Upgrading my 55 to a larger tank...advice on the move plz

msd2

Active Member
Well the time is quickly approaching where the new tank will be here I did a search but I wanted to get some opinions since this situation is different than previous posts. My current 55 is doing very well, and I have about 100lbs of lr in it. along with corals, anemones, zoo's etc (I will attach a pic). I am upgrading because my buddy's xwife wants his old tank gone from the house. Its either 90gal or 120, he thinks is 120. Anyway she has been keeping the tank running to the extent of putting in water but nothing more. No fish or anything have been in it for about a year. I don't know the exact shape the tank is in. My concerns: I cant have both tanks up and running, there simply isnt room in the house, and I would like to use my 55 as a sump.
1. the 55 has 3 inches of sand, the 120 approx 2, should I add the 55's sand to it or add new sand to the 120? I also have a small fuge 4 inches deep sand bed aprx 20lbs total. Its not that old (about a month). Im not sure how live his sand is, mine is doing well, I can see the critters moving around in it.
2. obviously I want to avoid a cycle on the tank which would cost me my livestock is the main goal.
3. in the 120 he says he has approx 150-200lbs of live rock, but it has been under low light (a few no output bulbs), possibly none at all, not sure. I have 100lbs in my current tank, I was thinking of adding or removing some of his and seeding it with mine since I have a lot of coraline growth. My assumption that the rock is dead, or minimal life on it.
4. I also figured I would need to use my lights with an additional mh retro'd into my canopy.
Open to all any ideas, sorry it feels scattered w/this post. The pic is my current tank to give you a bearing of what I am starting with.
 

dburr

Active Member
This has been covered numerous times, don't think i'm flaming you though.
Have you done a search?
I will answer a couple q's though.
You will cycle. Short, maybe 4 days if you use the current sand. If you add all new sand and live stock, IMO, it would be longer. That will depend on the new sand "catching up" to the fish. I would keep the fish alive with some rock in a barrel while the tank does a short cycle with the old sand. But, thats me.:D
I also would add the sand to the sump for a DSB and just alittle sand to the main. Hind sight 20/20 with my tank.:rolleyes: I would make it easier if it needed to be removed.
HTH, Dan
 

reefer44

Member
i wouldn't go with a DSB....and i think if you do it fast you could avoid a cycle......i am moving my tank three states and seting up a new 180g with the livestock......if i am right i shouldn't have a cycle at all.....
Brad
 

msd2

Active Member
thanks for the input, no i didnt take it as a flame ;) I did do a search but didnt really find anything that useful to this situation. I am curious why it would be a short cycle? BTW the fish load is extremely light, just the tomato and purple tang.
 

dburr

Active Member
I am curious why it would be a short cycle?

and i think if you do it fast you could avoid a cycle.
It's not how fast you are.
The minute you start pulling the sand it will mix up. Some bacteria will die when exposed to O2. Dying bacteria=cycle. The good side is, it all won't die. It will recope real fast and you cycle will be short. But your fish and other live stock won't handle a cycle, so thats why I suggested another barrel in the mean time.
 
K

kistheeze

Guest
I completely moved my 3" sandbed into buckets and back into the tank - stirred it ALL up.... No casualties.
Then again - my sandbed is seeded from probably 150 tanks so there's quite a bit of life..
 

stuckinfla

Active Member
I had to move my 55 into the new house 2yrs ago. No cycle. Took water from 55 put it into 55. I am guessing the water conditions in the 120 are not to good. (not lights, just top offs) If you are not going to keep the water from the 120, then you will be adding 65gl of freshly mixed saltwater. I dont think the 55gl of cycled water would be enough to support the whole tank when you add the fish. A cycle would be inevitable, however short it should be. If your going to keep the 55 for a sump, can you leave it set up (after removing whatever sand & rock you want for the 120) and leave the fish in there until the tank was ready? (ps...I would be selective in the rock you choose to keep from his tank, and get new sand)JMO
But CUNGRATS!!!! I wish somebody would give me 125gl tank
Good luck
 

streetdoc

Member
it should be shortly....especially with that light of a bio load. A little turbo start never hurt anyone either:D
 

reefer44

Member
your not supporting anything that wasn't supported in the 55 inless he is restocking it right away.....there is nothing in fresh made salt water to support????
Brad
 

dburr

Active Member
wait i mix up my sand every month (shallow sand bed) and i don't have a cycle?????????
You answered your own question. SSB
 
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