Bright Ideas

[the claw]

When you need help you come back to the experts. Hopefully someone is in the mood. I'm tearing down my 150 and putting it into a new inwall 180. I have a full tank with a deepsand bed etc. Any ideas on how to transfer it all without causing the largest cycle on the planet. Here is what I was thinking....
I put some more sand in the bottom of the new tank to offset the larger size. I figured it would also help me stabalize my rockwork. I figured I would take most of my top pieces of live rock with all of the acros and such and put them into a heated rubbermaid, then transfer the baserock over to the new tank. I would blow off as much detritus as I could before doing so. I would then trandfer the "good" stuff over. At that point I should be able to capture the fish. I would then try to take out some sand at a time and put it over in the big tank....This is the part I'm really concerned about. I really don't want to give up 200 pounds of argonite sand that is teaming with wildlife. But...do I risk the cycle or is there a way to avoid it? I have filled the new tank with water from my 150 gradually over time with water changes. I was also going to set up its refugium for awhile ahead of time so that the water will be old water.
Anybody out there willing to help a fellow out with brilliance?

 

[the claw]

This is discouraging. Anyone????????????:help:

 

[stuckinfla]

It sounds like a good idea, what if you start taking small amounts of sand from one to the other, like your doing with the water changes? Also, how old is the sand bed in the 150? Not brilliance, just an idea

 

[acetylene]

sounds like good idea to me. I helped a buddy transfer everything from a bowfront 75 to a wave 100. As soon as we could we bucketed fish, eventually transfered all rock, and sand and water to new aquarium, then added corals and fish. As far as i know nothing died.

 

[herp_house]

sounds good to me, i had to break down my 75 2 times in a month just to move it and not one thing dies and i have no problems. all i did was put water in buckets put the corals with them, same with the fish, all the rest of the water went in jugs, moved it then revesed everything. i sure you can use somthing like that for tranfering one tank to another, logically i dont see why not.

 

[the claw]

Thanks, I guess I'll give her the big try. Right now I'm in the big organizational phae. What a project. I picked up some ammo lock just in case things don't come off smoothly. I have never used it before, but seems like it might be a good thing to have on hand for the adventure.

 

[fishmamma]

Do you know which type of Rubbermaid is safe to use?

 

[the claw]

Actually, I haven't given it much thought, but I do know that there are rigid inert ones, and the soft ones with a petro product in them that shouldn't be used. Is that what you are refering to?????

 

[fishmamma]

possibly....it sounds like the clear bins are OK?

 

[the claw]

When I made my sump for my old set-up, I used one of the large clear rigid ones. It worked fine. I know others use the soft ones, but I have heard about the coating thats in them, plus, they don't hold up real well when you fill them I don't think.
The big move is going to be soon. I'm almost completely plumbed and I tried everything out last night. I need a few more failsafes, then electrical for my lights and I'm good to go. Meanwhile water is circulating.