125 to 300 upgrade...questions

saltyfins · Mar 13, 2022

so yesterday, we were finally able to bring our new 300 gallon tank home. The guy we bought it from supposedly took "pristine care" of it, and it was freshwater. lol Ok...moving on... this thing was GROSS. there's still a truck load of equipment to bring in!
so as of right now, I am still fine tooth cleaning everything...but am planning to start filling it soon. I know...I think I know, it doesnt leak, as I saw it set up and full of fish. I have ordered 280# of sand, and another 100# of rock. which is dry aragonite. With that said, I have over 100# in my already running reef.
My worry, is adding that new rock.... and killing my coral, or will it be ok? I have some Fritz Turbo 900 which, I thought I'd add anyway, as it certainly wont hurt anything.
But I have LPS, SPS and some softies....SPS being my main concern. Most are still frags, but I have a lot that have started to grow out...

am I on the right path, for what I am "planning to do" or does anyone have some advice?

also, they're loading backwards....

blaxsun · Mar 13, 2022

Yes, you can basically "insta-cycle" the new tank if you want. What I did when I upgraded was cycle the new dry rock for a few weeks prior in one of those black Rubbermaid livestock troughs. I used water from my water changes, added heaters and wavemakers, any used filter floss and ghost fed for a week.

While this was going on I setup the new tank, then added water and sand a few days prior. Added the new rock, Bio-Spira and the rest of my existing rock. Moved over the corals, fish then inverts. Took a few hours, but everything went off without a hitch (no livestock or coral losses).

Buckster · Mar 13, 2022

Dude, that is one heavy tank. The glass suction cups that the professional glass installers use would have been beneficial for moving the tank. I used four guys also to move my 180 which weighs a lot less than yours! I'm not the one to answer your questions about the corals as I started my tank with new rock and sand with beneficial bacteria (in the sand) and tried playing the waiting game. I guess I put in corals too soon as they did not make it.
I would believe that using your rock with the additional new rock would be sufficient but wait for someone who probably knows better to answer the question. Good luck as 300 is amazing!

Dburr1014 · Mar 13, 2022

Old rock will seed new rock.
Or, you could start and cure the new rock in another container and add to the tank when done.
This is a good time to build a rock structure with the dry rock. Then the frags or colonies to fit on top when done.
So many ways to do this.

saltyfins · Mar 13, 2022

blaxsun said:
Yes, you can basically "insta-cycle" the new tank if you want. What I did when I upgraded was cycle the new dry rock for a few weeks prior in one of those black Rubbermaid livestock troughs. I used water from my water changes, added heaters and wavemakers, any used filter floss and ghost fed for a week.

While this was going on I setup the new tank, then added water and sand a few days prior. Added the new rock, Bio-Spira and the rest of my existing rock. Moved over the corals, fish then inverts.

well, rock wont be here until probably the 21st... still hasnt shipped. There's plenty of stuff to do however, while I wait. I guess I'm just mostly worried about the SPS being ok.

saltyfins · Mar 13, 2022

Buckster said:
Dude, that is one heavy tank. The glass suction cups that the professional glass installers use would have been beneficial for moving the tank. I used four guys also to move my 180 which weighs a lot less than yours! I'm not the one to answer your questions about the corals as I started my tank with new rock and sand with beneficial bacteria (in the sand) and tried playing the waiting game. I guess I put in corals too soon as they did not make it.
I would believe that using your rock with the additional would be sufficient but wait for someone who probably knows better to answer the question. Good luck as 300 is amazing!

I dont trust those things! We did fine, as a LFS owner guided us, and was super amazing for help. comes with GHL lighting and dosing, which again, was for freshwater, so now I have to upgrade the pucs for the lights. never ending money pit lol

blaxsun · Mar 13, 2022

saltyfins said:
well, rock wont be here until probably the 21st... still hasnt shipped. There's plenty of stuff to do however, while I wait. I guess I'm just mostly worried about the SPS being ok.

It all really depends on what you all have to move over for equipment. I moved my corals in the evening when they were closed up for the most part, and that allowed me to move the lights prior.

saltyfins · Mar 13, 2022

blaxsun said:
It all really depends on what you all have to move over for equipment. I moved my corals in the evening when they were closed up for the most part, and that allowed me to move the lights prior.

well, I will probably get everything mounted, and ready to go, before I add anything. I run 3 A360WE kessils on my 125, and they'll have to do, until I get the new pucks for the GHL...I'll call them on Monday. That's going to be another beast, as I am not at ALL tech. savvy! it's actually a bit terrifying and overwhelming, to be honest. The only thing about an evening move, though that's probably not a bad idea, is that I'll want to really watch them...

blaxsun · Mar 13, 2022

The main advice I can offer is to get the new tank setup, organized and running before you start any move. Once you added the new seeded rock and Bio-Spira (or equivalent), the tank is basically good to go. So you can transfer all your fish across and do the corals a day or two later - it doesn't all have to happen at the same time.

I moved my corals and rock first, but I could've opted to move the fish first.

saltyfins · Mar 13, 2022

blaxsun said:
The main advice I can offer is to get the new tank setup, organized and running before you start any move. Once you added the new seeded rock and Bio-Spira (or equivalent), the tank is basically good to go. So you can transfer all your fish across and do the corals a day or two later.

Ok. Thanks! I feel pretty good about that also, I just wasnt too sure about my sps
I cant hardly wait!! My fish are going to lose there little seaweed minds!

blaxsun · Mar 13, 2022

saltyfins said:
Ok. Thanks! I feel pretty good about that also, I just wasnt too sure about my sps
I cant hardly wait!! My fish are going to lose there little seaweed minds!

No doubt! They'll be like "new rocks, new rocks!" and exploring for days on end.

saltyfins · Mar 13, 2022

blaxsun said:
No doubt! They'll be like "new rocks, new rocks!" and exploring for days on end.

and the room! yikes! I have to sit on my hands a bit, so I dont go buy more "goodies" I need to stay home for a while and off the reef sites! lol

blaxsun · Mar 13, 2022

saltyfins said:
and the room! yikes! I have to sit on my hands a bit, so I dont go buy more "goodies" I need to stay home for a while and off the reef sites! lol

On the plus side, you're doing this far enough away from Black Friday...

saltyfins · Mar 13, 2022

blaxsun said:
On the plus side, you're doing this far enough away from Black Friday...

WOW!! excellent point!! I'm going to have to relay that one to my husband! lol

polywise · Mar 13, 2022

That's a lot of weight you have there..
Are you planning to support the floor in the are of your tank from your basement?

saltyfins · Mar 13, 2022

polywise said:
That's a lot of weight you have there..
Are you planning to support the floor in the are of your tank from your basement?

oh yeah, it's double reinforced... I wish that I had a basement, but no such luck. manufactured home, with a lot of bracing up underneath for sure. I even braced up my 125 "just in case" because you just never know. But yes, it's very well supported