upgrading 46 to 120g need help

[dbestnindy]

I currently have a 46 bowfront with reef and fishes. I bought a 120 and want to transfer it. I don't have a clue how to start. I have 100lbs of live sand and 60 lbs of live rock in the 46. Where do I start? Any help would be appreciated. I got some rock with the purchase but I don't think it is live and how do you tell if it is. I also got some crushed coral. It is in plastic bags. I was told if it was in plastic bags that it was toxic now. Is this true? and can I mix crushed coral and sand?

 

[deejeff442]

live rock will have color and base rock is just white.
put the new rock in the new tank and cycle it with a couple pieces of raw shrimp.
once you add the old lr it will cover the base rock and spread the good stuff to it.i had 150 lbs lr on top of 60 lbs base and 4 months it was all covered with color.
i wouldnt use the old sand or cc once you start moving it around it gets bad bacteria groing .
i just got a 225 yesterday and will be transfering from my 150
i will buy new sand or cc not sure which way i want to go yet.i have sand now and used to have cc in my 90.i like the cc better.
get the new tank up and cycled then take 25-30 gallons out of the old tank and put it into the new just before you transfer the stock .that will ease the stress.
you will probably need a bigger skimmer and a couple koralia pumps for the 120.nice size reef tank i think.
sucks to buy new sand but safer.
good luck

 

[dbestnindy]

I am hoping I have everything I need. I guess not now if I need to replace sand. I was really thinking of switching to cc. I have skimmer, and light upgrades. I was really wondering about the timeline of switching.

 

[deejeff442]

just have to cycle the new tank.
thats it two weeks or so to cycle

 

[mr_x]

more than 2 weeks. closer to a month.
i would not use the crushed coral. purchase dry, sugar sized aragonite based sand. rinse it well, and add that. it's alot nicer looking than crushed coral.
crushed coral will trap detrius and uneaten food very easily, due to it's larger size.
you can't judge rock by color. just because it's lacking coralline algae does not mean it's not live rock. "live" means it has bacteria on it.
the rock in my sump is all white. no color at all. it's certainly live rock though.
how did this purchase go down? did you buy a tank breakdown? was the rock dry, or was it in the tank full of water when you bought it? how long was it out of the water if so?

 

[dbestnindy]

how did this purchase go down? did you buy a tank breakdown? was the rock dry, or was it in the tank full of water when you bought it? how long was it out of the water if so?
I bought a 120 with light and rock, skimmer and filter. Rock was still in some water but I don't think she was running any kind of filter, etc. Can I rinse the sand I already have then, or just pitch it. hate to do that. I have only had it for four months, if that.

 

[deejeff442]

right about the rock if itis dry it isbase that is what i thought you said.if it is out of a tank probably has bacteria and is considered live.
the cc is more maintanance you would have to vacuum it once in a while the sand doesnt have to be.
but the sand can be moved around by critters and fish and make the tank cloudy.
i had both and they both have thier goods and bads,sand is certainly easier.
not sure about washing the sand i just bought new..
you can buy stuff to put in the tank to cycle faster i t will cycle in two weeks .i cant remember what it was called but it works.

 

[mr_x]

well, i'd say the rock still has bacteria on it. it needs to be re-cycled.
sand doesn't make the tank cloudy. that's false. there are no downsides to using sugar sized sand over crushed coral.
yes, you can rinse your sand. put it in a bucket and fill the bucket with water...swish the sand around..then dump the water off the top...repeat a few times till the water doesn't look dirty anymore.
although..i don't think there is a ton of detrius in the sand bed after 4 months. i don't know if you'd have a problem disturbing it or not. i'd have to say to rinse it before using it, just incase. it's better safe than sorry.
there's nothing you can add to a tank to make it cycle faster. nothing that really works.

 

[deejeff442]

sand gets into my sump, when i shut it off for feeding then turn it back on it sometimes clouds the tank for a couple hours .so yes it does cloud.
i have used a product that cycles a tank in a couple weeks i cant remember what it was called i think it was a sort of pure ammonia product.it was a while ago but i remember it worked.

 

[dbestnindy]

Thanks for the info, even though some is conflicting. Back to the move. The sand is in the existing tank. When would I move it? After everything is cycled? I have been reading posts and ran across the electrical issue. I guess I am going to need an electrician first off to run me a decicated plug.

 

[deejeff442]

i know mr.x and i dont agree but thats cool just like everything there are always different ways and opinions .the problem would be ,where do you put the fish when you take the sand out?
taking the old sand out and putting it into the new tank then it will take a day for the sand to settle from being cloudy.
i just find it easier to get new sand and put it in the new tank with the new rock and cycle it.
you clould add a sump to the new tank and use the old sand in that.
as for cycling you could findthe fast cycle stuff but unless you are in a huge hurry to switch probably better to cycle naturally.
i am going to do the same thing as yu soon 150 to a 225 ,i am resealing the new tank right now and have to wait a week for the silicon to cure.
i am getting new sand and will be making a bigger sump so that is where my old sand will go.my 150 is only been running for 4 months also.
i went from my 15 yr old 90 gallon to the 150 but ran accross this 225 for $300 so couldnt pass it up.
i am pushing the 150 a few feet over so the 225 will be right next to it and i can drip acclimate the tanks before i transfer the fish.
the wife isnt too happy about two huge tanks sitting in the dining room for a month but she will live through it.
good luck.

 

[dbestnindy]

I haven't used a sump and don't know anything about them. They really seems complicated. That is alot of cost for sand. Where do you get yours?

 

[deejeff442]

a sump is a very simple set up.
there are alot of posts on here about them with plenty of pics.
the advantage is more water volume and you can hide all the equiptment in it.
maybe find a 20 -30 gallon tank and put it under the dt.
i get my sand at the lfs.
think it was 25 dollars for 40 lbs .i like a 2 inch bed of sand if you go deeper you will have to clean it every year or so.
2 inch is maintanance free.
your tank would need around 100 lbs.
the sump can be a simple rubbermaid tote .
or set up a fuge which is a little more involved but in the long run of the tank especially a reef they are the way to go.
on my 90 gallon all i had was live rock and a 20 gallon tote with a few lava rocks in it with the return pump and heaters.i didnt have a skimmer ,but now i run one.the more water volume you have the more bioload the tank will take.
one thing about this hobbie is it is definitly expensive to set up a tank.
i will be using alot of the stuff out of my 150 gallon but after more rock,sand,bigger pump,new lights ect. iwill have to add another $2000 to get it running.
but once your hooked its worth it.

 

[oceansidefish]

I just moved a 60 to a 120...I went with a DSB, about 5 inches of sand. You don't have to clean it EVER. You of course dont have to do a DSB but I would definately go with LS in a reef setup. Especially if you have smaller reef fish or gobies. Many of them like to burrow and/or hide/sleep in the sand. I bought all dry sand minus one bag which I bought of live sand. I put all of the dry sand in the tank, then put in the live sand and a couple scoops of the LS from my existing sump. Then I placed a bowl in the middle of the tank and SLOWLY poured the water in over the bowl...My water was for the most part pretty clear when I was done filling the tank.