Moving from a 55 gallon to a 110 gallon.

[ashkan]

How would this work? Do I need to cycle it if I move everything from the 55 to the 110 but add a little bit more rock and dead sand? I have 70+ pounds of live sand and 100+ pounds of live rock. If I transfer the sand and rock and ALL of the water plus some more water to fill the tank will I need to cycle it? Do you think I can use my 55 as a sump? Thanks in advance guys.

 

[thomas712]

Is there currently anything living in the 55 gallon?
Thomas

 

[thomas712]

I went from a 55 gallon to a 90 gallon several years ago. I prefered to set up the new tank and give it time to cycle itself, meanwhile this gave me time to correct any plumbing problems or tweek the new system as I saw fit. I placed plastic lighting grid down on the bottom of the tank, then poured new sand in and used a raw cocktail shrimp to cylce the new tank. Eventually I transfered the liverock and fish over over time watching the water chemistry carefully.

 

[ashkan]

Originally Posted by Thomas712
http:///forum/post/3256530
Is there currently anything living in the 55 gallon?
Thomas
Yes, my stock list is as follows:
Maroon Clown
Cleaner Wrasse
Small Blue Tang
Black & Damsel (who is getting returned to the LFS once I tear down the tank)
2 Blue Green Chromis
Red Scooter Blenny
Peppermint Shrimp
I don't know the exact number of my hermit crabs but I have at least 10, probably more
Emerald Crab
6 Nassarius Snails
5 Mexican Turbo Snails
6 Nerite Snails
3 Cerths
Bubble Coral
Assorted Zoos
It may seem as if I have a lot of animals in my tank but it is actually the opposite, all of the fish I have are relatively small so they don't stand out much. And as for the clean up crew they are either nocturnal (shrimp and emerald crab) or they blend in.

 

[ashkan]

Originally Posted by Thomas712
http:///forum/post/3256532
I went from a 55 gallon to a 90 gallon several years ago. I prefered to set up the new tank and give it time to cycle itself, meanwhile this gave me time to correct any plumbing problems or tweek the new system as I saw fit. I placed plastic lighting grid down on the bottom of the tank, then poured new sand in and used a raw cocktail shrimp to cylce the new tank. Eventually I transfered the liverock and fish over over time watching the water chemistry carefully.
I don't have the resources to start a whole new tank and let it cycle. I wanted to use the same equipment and sand and rock and same water. If I simply just transfer the sand and rock and add more water would the tank work out? I will gradually add more water to the 110 untill it fills up...

 

[ibanez]

I would suggest adding the "dead sand" and then adding base rock, completely dry, unliving base rock, and then adding your live rock on top of the base rock, and seeding the sand with some of your live sand. Then add your fish and stuff, but check the water every day for a couple weeks and have aged saltwater ready in case you need a few small waterchanges.