuff or was all that new too?

Because the filtration on my 60 consisted of a dual biowheel HOB, a canister filter, no skimmer, and the LR/LS, and the 120 was going to skimmer/LR/LS only, I put the biowheels in the return section of the sump, packed the refugium area of the sump with as much LR as it would hold, and (gasp) got a skimmer (ASM G2). The canister is in storage. I will keep the biowheels in the sump to keep them seeded for use on a QT tank.

Blown 346 · 01/31/2014, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erickcooper

Not to hijack this post (it seems relevant anyway), but since y'all are discussing moving sand beds, I'm moving from a 75 to a 125 and adding a sump/refugium. I'm adding a completely new sand bed to the new tank but am thinking about seeding the refugium with sand from the current tank. It's been set up for almost 8 years. I won't be saving a lot of it, but plan to rinse it in the current salt water before moving it. Sound ok to rinse it and get some of the dirt out?

As long as you rinse the gunk out of it in salt water you will be ok to use some of it to seed the new sand bed.

joesreeftank · 01/31/2014, 07:54 AM

Thank you everyone, Tomorrow is the big day, Ill let you know what I end up doing and the results.

erickcooper · 01/31/2014, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blown 346

As long as you rinse the gunk out of it in salt water you will be ok to use some of it to seed the new sand bed.

That's what I was thinking. Thanks!

Nina51 · 01/31/2014, 03:41 PM

i'll be doing this very soon, too. everything from my 29g and 14g biocubes will be going into my new 75g tank.

good luck tomorrow and post pics!!!

joesreeftank · 02/03/2014, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrod13

A question for the three of you that just posted about switching tanks or starting a new tank, what did you do about the filtration media? Use the old stuff or was all that new too?

I do not use filtration media, i use filter socks and a protean skimmer

Joe

joesreeftank · 02/03/2014, 08:59 AM

Okay the move was Saturday and so far everything looks good, I ended up using 30 lbs of new live sand and about 75% of my old sand once i rinsed it in the old water and again in some new salt water. i used 60 gal of new salt water and 80 gal of the old water. i did my best to keep the temp close however it did end up doping about 3 degrees, I started with salinity of 1.026 and ended with the same. i will post pics of my new tank set up as soon as i get a few minutes.
thanks for all of the suggestions this was my first time building a reef-tank on my own.
Joe

01/29/2014, 11:17 PM	#1
joesreeftank Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 97	how much new water can I safely use? I am moving my 120 into a new 120 in wall tank, i have increased the size of the sump by 20 gal, my question is how much new water can I safely use when I make the move this Saturday? I will be moving all live rock, lots of it all live sand Fish and corals. I would like to do as large of a water change as I can safely do. Thank You. Joe

01/30/2014, 09:33 AM	#6
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I'd suggest saving a few cupfuls of your live sand and using all new sand seeded with the live sand you saved. Even though you clean the sand bed monthly, you'll be shocked at how dirty the sand is. Disturbing that much sand will cause a mini cycle. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

01/30/2014, 03:59 PM	#8
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	When I upgraded from a 60g cube to a 120 last August, I used all the sand and all the loose pieces of rock. (the main piece of LR was a big chunk of pumice siliconed to the bottom, so it stayed in place) I used none of the old water. Because the 60 had been set up since 1992, the sand was a bit, um, funky. I used the 60's water to rinse it all until clean and then put it in the 120 to seed the new sand i had put in it. The new water was mixed to the same SG and temp as the 60's, so i just caught the fish and dropped them in without issue. Ditto for the corals, although I must say that they were way easier to catch! I tested the water daily for a couple weeks, with no indication of any cycle whatsoever. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/30/2014, 09:05 PM	#10
Portsie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 741	I just upgraded to a 90 from a 72. I replaced all the sand, used all my old rock, and added 25lbs of new rock. I used all new water. No problems, all corals and fish are great. __________________ 90g corner overflow, 33g sump, Apex, Vertex IN-100, 2x MP-10w ES, 1X MP-40w, Tunze Osmolator, 60lbs Caribsea oolite, 85lbs live rock, 4x54w T5 with LED moonlights

