How to convert.....Quickly

dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Now what do I do? I will move the tank this coming Friday. I have a good idea of how I am going to move it.
I will put the fish in a tote with some rock, a heater and a power head. I will put the remaining rock and sand in totes with some of the water. I will put the water in garbage cans with wheels. I will get some salt to mix up and top off with.
The question...How do I clean everything???????
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
As an aside - you have a lot to learn - but one quick thing is please do not flush that algae, it is highly invasive. So much so that some are even illegal in certain states! Yikes!
There are lots of things to learn. You may want to start in our archives forum for some good threads.
Search for Cycling and overall just browse through the forums.
You can get a list of what equipment you have which will dictate a lot about what you can keep.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
http:///forum/post/2867263
As an aside - you have a lot to learn - but one quick thing is please do not flush that algae, it is highly invasive. So much so that some are even illegal in certain states! Yikes!
There are lots of things to learn. You may want to start in our archives forum for some good threads.
Search for Cycling and overall just browse through the forums.
You can get a list of what equipment you have which will dictate a lot about what you can keep.

I have stated that I have not a lot, BUT EVERYTHING, to learn. I am just looking for a way NOT to kill a FREE 210 GALLON TANK! I have until Friday to prepare and move the tank. I am looking for HELP!
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
Hears how I would do it...but remember I consider myself inexperienced and therefore don't take me as concrete:
Seeing what you have to work with it wont be easy. Looks like the tank is in bad shape to begin with due to neglect. Dont fret!! Evin if you lose all the life you still have all the equipment and that's a bad ass deal so no matter what you win!.
For starter transplant the fish and some of the rock, with corals or whatever inverts you have to a clean tank. Try to use the existing water since this will give you a head start. Put them in an empty tank no sand. Heater and skimmer only. Your going to be working fast and not having alot of time for mistake.
Next set up the main tank follow all the guides in the sticky section on the forums. Clean everything properly as you install each piece! Whoever let it go that far is obviously not responsible enough to handle this hobby. Vinegar and warm water only!! No cleaning solutions. Get all that Crud and film off.
Toss the sand!! Looks nasty and hasn't been maintained with a proper cleanup crew.
Buy enough to put about 1-1.5inches of sand in the bottom. Not too much...deep sand is a thing of the past. Cure your existing live rock. Then cycle the tank once its been set up. When your done with the cycling add your cleanup crew. If they live...add the fish and inverts from your temporary tank. This isn't something your gonna accomplish in a weekend.
Your gonna need at least a month before the tank is cycled and ready for life. I doubt your fish and inverts will last that long in the temp tank...that's the risk. If you feel that's abusive to the animals....then you really shouldn't be putting them at risk by transporting them. Mabee your local fish store will allow you to work out a deal where they babysit the fish in return for repeat business. This is the best solution I see because your pretty much taking a bad situation and starting over from scratch.
Hears a reef 101 course that is very simplified and should help.
http://www.reefbasics.com/cleanup-crew.html
Hope this helps.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
For starter transplant the fish and some of the rock, with corals or whatever inverts you have to a clean tank. Try to use the existing water since this will give you a head start. Put them in an empty tank no sand. Heater and skimmer only. Your going to be working fast and not having alot of time for mistake.
A new tank? how large to have a shot at keeping everything alive?
The remaining live rock, what do I do with it? Let it dry out or keep it in the remaining saltwater?
What do I do with the bio balls? How do I clean them, or do I? How do I clean the aqua clean system under the tank? Like I said, I know nothing about saltwater tanks and have a week before I get my first!!! I would love to have the time to read and study for a few months, but I dont!
TIA for any help...
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
Originally Posted by dffhogs
http:///forum/post/2867285
I have stated that I have not a lot, BUT EVERYTHING, to learn. I am just looking for a way NOT to kill a FREE 210 GALLON TANK! I have until Friday to prepare and move the tank. I am looking for HELP!
You misunderstood my point...I think at least. NOTHING was intended but some random pointers on stuff to search for and do. But one of the first things is to clean that tank and please don't flush that algae in the rush to clean it up. It is a teeny tiny point, yes, but hey.
Overall since it is not a reef tank, and frankly needs a good clean, it will not be much more than getting the muscle and getting a lot of water mixed. But it may recycle, because I bet there is a bunch of crud to get stirred up in the move.
Yes you have a lot to learn, what's wrong with that???? Dang. I'll stay out of your way I guess!!
But NOTHING in this hobby works without a bit of patience. You actually have a fair amount of time all considering. It is a fish only tank, straight forward filtration. Get pics of all the equipment and people can talk you through.
 
