Upgrade Question

[zx636r]

I'm upgrading my 29 to a 55. I'm using the same aqua C skimmer, phosban reactor, wet/dry sump, live rock, and water from the old tank. I started the process last night and I want to make sure I'm on the right page. I mixed 25 gallons of Ro water and salt in the new tank and I'm letting it run for a couple days. Then I'm adding 60 pounds of "live" natures ocean sand and after it clears moving all my old water, rock, and fish over to the new tank. Does this sound like a good plan of action? The bioload will be the same mainly due to the fact we spent so much money on the tank, stand, and MH's we couldn't get anything else to put in there even if we wanted to.

Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[sagxman]

You may expect a mini-cycle from the new live sand. Do you have a QT to put the fish in for a short time? Other than that, I think everything else sounds good.

 

[maeistero]

i agree. it would be better if you could keep your livestock out of the new tank for a couple days. maybe mix some more water for the new tank. transfer the fish and as much original water as possible to containers while you clean out the 29's sand/rock into the new tank. then you can put the fish and original water back into the 29 for a few days. that will allow your new tank to settle the sand and get your small spike started and over with. then when all is calm do a water change with your old water and fish. you're done.

 

[zx636r]

Thanks for response guys. I'll look into getting something to put the livestock into. I've only got one piece of coral (zoos) and two fish (chromis) to move over, so it shouldn't be that bad. I had thought there might be a small cycle but I didn't know if it would be enough to hurt anything. I can probably just move the sump, rock, and some of the old water into the new tank and leave the fish and coral in the old one for a few days. I hadn't planned on using any of the old sand so I won't have to break it down to get that out. Between the liverock and the bioballs in the sump I figure there is enough bacteria that the cycle shouldn't be big or last very long.

 

[sagxman]

I would add the old LS to the new. It won't hurt anything to add it and it won't go to waste.

 

[keithburns]

I have moved alot

Put sand in 55 use ro water to clean sand remove water
Do 1/4 water change in tank that is up
Put used water in 55
Mix new salt water about to same as the used water
Use power head to move water if you can
Do this intell 55 is 1/3 full
About 3/4 weeks
Move 1/2 of the rock on 2/3 week and the last on week 3/4
Must go slow need time to get water to spike and settle
move live stock one at a time the last week
If you move 1/2 gal back and forth by the time you get to week 4 may not need long acc time
Worked for me

 

[zx636r]

I thought about doing that SaGxMAN, but I told my brother I would give him the old tank. (I'm a great guy. lol) So I might just get a few scoops out of it to make sure some critters in the sand bed make it over to the new tank.

 

[zx636r]

Keith, thanks for the post. I might take your advice on that. I really would hate for it to take that long because I need the place where the old tank is sitting. lol
I know this hobby requires LOTS of waiting though.

 

[keith burn]

Originally Posted by zx636r
Keith, thanks for the post. I might take your advice on that. I really would hate for it to take that long because I need the place where the old tank is sitting. lol
I know this hobby requires LOTS of waiting though.
Ok

you can take 3 week not 4 lol

 

[keithburns]

Originally Posted by zx636r
Keith, thanks for the post. I might take your advice on that. I really would hate for it to take that long because I need the place where the old tank is sitting. lol
I know this hobby requires LOTS of waiting though.
Ok

you can take 3 week not 4