going from a 20 to a 72.

[lovehatejon]

the headline says all basically. but could really use some help.
the general plan was to put everything from my 20 to the 72 and make the 20 a QT. all i really need to buy is more sand and more live rock over time to accommodate the bigger tank. but im wondering if i put everything from my 20 to the 72 will it be generally ready to go being that every grain of sand and every rock will be in the 72?
thanks!

 

[swimmer4uus]

Last autumn I did the same. Took my 20, converted into a refuge for the 90 I got of HECK of a deal. You're going to be golden if you can setup the bigger tank for a couple days, before you really start moving things over. I had the 90 running almost 3 weeks, just to let the basics settle down from the move. Got the 90 from a lady who had it just running already, but no livestock. When I did move stuff over, I move the hardier stuff. Zoanthids, mushrooms, crabs. Then moved my cleaner shrimp (which died and freaked me out). Watched the parameters for a couple days, and saw the ph was a little different, other than that idk what killed them. Finally about 3 weeks after I started moving stuff over, I finished it with live rock, and my perculas(they are my pride and joy). From there the DT only had live rock, and powerheads for a couple weeks, while I worked on the return plumbing, and fitting my 20 underneath. Now it's golden, and keeps my attention way too much for my gf's liking....

 

[lovehatejon]

Hmm, so everything went well?
My 20 is a FOWLR so I'm not dealing with stuff like coral.
All I really got is a pair of clowns and some inverts. Aside from my LR that's all I'm moving over.
And like you said.. I was going to wait a couple weeks to let the water quality get right of course and take it from there.
I was sure everything would go smooth. But better safe then sorry, right?

 

[beth]

I'd get the sand in now, live sand mostly if possible, so you really won't have deal with a cycle.