S

saltman23

Guest
you can either put the fish in a tank or bin it doesn't really matter. use the same water and put a couple pieces of live rock in there with a heater and some kind of small filter. The changes will be fine if you take your time and do right. When i transfered a tank about 15 miles it had a similar stock list of a tang, damsel, and a clown. I put them in bags and after i got the small tank going i floated them and put them in. They were in the 10 gallon for about 4 days and all survived. I was a bit suprised myself considering the yellow tang was about 6 inches!
Keep the Live rock in water at all times! if its out of water for a long period of time it will dry out and die and be worthless. LR does not only look nice but provides food and filtration.
i wouldLIGHTLY rinse the bio balls and clean the entire sump.
Just relax and take your time. You are starting out with a very large setup so it's not gonna be a walk in the park. Any more ?s feel free to ask.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by Saltman23
http:///forum/post/2867382
you can either put the fish in a tank or bin it doesn't really matter. use the same water and put a couple pieces of live rock in there with a heater and some kind of small filter. The changes will be fine if you take your time and do right. When i transfered a tank about 15 miles it had a similar stock list of a tang, damsel, and a clown. I put them in bags and after i got the small tank going i floated them and put them in. They were in the 10 gallon for about 4 days and all survived. I was a bit suprised myself considering the yellow tang was about 6 inches!
Keep the Live rock in water at all times! if its out of water for a long period of time it will dry out and die and be worthless. LR does not only look nice but provides food and filtration.
i wouldLIGHTLY rinse the bio balls and clean the entire sump.
Just relax and take your time. You are starting out with a very large setup so it's not gonna be a walk in the park. Any more ?s feel free to ask.
Thank you for your help.
When I clean the skimmer under the tank, do I take it apart and clean everything with vinegar and water? Does the skimmer look large enough (OK brand)? Rinse the bio balls with water or vinegar and water?
I thing I want to get new sand. Is this ok? If so, what kind and how much does it take for a 210 gal. tank?
 
S

saltman23

Guest
I never cleaned it with vinegar. I just used water. For the skimmer, it doesn't look like its the best and depending on what kind of fish your going to put in the tank you might want to upgrade. A name would help. I would also just use water on the bioballs.
Definatly get new sand. I like the Aragonite. It looks really good and doesn't collect debris. Do not do crushed coral as it collect and will become a nitrate problem. if i calculate right your looking at about 200 lbs.
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by Saltman23
http:///forum/post/2867421
I never cleaned it with vinegar. I just used water. For the skimmer, it doesn't look like its the best and depending on what kind of fish your going to put in the tank you might want to upgrade. A name would help. I would also just use water on the bioballs.
Definatly get new sand. I like the Aragonite. It looks really good and doesn't collect debris. Do not do crushed coral as it collect and will become a nitrate problem. if i calculate right your looking at about 200 lbs.

Is this the type of sand you are talking about?
http://www.*****.com/product/15439/N...LAID=201379771
 
S

saltman23

Guest
I dont believe were aloud to post links to competitor cites so ill tell you to go to drs foster smith dot com. and go under substrate by fish. the brand is called carib sea
 
dffhogs

dffhogs

Member
Originally Posted by Saltman23
http:///forum/post/2867530
I dont believe were aloud to post links to competitor cites so ill tell you to go to drs foster smith dot com. and go under substrate by fish. the brand is called carib sea
Sorry about the link, just showing the brand/type.
Do I want live Aragonite sand or just Aragonite sand?
 
