TANK SWAP! My plan, any helpfull ideas wanted!

Every1jockzjay · 04/10/2014, 10:24 PM

Ok so i have a 36 bow with 10gal sump. Tank is mostly lps, not drilled and curently on an ikea stand. Im gettin a great deal om a 40breeder with a nice stand so my thoughts are drill it and eleminate my two main problems hob overflow and ikea stand.
My plan is to empty the tank into another tank or rubbermaid container, put all liverock, fish and coral in it, or watever i can fit and the rest into buckets. Then break down the 36 only leaving the sand and bottom inch or two of water. Then im guna setup the new tank, plumb it as fast as i can install old sump and add thoroughly washed sand and 10 gals of water.
Im guna keep all the water as close to 80degrees as i can. As soon as the new tank is in place im guna add some water so i can get the liverock corals and fish in place and add the water and get it running as soon as possible.... Basically it should be like a 10gal water addition lol? Im going to have the 40b as ready as possible before i start the process, any plumbing i can do before hand i will.
My concernsis last time i moved my tank i nuked everything! Im using new dead sand and when i add water im either going to use a pump or slowly pour it ontop of a bucket cover so i dont disturb the sand, hopefully the water wont cloud to much. My tank is runnin realllyyy well and i dont really wanna do a swap but it only makes sence to eliminate my two problems while i can get the good deal. Please comment on anything else i can do to make it go smooth, or any problems with my plan you see. Or if its perfect let me kno lolll thanks!

MrFingers · 04/11/2014, 03:26 AM

I didn't read your entire post but it seems like you're trying to rush things and assuming that everything will go according to plan. Whilst I too am an optimist, you should always have a backup plan especially when dealing with fish/corals. Have a temporary tank setup where you can house your fish and coral. In the past what I thought would take a few days took a few months.

You can store live rock in a big tub with a powerhead or two and heater, that will keep it alive for a few months, well mine has been going strong for the past 6 months.

Andrewr2488 · 04/11/2014, 03:33 AM

I've successfully transferred tanks twice, you just gotta have all your ducks in a row. If Was you, and what I did in my case was to keep the current system running while plumbing and getting new system ready, then just transfer the sand and rock to new tank along with water, catch fish and collect corals and just swap it all over. Like I said I've don't this twice and haven't had a hiccup yet. To do this you'll have to pick a new spot for your tank, but that's not always possible.

shifty51008 · 04/11/2014, 04:29 AM

No need to rush things, as long as you have heaters and water flow in you tubs with the livestock they will be fine for a couple days. Ive transfered my tank twice like the way your thinking with no losses and the last time it took me 2 days before i added any of the livestock back.

ravenstone · 04/11/2014, 07:20 AM

I would get the new tank 100% plumbed and ready to go before I pull anything out of your old tank. You just never know when you will run into a problem. It could be a leak in your plumbing or something somewhere else. Murphy's law usually rules the day, especially in your in a rush, lol. The most important thing is to take your time. once you have the new tank squared away, then start breaking your old tank down and beginning the process of moving everything over. This way you are minimizing the length of time everything is being disturbed. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

04/10/2014, 10:24 PM	#1
Every1jockzjay Moved On Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 515	TANK SWAP! My plan, any helpfull ideas wanted! Ok so i have a 36 bow with 10gal sump. Tank is mostly lps, not drilled and curently on an ikea stand. Im gettin a great deal om a 40breeder with a nice stand so my thoughts are drill it and eleminate my two main problems hob overflow and ikea stand. My plan is to empty the tank into another tank or rubbermaid container, put all liverock, fish and coral in it, or watever i can fit and the rest into buckets. Then break down the 36 only leaving the sand and bottom inch or two of water. Then im guna setup the new tank, plumb it as fast as i can install old sump and add thoroughly washed sand and 10 gals of water. Im guna keep all the water as close to 80degrees as i can. As soon as the new tank is in place im guna add some water so i can get the liverock corals and fish in place and add the water and get it running as soon as possible.... Basically it should be like a 10gal water addition lol? Im going to have the 40b as ready as possible before i start the process, any plumbing i can do before hand i will. My concernsis last time i moved my tank i nuked everything! Im using new dead sand and when i add water im either going to use a pump or slowly pour it ontop of a bucket cover so i dont disturb the sand, hopefully the water wont cloud to much. My tank is runnin realllyyy well and i dont really wanna do a swap but it only makes sence to eliminate my two problems while i can get the good deal. Please comment on anything else i can do to make it go smooth, or any problems with my plan you see. Or if its perfect let me kno lolll thanks!

04/11/2014, 03:26 AM	#2
MrFingers Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Australia Posts: 6	I didn't read your entire post but it seems like you're trying to rush things and assuming that everything will go according to plan. Whilst I too am an optimist, you should always have a backup plan especially when dealing with fish/corals. Have a temporary tank setup where you can house your fish and coral. In the past what I thought would take a few days took a few months. You can store live rock in a big tub with a powerhead or two and heater, that will keep it alive for a few months, well mine has been going strong for the past 6 months. __________________ A fish rots from the head down. Current Tank Info: 400g Mixed Reef

04/11/2014, 03:33 AM	#3
Andrewr2488 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 32	I've successfully transferred tanks twice, you just gotta have all your ducks in a row. If Was you, and what I did in my case was to keep the current system running while plumbing and getting new system ready, then just transfer the sand and rock to new tank along with water, catch fish and collect corals and just swap it all over. Like I said I've don't this twice and haven't had a hiccup yet. To do this you'll have to pick a new spot for your tank, but that's not always possible. __________________ JBJ 30 Rimless Mixed Reef Current Tank Info: JBJ 30 RL

04/11/2014, 04:29 AM	#4
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	No need to rush things, as long as you have heaters and water flow in you tubs with the livestock they will be fine for a couple days. Ive transfered my tank twice like the way your thinking with no losses and the last time it took me 2 days before i added any of the livestock back. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

04/11/2014, 07:20 AM	#5
ravenstone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 53	I would get the new tank 100% plumbed and ready to go before I pull anything out of your old tank. You just never know when you will run into a problem. It could be a leak in your plumbing or something somewhere else. Murphy's law usually rules the day, especially in your in a rush, lol. The most important thing is to take your time. once you have the new tank squared away, then start breaking your old tank down and beginning the process of moving everything over. This way you are minimizing the length of time everything is being disturbed. Good luck and let us know how it goes.