55gal. to 125gal.

[mike h.]

Just bought a 125gal. tank to replace my 55gal. Want to start a reef tank/fish tank. I have all the power heads, filters, skimmers, lighting, pumps, etc. with the 125. My question is: How do I transfer from one tank to the other? Do I still have to wait out the cycle period? 55gal. is established, about two years....

 

[escape2thewater]

If possible, the way I would do it would be to set up the new tank and let it cycle. Then gradually move all your stuff over a little at a time. I know its a long process but if you can do it that way it would be safe. To help you could use water from your 55 when you do water changes to help the cycle. Good luck!
Escape
:happyfish

 

[jokerj]

you could probably do it with out a cycle since 55 has been up and going for a while but you will want to use almost all the water, lr, ls from 55 gal. best to break down 55 into big plastic tubs with a power head and heater for fish, corals, and some live rock. once your down to low amount of water hold off on that point. Then in 125 put in about 6 in of mixed saltwater then add rock and base sand. once this is done add the live sand from the 55 on top or last this way your not killing off all the live sand from the 55. Once you do that let it settle just for a short while and then add as much water from your 55 gal you can with out taking too much away from fish. Then add rest as new premixed saltwater to it and after letting sand storm settle a bit add the rest of the water and make sure you reaclimate your fish to new environment. If you use the live rock and sand from 55 it should not be a big deal and not cause too much of a cycle. I did same kind of thing but moved from a 20 gal to 55 and did not have any problems. since you are moving over all the live bacteria you can from the 55 I think you would be ok. All I can say is it worked for me but may not everyone. If adding more live rock ect I would try to cycle that through somewhere else instead off adding it durring the move. Hope this will help.

 

[jokerj]

another thing after adding sand put a plate on top of it and when you add new water poor it on the plate this will keep the sand storm down.

 

[scarface]

i have something i would like to be answered as well because im going from a 30gallon reef to 125gallon. What about filtration? I know that it keeps good bacteria and Im going from a fluval 204 to a sump. Now can i use my bio balls that i had in fluval in the new sump so that I can keep that good bacteria or does it matter? I will be using my exisitng live sand with my exisiting live rock, but I would have to add more live sand, would that cause it to cycle?

 

[mike h.]

Originally Posted by jokerj
you could probably do it with out a cycle since 55 has been up and going for a while but you will want to use almost all the water, lr, ls from 55 gal. best to break down 55 into big plastic tubs with a power head and heater for fish, corals, and some live rock. once your down to low amount of water hold off on that point. Then in 125 put in about 6 in of mixed saltwater then add rock and base sand. once this is done add the live sand from the 55 on top or last this way your not killing off all the live sand from the 55. Once you do that let it settle just for a short while and then add as much water from your 55 gal you can with out taking too much away from fish. Then add rest as new premixed saltwater to it and after letting sand storm settle a bit add the rest of the water and make sure you reaclimate your fish to new environment. If you use the live rock and sand from 55 it should not be a big deal and not cause too much of a cycle. I did same kind of thing but moved from a 20 gal to 55 and did not have any problems. since you are moving over all the live bacteria you can from the 55 I think you would be ok. All I can say is it worked for me but may not everyone. If adding more live rock ect I would try to cycle that through somewhere else instead off adding it durring the move. Hope this will help.

Sounds like a good plan...will try that!