cveverly

cveverly

Member
I would set up one of your 55 gallon tanks for a temporary tank. Fill it about 25% - 35% full with fresh saltwater. Add the heater and a couple power heads. Have a spare tank, tub or tote of saltwater made up and heated.
When moving, I would put the fish in a cooler with a battery powered air pump. Skip the bagging. Save enough of the old water to fill your 55 gallon the rest of the way. Use totes or clean garbage cans to keep rock covered in water.
Warm the room up to 78 degrees if you can. This may help reduce heat loss while you are getting everything ready. Add some of the cleanest rock you have to your 55 gallon tank (about 50 pounds if you can). Try to swish the rock in the tote to remove debris before adding to the 55. Then fill the 55 gallon with with the old water.
Now you can start to acclimate the fish. I like the drip method but others may disagree. If you drip acclimate this is where you will need the extra tote of saltwater mentioned above. As the 55 drips into the cooler you will need to refill the 55 with new saltwater. This process can take a couple hours.
Once the fish are acclimated you can move them to the 55. I would not run a long light schedule on the 55. You don't want to give the algae a chance to start again. I would do a 10-20% water chance every week on the 55 until you move everything to the 210.
Make sure you keep a heater and powerhead in the container with the rock.
Now you can start the process of cleaning the 210 and all the accessories that went with it. It looks like there are a few softie corals on the rock. You may want to try and save them.
Once it is clean I would fill it about 75% with clean salt water. Add sand(if you want it), heater, wet/dry filter (if you are going to use it), skimmer and a couple more power heads. It is very important to keep the flow moving across the live rock. That is your primary filter.
Clean the live rock by swishing and scrubbing with a brush. Make sure the brush is clean and has never been used. Give the rock a final rinse in fresh saltwater before adding to the 210. After the rock is added fill the 210 the rest of the way with fresh saltwater.
This may be some what controversial. I would keep the 210 dark for a few weeks. Even cover the tank if you can. The tank is going to cycle and if you leave the lights off it should kill any left over algae. Make sure the powerheads, heater and filters stay running.
Once the tank is ready you can start adding your fish slowly. Maybe one every couple weeks. Add the tang last. Start adding the lights a few hours a day. Building up to your lighting schedule.
As you add fish add a little of the rock from the 55 to the 210. After the last fish is moved you can move the last of the rock to the 210.
Drain the 55 and clean. By then you will be wanting to set it up as a reef tank.

Go outside and sit on the swing and enjoy the nice warm day. Because by this time it will be spring.

If you have an RO filter use it. If not go one or buy some RO or distilled water from the store. One of the keys to success is a good RO/DI filter (in my opinion). Don't use it for your fresh water fish just the saltwater. You can use tap water but you may end up fighting phosphates, algae and bacteria.
As the tank evaporates you will need to top it off with fresh water. Use RO for this also.
Kind of long and I still missed a LOT of steps. I hope others step in and fill the holes and offer other opinions.
 
S

saltman23

Guest
I would do 150 pounds of "dead" aragonite 30lb bags for 25$ (just to make sure were looking at the same one.) and then i would add 2 bags of the arag alive which is 20lbs for 27$. place those 2 bags ontop of the regular sand. Live sand is packaged with actual water and has bacteria that will promote the health of your tank.
 
V

vince-1961

Guest
DiffHogs, you are in a much better position than I was. In August I bought a set up just like the one you are getting, except mine came with 65 gallon sump, fully operational and stocked with aggressive fish and rocks, but no clean up crew. At the time, I knew ZERO about saltwater tanks. I kept about 100 gallons of the water and as much of the sand as possible (in the same container as the water, which was not the aquarium) and about 1/3 of the rock. I ran out of room, so that was all I could transport.
I set it all up ASAP, which is to say that it took me about 3 or 4 days to get it up and running again. I finished the tank with water from the local ocean. (NOTE: given the cost of gasoline to operate my boat, it would've been cheaper to have made my own saltwater from store-bought salt and regular tap water - - - probably a lot healthier for the tank too.)
Speaking of tap water...don't use it. It has phosphates. Phosphates = coating of ugly brown crud everywhere, a/k/a diatoms. You need to spend $175 and buy a reverse omosis filter, which you can use to make some awesomely good tasting drinking water!
At any rate, do whatever you can to keep as much of the original set up as possible. Get the thing up and running as quickly as possible and put everything back in, but beware. Chances are that the tank will end up re-cycling, meaning that that tank will probably go through a little "mini-cycle" lasting about a month, just not with the huge swings you get with a totally raw set up.
To "cycle" a tank means that in the first month, you have a large rise in ammonia which is fatal to livestock, followed by a large rise in nitrite which is fatal to livestock, followed by a large rise in nitrate, which is also fatal to livestock. Then things start to settle down.
Of ultimate concern is the nitrate. That is the end product of the "cycling." To get rid of nitrate, you need either (or preferably a combination of) a deep sand bed, plants or some infernal contraption to get rid of them. Well, forget the infernal contraption, a/k/a "nitrate remover" by whatever name the current marketing lingo calls it.
Put some Cheato in your sump and add enough sand to your main tank to have at least 3" to 4" worth in a fair portion of the floor surface of your tank or the refugium section of your sump. The cheato feeds off of nitrates. In the deep sand live anaerobic (a/k/a "oxygen-less") bacteria that feed off of nitrates.
I send this to you at 11 PM Sunday. I have no doubt that you are playing with it as I write....
 
V

vince-1961

Guest
P.S. - .. . . . . "fatal to livestock" . . . . .... EXCEPT damsels. Those batards will live through anything!
 
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