tank make over

[u mike]

I am getting ready to take my tank apart.
I want to re do my rock work, clean up every thing in tank. add some more rock. Looking for some tips to make this a succes.
what I have in tank now are
1 serpeant star
2 red leg hermits
1 urchin
1 bubble tip
1star polop
1 mushroom
1 leather
3 fish
2 peppermint shrimp
2 emerald crabs
Any tips for making what is in tank survive with out taking out of tank. also how long can the live rock stay out of water with no problem?

 

[ryancw01]

Try to do this when you are doing a water change so that you can put some saltwater into buckets and put the live rock into the buckets with the saltwater. Live rock will be fine out of the water for about a half an hour to an hour with limited die off, but if you keep it in water it will be better for sure...

 

[heide264]

Get a LOT of extra saltwater and a couple rubbermaid containers might help (they are dirt cheap now everywhere, I got 18g ones from walmart for $3.40 or something). I underestimated how much saltwater it would take to scrub all my live rock off and came up 5-10g short and had to scramble to get some.
Just a thought. Good luck =)
EDIT:
Just thought of a couple things:
-I've seen people put moist newspaper over liferock when its out of the tank to keep it moist... Not completely sure that's safe, but something to look into
-Put a small heater in any containers you keep livestock in, it's amazing how fast the water cools off when it's in a container on the floor without any lights or pumps heating it up

 

[flower]

During water change is a great idea!
Do not move rocks around with coral or fish still in the tank. Put them in the saltwater you remove for the water change in a tub. I am sure in the time it takes within the same day that the rock can be out of water.
Rocks fall and shift when you move stuff around, your fish instinctively hide in the rocks, they could be crushed. You can’t stabilize everything with corals still in the tank for the same reason.
Remove any rocks with coral attached to it into the tub with the fish; it will give them a spot to hide.
Only after all is stable and you have things were you want it, you return the coral first on their rocks and then the fish.

 

[u mike]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3200973

During water change is a great idea!
Do not move rocks around with coral or fish still in the tank. Put them in the saltwater you remove for the water change in a tub. I am sure in the time it takes within the same day that the rock can be out of water.
Rocks fall and shift when you move stuff around, your fish instinctively hide in the rocks, they could be crushed. You can’t stabilize everything with corals still in the tank for the same reason.
Remove any rocks with coral attached to it into the tub with the fish; it will give them a spot to hide.
Only after all is stable and you have things were you want it, you return the coral first on their rocks and then the fish.
can I put them in my q t .
I was going to put some of the water out of the tank into the qt so can add a few fish also,
this will give me a chance to qt what I get.