Changing tanks

[spamvicious]

So I’m having lots of issues with my canister run 135l tank. I was close to shutting the whole tank down and giving up. However I’ve decided that what I will do is buy a smaller tank (fluval evo) for now. To transfer my livestock and corals to and when I move in six months or so I can always upgrade to a bigger tank if I want to. Bigger tank will have a sump etc.

So my question is can I transfer the live sand and rock and water to the smaller tank and will that speed up the cycling?. I also have a tuxedo urchin that I want to keep so what do I do with him while there isn’t much algae in the new tank?. Obviously I don’t want to be running the big tank any longer than I need to.

 

[d2mini]

Negative on the live sand. Hold onto a cup's worth to help seed the new tank. But the sand bed holds wayyyy too much nasty stuff you do not want to disturb and try to transfer. You will kill everything. If you must re-use the sand from a $$ standpoint, rinse it super well. The rock is fine to move over.

 

[OfficeReefer]

Hello, @spamvicious. I presume you are talking about the larger Fluval Flex model at 30ish US gal or so. If not, this is a significant downgrade to the Evo at 13gal.

You can transfer these if they fit but it's not going to speed of cycling of rock, you can use a rubber or plastic trash can with no lights to do this. I would consider the urchin and other livestock for a nano tank that size, as it's likely to knock off corals and what not. Please do correct me if I misunderstood.

 

[spamvicious]

Negative on the live sand. Hold onto a cup's worth to help seed the new tank. But the sand bed holds wayyyy too much nasty stuff you do not want to disturb and try to transfer. You will kill everything. If you must re-use the sand from a $$ standpoint, rinse it super well. The rock is fine to move over.

No I don’t need to re use the sand I was just thinking of cycling etc.

 

[OfficeReefer]

Negative on the live sand. Hold onto a cup's worth to help seed the new tank. But the sand bed holds wayyyy too much nasty stuff you do not want to disturb and try to transfer. You will kill everything. If you must re-use the sand from a $$ standpoint, rinse it super well. The rock is fine to move over.

Move your rock and not the sand. If you want to know what that looks like, try this video from BRS at 16:00 as this is what happens when you use sand to seed your tank. You can do this but beware of the risks.

 

[Slocke]

Yes, I just transfer rock and bio media for a new tank. It skips the nitrogen cycle though you should still monitor for ammonia of course. I've never seen any ammonia from this method but I think daily tests just in case.

 

[OfficeReefer]

No I don’t need to re use the sand I was just thinking of cycling etc.

If you are concerned of a lengthy cycle try Fritz TurboStart 900. Stores use this for fast turnaround on new tanks.

FritzZyme® TurboStart® 900 Saltwater

Fritz Aquatics' FritzZyme® TurboStart® 900 Saltwater contains a highly concentrated level of our nitrifying bacteria to reduce fish loss due to toxicity.

fritzaquatics.com

 

[spamvicious]

Hello, @spamvicious. I presume you are talking about the larger Fluval Flex model at 30ish US gal or so. If not, this is a significant downgrade to the Evo at 13gal.

You can transfer these if they fit but it's not going to speed of cycling of rock, you can use a rubber or plastic trash can with no lights to do this. I would consider the urchin and other livestock for a nano tank that size, as it's likely to knock off corals and what not. Please do correct me if I misunderstood.

It would be the 13 gallon tank. All I have in my tank currently is two clowns, a fire shrimp, tuxedo urchin, snail and hermit. I have someone who can take the clowns for me. I have a BTA, Devils hand, mushroom and GSP. I have some other LPS that aren’t doing well in this tank so they will be rehomed.

 

[Cell]

No need to spend money on cycling bacteria when you have a tank full of live rock already...

 

[spamvicious]

Yes, I just transfer rock and bio media for a new tank. It skips the nitrogen cycle though you should still monitor for ammonia of course. I've never seen any ammonia from this method but I think daily tests just in case.

The bio media is in my canister filter so would that would just go into the sump of the evo?

