Upgrading to a bigger tank

[msd2]

Originally posted by balistikb
also from what I am reading, does precuring = rinsing out the new sand before putting it in or is there something that I am not understanding?
no curing is not the same as rinse. Its setting it up in a tank/bucket with a powerhead and allowing time for bacteria to start to grow.
Its all kinda a null point to be honest, if your only using 1 inch of sand its not a dsb and and is too shallow to be really doing much biological filtration. Id say wash and rinse the new sand and put it in, maybe make it even shallower since its just for decoration.

 

[balistikb]

Well no, I want to do this right. Since I am moving to a new tank, how much sand should I have to be effective? Also when putting it in a rubbermaid do I put it all in or do I have to have several containers having a specific depth of said and water?
Thanks again

 

[msd2]

well whats ur goal with the sand? is it for filteration or just decoration? dsb needs to be 4 inches for filteration. Do a search on dsb and you can make a decision if its the route you go or not. Some really dislike them, some like. Personally I like them.

 

[balistikb]

I will search for that but if I decide not to do 4" then what would be my options? WHat would I need to do?

 

[jon.316]

I'd have to say do things slowly....What i'd do is take out 1/3 or the water from your 55 and use that to cure the new sand your going to use....then when u switch tanks you wont cycle ur tank and kill all ur lil frends....even after u add the new sand and 70 gals or so of water, you'll still be about 1/4 tank short and u can just add presalted water to the tank.... you should have enough bacteria in the sand and rocks to handle all your fish. This method takes about 2-4 weeks but you're gonna be changing water anyways. This way ur recycling the bacteria that u dont need for your 55 and use it for your new 125....Good luck

 

[dskidmore]

Originally posted by balistikb
Well no, I want to do this right. Since I am moving to a new tank, how much sand should I have to be effective? Also when putting it in a rubbermaid do I put it all in or do I have to have several containers having a specific depth of said and water?
Thanks again
This is more a matter of opinion and personal experience than a matter of how to do it right. Don't go with a DSB without reading up on it first. There are risks involved as well as benifits, so you should be aware of how to care for it properly before putting one in.
The most recomended sand curing containers are the 5 gallon buckets from the hardware store. You can fill them pretty deep. The most sophisticated methods involve a heater and a powerhead for each container, but I'd just put an airstone in each from a common air pump for circulation if the house is fairly warm.

 

[msd2]

Originally posted by balistikb
I will search for that but if I decide not to do 4" then what would be my options? WHat would I need to do?
could go barebottom
use a thin layer just for cover
have heard of using some kind of plastic material, the name slips my mind.
I know the vogue thing is to go shallow or none, but I have had great luck w/dsb and the no maintance it offers saves me time. I have had dsb for the entire time I have been in the hobby w/o ever any issues. Definitely do your own research because as skidmore said there really isnt a 'right way' to do any of this its all just experiences and opinions.

 

[dskidmore]

Originally posted by DSkidmore
The most recomended sand curing containers are the 5 gallon buckets from the hardware store. You can fill them pretty deep.
My mistake, I just read on another thread a caveat to that. If you fill the buckets deeply, you can only use the top few inches at a time, and give the new top layer another day to cure. If you want to add it all at once, shallower containers are in order.

 

[balistik1]

Man things would be sooooo much easier if I didn't have to take apart the 55 in order to put in a 125.
So here is my plan and tell me if there is something wrong.
1. Go to HD and get the Tropical Sand. I am probably not going to do the DSB so I would say that I will do about 2" deep. I already have a sand bed that is about 1" to 1 1/2". How much more I will need I don't know.
2. With the new sand I would want to cure it (how long?) by putting it in Rubbermaid containers and let the water circulate. Since I would want to fill my new tank all at once with the sand, how deep should I put it in the containers? This way I know how many to get.
3. I shall use some of the water from my 55 to help cure the new sand. And take some LR out also to put in there.
4. After this is all done and I am ready to make my new tank I should put all the sand in and wait till everything settles before putting in my LR and fish.
5. Hopefully it is now a new home.
How does this sound?

 

[dskidmore]

Originally posted by balistik1
Man things would be sooooo much easier if I didn't have to take apart the 55 in order to put in a 125.
So here is my plan and tell me if there is something wrong.
1. Go to HD and get the Tropical Sand. I am probably not going to do the DSB so I would say that I will do about 2" deep. I already have a sand bed that is about 1" to 1 1/2". How much more I will need I don't know.
2. With the new sand I would want to cure it (how long?) by putting it in Rubbermaid containers and let the water circulate. Since I would want to fill my new tank all at once with the sand, how deep should I put it in the containers? This way I know how many to get.
3. I shall use some of the water from my 55 to help cure the new sand. And take some LR out also to put in there.
4. After this is all done and I am ready to make my new tank I should put all the sand in and wait till everything settles before putting in my LR and fish.
5. Hopefully it is now a new home.
How does this sound?
1. I ran your numbers through an aquarium calculator, based off of the dimmensions of all-glass brand aquariums, and glass thickness of .25 inches:
Volume..................................54.03 gal (US)
Substrate Type..........................Sand
Average Substrate Depth.................2.00 in.
Substrate Weight........................66.47 lbf
Volume..................................123.43 gal (US)
Substrate Type..........................Sand
Average Substrate Depth.................2.00 in.
Substrate Weight........................138.04 lbf
138-66 = 72 lbs of sand needed.
2. If you put in a little fish food, you can track the cycling of the sand with test kits like you would a curing tank. 4-6 weeks should do it. I'm not sure how deep, what I read was "Shallow." I'd guess that 3" (the depth it will end up being) would be minimal, max I'm not sure.
3. Are you putting your new or old LR in there? The old stuff will be needed to help maintain the fish's temorary home. Bioload will spike a bit when everything is stirred up. New rock might be a good idea, but not necessary.
4. Good
5. Good
When/where are you curing your new live rock? Is all of it going into step 3? Or are you going to cure it seperately and add later?

 

[balistikb]

Actually I wasn't planning on using new live rock. I am not sure how many pounds I have now but I know I fill the entire back wall with fiji rock in my 55.