Bought a used tank - some questions now?

[Steven Goff]

Hello,
Well the negotiations worked and I bought the 150 gallon tank with sump/skimmer, powerheads, led light, etc. I do have some questions about moving this massive tank.

1. The tank is 400 pounds dry. Seller is telling me just get 4 guys to lift up and put in truck. I would think it would be safer to use a furniture dolly, safer if someone can't continue to hold the heavy tank.

2. Since no fish are with the deal, should I just start all over with the cycle. He wants it moved quickly and I have no way to make clean water yet. Is this a good plan or should I try to keep live rock and not cycle?

3. If I start dry - what is best way to clean the tank and sump/skimmer?

I don't mind going very slow and don't want to take any shortcuts.

My plan is a peaceful tank with some corals and invertibrates.

Here is my list:
2 or more ocellaris clownfish
1 tailspot blenny
1 royal gramma
1 yellow watchman shrimpgoby
1 blue tang or nasa tang or yellow tang
clam
emerald crab
maybe a cucumber
lobster
shrimp
bumble bee snail
marble starfish, linckia sea star
royal urchin

All reef safe of course.

 

[Rover]

1. The tank is 400 pounds dry. Seller is telling me just get 4 guys to lift up and put in truck. I would think it would be safer to use a furniture dolly, safer if someone can't continue to hold the heavy tank.

I've been involved in an 8 man lift on a big tank. In some cases, especially with doorways, 'helpful devices' can cause more problems then not. But depends on the backs and muscles of the 4 guys you bring.

2. Since no fish are with the deal, should I just start all over with the cycle. He wants it moved quickly and I have no way to make clean water yet. Is this a good plan or should I try to keep live rock and not cycle?

Buy a brute rubbermaid container, place all the rocks in that and put a heater and a powerhead in it. Boom, problem solved. It doesn't need light, and specifically BRUTE containers are food grade and won't leach things into the water.

3. If I start dry - what is best way to clean the tank and sump/skimmer?

Plain water, or vinegar and water for hard spots.

Congrats on your big tank! I've answered some of the queries in red above.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Congrats and I agree with the above. You can use some of the old tank water for keeping the live rock going, as well.

 

[Steven Goff]

Congrats on your big tank! I've answered some of the queries in red above.

How long can I leave the live rock in the brute containers?

 

[Rover]

How long can I leave the live rock in the brute containers?

Indefinitely!

You just have to make sure to top up any evaporated water periodically. My shop has rock in his brute containers that has been there for years. I personally have been 'cooking' live rock in one of my brute containers for a few months now.

This is how many reefers prepare their live rock for use in the tank; You put it in a brute container with salt water, and maybe toss a shrimp or an ammonia source in there, then just leave it alone. The rest is just the natural process.

If you are only looking to preserve the rocks in his tank, you can do the same thing. The only issue would come from any livestock (Crabs, pods, etc) that hitched a ride into the bucket with the rock.... Even then, it won't die unless its something that requires light exposure. Which is a great way to get rid of nuisance hair algae!

 

[PatW]

For cleaning the skimmer, stick it in a bucket, add water plus vinegar and let it run for a day or so.

For your tank, vinegar is a very effective cleaning agent either full strength or diluted. If you are impatient, you can add a 3/4 cup of muriatic acid to a gallon of water (bout a 5% solution) and use that to clean the tank. But, you want decent ventilation.

Do the dilution outside for the ventilation. Do not breathe the acid’s fumes. Add acid to water and not vice versa. Acid loves water and releases heat when it comes into contact. Adding a little water to acid can produce a cloud of acidic steam which you do not want in your face. Adding a small amount of acid to a large amount of water is safe.

 

[ZsWithTheFishes]

Last tank I moved (220 g), I used 4 6?-inch harbor freight suction cups. Moved it with just two people, and we aren't gym fanatics by any means. Rated at 80 lbs per, & $5 a piece.

I use these for every tank move now. Search harbor freight for "suction cup lifter" and look at the ratings.

 

[jsvand5]

I’d go with the dollies. Sure, 4 guys can easily lift the tank but it gets much trickier getting through doorways with 2 people on each end while holding up a few hundred pounds.


For the rock I’d determine that based on what the rock looks like. If it’s nice rock without any bad algae, pest anemones, vermetid snails..... then I’d keep it in brute cans. If the rock has issues, like most tanks that are being broken down seem too very often, then you’d be better off bleaching it and starting over when you are ready.

 

[Mariette]

How long can I leave the live rock in the brute containers?

I’ve left live rock in buckets of saltwater for 3 mths w no powerhead and no heater. Got gross. Scrubbed rock off. Was good as new. Recommend a powerhead at the very least.

 

[BeejReef]

Love the plan. Following.

 

[Oshengems]

Following

My current rocks were on a brute container close to 6 months before I decided to get back in didn’t want to sell it I knew I wasn’t gone from the hobby the container was closed with one hole for air and it had my powerheads running that was all

 

[Oshengems]

Give us some pics when you can! Even if the equipment is not in prime condition eventually you will get it there with a lil bit of maintenance, vinegar will be your friend buy a gallon trust me you will use it

 

[Peace River]

. . . 1. The tank is 400 pounds dry. Seller is telling me just get 4 guys to lift up and put in truck. I would think it would be safer to use a furniture dolly, safer if someone can't continue to hold the heavy tank.

I have done both - either way I encourage you to do a walk through before you actually pick up the tank. It is a whole lot easier to figure that doorway, those stairs, that transition strip in the flooring, the odd door handle, etc. if you aren’t walking backwards while carrying a large, heavy, and bulky item. Also, if you are going to do it with 2 people then also think about how the person walking backwards will get out of the way when you set it into the vehicle. Good luck!

