Huge Water Change?

spookyspook

spookyspook

Member
Ok, unfortunatly I am having to move my 40 gallon breeder. I have already taken out all of the rock and it's in a tub of old water, as well as the corals fish and inverts of mine. All that's left in my tank is my sandbed and just enough water to cover it's surface. I did clean my sump while I was at it and when I set the tank back up I will be installing a refugium. My main concern is, will this huge water change hurt my corals, fish, algae and sand bed? Would it be a good idea to put about 25% of the old water back and then mix new water to fill the rest of the tank?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
I would do the 100 % water change BUT I would temp acclimate the corals AND drip acclimate the fish to the new water
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Are you actually MOVING the tank? Do not move it with sand, sand is super heavy and you could break the seal. Only move an empty tank.
 
spookyspook

spookyspook

Member
Yes we moved the tank and yes I took the sandbed out, I put it in a container of old water as well( I saw the biggest worm ever O.O, friggen sea monster). The tank is already on the new stand and everything is ready. I'm currently putting new water in and I'll put the rocks and then the sand.
 
spookyspook

spookyspook

Member
I bought two bottles of prime before I began, just to be safe I'm putting a capful in each 2 gallons of water. I don't trust this water X /. Also, I had a slight question about my sump. There is a large block sump below where the bio-balls are. Can I take this out? Also, should I replace my bioballs with live rock chips? Or can I just put some in the space where the return pump goes?
Another few questions I have is, after I am done setting up the sump, I am going to install a fuge. How large should it be? I am sure I have room for anything from 5 to 10 gallons under my stand OR a slim and tall trash can. I'd like to put chaeto and a DSB in it. Should I set it up like a sump with it's own return pump OR can the pump in the sump handle both loads?
 
chevyblue96

chevyblue96

Member
I'm new to all this as well, but my bottle of prime says a capful per 50gals??? Isn't a capful per every 2 gals over doing it?
 
spookyspook

spookyspook

Member
Perhaps, I've done so the last two or three times I set up an aquarium with no ill effects. I'll keep an eye on it though. I don't use so much for normal water changes but, I just want to make sure the water is as clean as possible.
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
The weight of the wet sand mixed with water is very heavy and puts unnecessary pressure on the seams of the tank.
 
hawkfish203

hawkfish203

Member
I suppose but, no more then a full tank of water and sand. I moved 2 tanks with the sand still in them with no problems. I understand that it makes it heaver with the sand to move but, I don't see it putting enough stress to undo the seams that the water every day wouldn't do.
 
gemmy

gemmy

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by HAWKFISH203 http:///forum/thread/384028/huge-water-change#post_3362906
I suppose but, no more then a full tank of water and sand. I moved 2 tanks with the sand still in them with no problems. I understand that it makes it heaver with the sand to move but, I don't see it putting enough stress to undo the seams that the water every day wouldn't do.
Our tanks are stationary with the weight being distributed and supported by the stand. Now, when you are moving you no larger have the support of the stand to relieve the pressure points. Then, you have the water and sand splish, splashing around shifting the weight distribution. I'm not saying moving a tank is guaranteeing the seams to break.
 
hawkfish203

hawkfish203

Member
yea that makes sense. I figured thats where you were going with it. Do you think taking it out stirs it up more in the move then leaving it in?
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by HAWKFISH203 http:///forum/thread/384028/huge-water-change#post_3362898
Curious why would moving it with sand in it make a difference? Sand is putting weight on it all the time?
A fish tank is either 4 panels of glass held together with silicone or acrylic held by glue. You may think you are moving the tank all at once but you are not. One arm ever so slightly lower than the other or your helper doesn't lift as high as you, and you are twisting the tank...with the kind of weight sand or water has... you break the seal...and you have a leak.
Never move a tank unless it is completely empty. Are there people who have done it and not had issues...Yes, but is it worth the risk? Not in my opinion, while your critters remain in buckets dying waiting for you to get another tank or fix the one you just busted.
 
spookyspook

spookyspook

Member
Okey doke well, the tank is full, the fish and inverts are being acclimated and everything's going fine. Now I just need a few questions answered before I start with anything else. I've already posted the questions earlier but I'll repost.
Do I have to keep the large block sponge in my sump that is located below my bioballs? Should I replace my bioballs with liverock chips? Can I place these chips in the sump OR in the refugium I plan to install? The refugium will have chaeto and a DSB and can be any where from 5 to 10 gallons, this said, I should most likely start it's own overflow and have it's own return pump right?
 
hawkfish203

hawkfish203

Member
I would think chips in place of the bio balls would pick up alot more nitrate. I would just leave the bio balls and put a few softball size LR in your fuge.And I would leave the block for now till the tank clears up. Make sure you clean the block every day sense u just moved it. Not sure what u mean by its own overflow and return? Overflow off of DT return in sump back to DT. Sorry didn't mean to jack your thread there. I have to move my tank pretty quick and iv'e always moved it with the sand and now I def won't.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Leave the filter block in your sump, leave the bio-balls forget the LR chips go with the biggest refuge you can and if you are going to interconnect the sump to the refuge you can go with one return pump
 
spookyspook

spookyspook

Member
Mkay, how can I make sure the return pump is strong enough to pump the water from the sump's over flow AND the fuge's overflow?
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
the return pump only has to be strong enough to return water to the display tank, gravity will handle the rest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top