 

[Rmckoy]

So I’m having lots of issues with my canister run 135l tank. I was close to shutting the whole tank down and giving up. However I’ve decided that what I will do is buy a smaller tank (fluval evo) for now. To transfer my livestock and corals to and when I move in six months or so I can always upgrade to a bigger tank if I want to. Bigger tank will have a sump etc.

So my question is can I transfer the live sand and rock and water to the smaller tank and will that speed up the cycling?. I also have a tuxedo urchin that I want to keep so what do I do with him while there isn’t much algae in the new tank?. Obviously I don’t want to be running the big tank any longer than I need to.

Do
Not reuse the sand unless you
Rinse it very well. @brandon429 has tons of posts on this .

the rocks alone will provide enough beneficial bacteria to instant cycle the new and smaller setup

please keep us posted how the transfer goes .

 

[Slocke]

The bio media is in my canister filter so would that would just go into the sump of the evo?

Yes!

No need to spend money on cycling bacteria when you have a tank full of live rock already...

Exactly

 

[Rmckoy]

The bio media is in my canister filter so would that would just go into the sump of the evo?

You can add the bio media to the new sump until the new tank has settled but depending on the amount of rocks is should be plenty ( you won’t hurt anything by adding extra beneficial bacteria from filter media )

 

[spamvicious]

Do
Not reuse the sand unless you
Rinse it very well. @brandon429 has tons of posts on this .

the rocks alone will provide enough beneficial bacteria to instant cycle the new and smaller setup

please keep us posted how the transfer goes .

What do I do with water? Do I use any from my current tank or just mix new water?

 

[spamvicious]

You can add the bio media to the new sump until the new tank has settled but depending on the amount of rocks is should be plenty ( you won’t hurt anything by adding extra beneficial bacteria from filter media )

I have four pieces of rock so I imagine only two of them will fit at most. One has a devils hand attached to it. Does the tank have to be cycled before I can add that?.

 

[Rmckoy]

What do I do with water? Do I use any from my current tank or just mix new water?

You can use it just for the initial transfer but it’s not required . The water holds little to no beneficial bacteria
You can essentially do larger water changes and the only thing to be effected would be the nutrients and elements . Bacteria is on and in every surface . And why we use porous live rocks for our systems

 

[Cell]

If parameters are in your desired range, I would reuse some of the existing water. No good reason not to.

 

[Rmckoy]

I have four pieces of rock so I imagine only two of them will fit at most. One has a devils hand attached to it. Does the tank have to be cycled before I can add that?.

No !!
The rocks can be transferred to the new system and you can almost guarantee no cycle . But there are many variables .
the weight and Density of the rocks , the old rule was 1 - 1.5 lbs of rocks per gallon of volume .
the more live established rocks you have the better it will be.
Transfer the rocks , add the water and livestock . And monitor the ammonia with a quality test for awhile .
if you test any significant ammonia perform a water change ( best to have water ready just in case )

 

[d2mini]

Move your rock and not the sand. If you want to know what that looks like, try this video from BRS at 16:00 as this is what happens when you use sand to seed your tank. You can do this but beware of the risks.

I agree, I never re-use old sand. But that is also because I get my sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater. Which is straight off the ocean floor and as all that good bacteria, micro-fauna etc. I never use the bagged stuff full of liquid bacteria.

If I was to use a handful of old sand from a current tank, it would be skimmed off the top, and it would be mixed thoroughly with the new sand. It looks like BRS just dumped a pile in one spot.

 

[OfficeReefer]

I agree, I never re-use old sand. But that is also because I get my sand from Tampa Bay Saltwater. Which is straight off the ocean floor and as all that good bacteria, micro-fauna etc. I never use the bagged stuff full of liquid bacteria.

If I was to use a handful of old sand from a current tank, it would be skimmed off the top, and it would be mixed thoroughly with the new sand. It looks like BRS just dumped a pile in one spot.

Probably. I would too, if I were attempting to sell more copepods.

I would still not add live sand to my tank. I don't want most of what is in the ocean in my tank, just what I put in there. To each their preference.