 

[Oshengems]

FYI my first tank was used, small RedSea reefer the 60g, newphew hand slipped carrying it because he didn’t want to walk backwards

 

[burnetb1]

+1 for brute containers to hold the rock.
Just a side note, not really related... I had a lobster and emerald crabs in my first tank...not exactly my idea of peaceful... Your situation may be drastically different with such a larger tank than mine, but my lobster was very mean to just about everything in the tank. I have noticed crabs are also a little risky. My clean up crew now consists of trocus snails, sea urchin, cleaner shrimp and a brittle star(not exactly peaceful but he is old does well as long as he is fed). I am very happy with my current clean up crew.
It was a purple lobster by the way

 

[Arricefe]

Good info above, I've moved both my last two tanks 125 and 120. I dumped everything into containers, we pumped the water into the containers already in a pick up. Take everything out of the tank, wet sand is HEAVY! You can do it with a little bit of planning, some containers, some dollies and some help. Good luck!

 

[Steven Goff]

UPDATE - My plans have changed alittle.
I was just going to dump the water and start off dry. But I found some used equipment (2 - 55 gallon plastic drums used for saltwater tank) and a rodi system. Use buckets to carry the live rock (filled with existing saltwater from tank) Put the brain coral in a separate bucket. Catch the fish and either put them in a bucket or plastic bags (will put live stuff in a big cooler for temperature protection) Pump the water into the both 55 gallon drums. The drums will be on my truck. Take sand out of tank and throw away. Remove plumbing. MOVE BIG TANK.

The fish consists of 1 blue Throat trigger, 1 blue Naso tang, 1 yellow tang. I'm very worried about these fish making the move. I might contact my LFS and see if I can get them to keep them for a week or some kind of trade in.
Also 1 sea urchin and brain coral

When I get home: Take buckets with fish in them and place live rock for shelter for them (not in move so they could be crushed with moving rock). Setup tank. Place new sand in tank. Start pumping water from 55 gallon drums until about a quarter of the way full. Place live rock into tank. Place the rock with coral into tank also. After that is complete. Pump the remaining water into tank. Take fish out of buckets and place them into tank. Any remaining water from buckets (if clean) put into tank. Top off tank with fresh water.

Is this plan sound? (I would feel more comfortable if fish were taken to a local fish store)

 

[BeejReef]

Fish sleepover is an interesting idea. I'm sure there are risks involved, but there are risks in trying to set up your first large tank in a matter of hours too. It would be nice to be able to take your time before having to house the fish.

+10 on getting those 55g drums and RODI. Perhaps find out what brand of salt he used and buy that to use for the first month. You can haul that water, but I think I'd have as much of the water pre-made and warmed to temp as possible. The bacteria live, mostly, on the rocks, not in the water. With all that you're hauling, I'd only move enough water to keep the rocks wet and fish happy. What kind of truck are you driving? 100g of water = 800lbs, tank and stand have to be 500lbs, rocks, etc, etc.

That's a lot of weight for a 1/2 ton truck and it won't be easy to secure those drums. Now I'm imagining trying to park that truck near enough a window and draping extension cords outside and running hoses in

 

[Steven Goff]

Fish sleepover is an interesting idea. I'm sure there are risks involved, but there are risks in trying to set up your first large tank in a matter of hours too. It would be nice to be able to take your time before having to house the fish.

+10 on getting those 55g drums and RODI. Perhaps find out what brand of salt he used and buy that to use for the first month. You can haul that water, but I think I'd have as much of the water pre-made and warmed to temp as possible. The bacteria live, mostly, on the rocks, not in the water. With all that you're hauling, I'd only move enough water to keep the rocks wet and fish happy. What kind of truck are you driving? 100g of water = 800lbs, tank and stand have to be 500lbs, rocks, etc, etc.

That's a lot of weight for a 1/2 ton truck and it won't be easy to secure those drums. Now I'm imagining trying to park that truck near enough a window and draping extension cords outside and running hoses in

it's a big truck and I will tie down the drums with tie straps.

Yes, I don't want to kill the fish.

 

[Arricefe]

UPDATE - My plans have changed alittle.
I was just going to dump the water and start off dry. But I found some used equipment (2 - 55 gallon plastic drums used for saltwater tank) and a rodi system. Use buckets to carry the live rock (filled with existing saltwater from tank) Put the brain coral in a separate bucket. Catch the fish and either put them in a bucket or plastic bags (will put live stuff in a big cooler for temperature protection) Pump the water into the both 55 gallon drums. The drums will be on my truck. Take sand out of tank and throw away. Remove plumbing. MOVE BIG TANK.

The fish consists of 1 blue Throat trigger, 1 blue Naso tang, 1 yellow tang. I'm very worried about these fish making the move. I might contact my LFS and see if I can get them to keep them for a week or some kind of trade in.
Also 1 sea urchin and brain coral

When I get home: Take buckets with fish in them and place live rock for shelter for them (not in move so they could be crushed with moving rock). Setup tank. Place new sand in tank. Start pumping water from 55 gallon drums until about a quarter of the way full. Place live rock into tank. Place the rock with coral into tank also. After that is complete. Pump the remaining water into tank. Take fish out of buckets and place them into tank. Any remaining water from buckets (if clean) put into tank. Top off tank with fresh water.

Is this plan sound? (I would feel more comfortable if fish were taken to a local fish store)

That's a good plan!