EMERGENCY!! TANK Leak please help

[mkb623]

Currently I have a 55 gallon- with approx 70 lbs live sand, 65 lbs live rock, coral beauty, ocellaris clown, 2 blue green chromis, cleaner shrimp, camelback shrimp, chocolate chip starfish, approx- 15 astrea(sp?) snails
My tank is leaking along the lower right seam.
I went to LFS and purchased an 125 gallon

to be here monday afternoon.
In the meantime I also have a 20 gallon to put my critters in.
Let me tell you the gameplan so hopefully I can get some advice before I follow through.
I was planning on putting my critters and about 15lbs of rock into the 20 gallon with water taken directly from my old tank. I did not plan on putting any sand in there because I don't want to cause it to cycle. I also obviously will put the scimmer and biowheel on the 20 gallon along with a heater.
Now the rest of my lr and sand I wanted to take out and put in totes to store so I can move the old tank and stand out of the way. Can I simply make sure they are covered with water and they will be alright? Obviously the new tank will have to cycle anyway and while I would like to keep it to a minimum time so long as my fishes are safe I don't mind a bit to wait it out. I am the girl who let my original tank cycle for 2 months before I added anything to it. So this rushing things is a bit out of the ordinary for me.
Also I have some live plants- red kelp & shaving brush plants that I am not certain what to do with. Can I just float them in the 20 gallon? Or what? I am not sure really what to do with them. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[prk543]

I would think you have a good game plan. Hopefully this will bump this back up to the top, and someone will be able to give you a little more insight on your plants.
For the 20 gal, i would just follow the procedures for setting up an emergency QT, i think there should be something in the disease and treatment forum. It will be cramped in the 20, but no worse than if you had to QT all of your fish.
Sorry about your 55, but at least you will have a new tank arriving on Monday.
Good luck with the switch
Prk543

 

[mkb623]

TY for your help. I have the 20 gallon set up all the rest of my lr is in a tote with a heater and just transferred all my critters. I just floated the plants didn't know what else to do with them.
Interesting side note~ I found 3 cleaner clams I didn't know I had. I had purchased all arag alive originally. I can only figure they came in with that or on one of my original pieces of live rock.

So now I am doing the sand. It's tedious.

 

[faqbch99]

Put a powerhead and heater in the tote with the LR. It will do much better and you will have less of a cycle when you put it back in te new tank. I feel bad for ya as this is a pain, but at least you get a nice new bigger tank out of it.

 

[lesleybird]

If you get a new tank you will not have to cycle it if you keep all the live rock and old sand and put it in the new tank. You can use part of the old water and add some new or use all new water. Keep your old sand wet with saltwater and the rock. For the first few weeks feed lightly and watch the water perimeters closely and add a bottle of cycle bacteria to help replace some of the good bacteria. Most of your bacteria that keeps the amonia and nitrites in line is not in your water, but on your live rock and sand. I have never cycled a tank when I moved up in size and put the same fish bioload in with the old stuff from the other tank. No need to keep your fish in a tiny 20 gallon. Also pick up a bottle of Ammo Lock or Amquel in case of any problems and check the water frequently. Feed lightly for the first 6 weeks and do not add anything new for about 2 months. I have never lost any fish this way. Sometimes you may have to do a more frequent partial water change for a while but maybe not. The only bacteria you lost is the stuff on the glass surfaces that needs to re-grow on the new tank as most of your good bacteria is on your live rock and sand. Good luck. Lesley

 

[mkb623]

Thanks guys! I think I am in pretty good shape actually. All things considered. All fish and inverts seem fine. No way to heat my sand as its pretty packed in there but I figure that is the way they ship it. Covered in sea water and obviously the temps its in fluctuate so I'm hoping for the best.
I figure it will take a couple of days to get the new tank filled and up to temp.
I am pretty tied in a knot regardless of getting a new tank. Now I have the bigger skimmer and additional lighting to think about too. On the bright side I can finally get a blue tang Blah there goes that 50 inch plasma I had my eye on.

 

[horsin1963]

if you live close enough to Utica NY I'll loan you a 90 RR till you get your other in place up and running...