01/30/2014, 09:36 PM	#12
Timfish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,985	I've done 50% water changes without issues but if you are moving everything I would try to save and use as much stuff from your old system as possible. The sand you've been cleaning regularly I would not hesitate to add to your new system but the sand under the rocks may be pretty funky, it's something you'll have to evaluate when you pull the rock out. __________________ "Our crystal clear aquaria come nowhere close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs" Charles Delbeek

01/29/2014, 11:20 PM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Depending on how old the sand bed is, you might not be able to use it. I would keep as much old water as you can. Most of the bacteria is located in the rock so a cycle wont be as worry some. If you can save say 80 gallons or so of water, the rest can be topped off with new saltwater. Just make sure the salinity is the same as well as the temp.

01/30/2014, 03:25 AM	#3
Reefahholic Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: League City, Texas Posts: 3,974	Sounds like solid advice. If I were you I think I would do at least a 60% WC and you should be fine. I do a 50% about every 3-4 weeks. Depending on the way my tank looks. Never had problems. However, I am fighting cyano due to over feeding my sun coral. Good luck on the move!

01/30/2014, 03:49 PM	#7
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I agree with above. Once you start moving sand around you release all the nasty stuff that will take a tank down in days.

01/30/2014, 08:02 PM	#9
phillrodrigo Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: quaker hill ct Posts: 2,433	All the bacteria is in the live rock. While some say technically you could trash it all as long as the luve rock stayed fresh im not that daring. I would save as much as possible and use it. The betrer your parameters are the more I would save. If you have issues I would use less. No matter what you always run the risk of a cycle. Ditch the old sand start with new. I started a nano with rock from my 75 all new water and it never cycled.

01/30/2014, 09:31 PM	#11
jarrod13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: jacksonville florida Posts: 1,441	A question for the three of you that just posted about switching tanks or starting a new tank, what did you do about the filtration media? Use the old stuff or was all that new too?

01/30/2014, 09:41 PM	#13
okienine Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 12	I just had to move to a new tank due to a leak, i used existing sand but i went ahead and cleaned it prior to moving by rinsing it till clean, moved existing live rock, and used about 50% of the original water column, tank looks great and all inhabitants are doing great. if I had to do it again I would of saved several cups of the sand bed before disturbing it to seed it once cleaned, as it was I used Bio Spira to kick start the sand.

01/30/2014, 09:56 PM	#14
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Like said if you rinse the sand out you wount have any issue of introducing bad bacteria and risk a cycle. I have moved my tanks twice and never re used the sand for the reason of having create a issue. Like said all the bacteria is mainly in the rock. If you can save a cup or two you can, but your new sandbed will be crawling with life in no time. You will be surprised even though you clean the sand bed how much gunk is left behind when you break the tank down.

01/31/2014, 12:24 AM	#15
JohnoL Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 41	I recently moved my 120g. I used 100% new water and experienced no issues.

01/31/2014, 05:06 AM	#16
erickcooper Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 219	Not to hijack this post (it seems relevant anyway), but since y'all are discussing moving sand beds, I'm moving from a 75 to a 125 and adding a sump/refugium. I'm adding a completely new sand bed to the new tank but am thinking about seeding the refugium with sand from the current tank. It's been set up for almost 8 years. I won't be saving a lot of it, but plan to rinse it in the current salt water before moving it. Sound ok to rinse it and get some of the dirt out?

01/31/2014, 07:54 AM	#19
joesreeftank Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 97	Thank you everyone, Tomorrow is the big day, Ill let you know what I end up doing and the results.

01/31/2014, 03:41 PM	#21
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	i'll be doing this very soon, too. everything from my 29g and 14g biocubes will be going into my new 75g tank. good luck tomorrow and post pics!!! __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

02/03/2014, 08:59 AM	#23
joesreeftank Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 97	Okay the move was Saturday and so far everything looks good, I ended up using 30 lbs of new live sand and about 75% of my old sand once i rinsed it in the old water and again in some new salt water. i used 60 gal of new salt water and 80 gal of the old water. i did my best to keep the temp close however it did end up doping about 3 degrees, I started with salinity of 1.026 and ended with the same. i will post pics of my new tank set up as soon as i get a few minutes. thanks for all of the suggestions this was my first time building a reef-tank on my own. Joe