Going from 46 gal to 75 gal.. need advice...

firefightered · Jan 15, 2013

 Just as the title says... I'm going from a 6 yr old 46 gal reef to a 75 gal. I have 80lbs dry Bahama sand and a boat load of base rock that I have been curing for only 2 weeks now. I plan to use all the live rock in my 46 but alot of it has corals attached to it so I cannt use it yet. I plan to use all the rock that does not have corals on it to help cycle the 75 but that will not be near enough for my 75. I will have a 30gal sump/fuge as well. Is there any way to speed the cycle process up to where I wont have 2 tanks running for the next 6 months? I know I need to take it slow but the wife is not as understanding and does not want 2 tanks in the house... Any advise?

firefightered · Jan 15, 2013

P.S. I am also going to put about 2 cups of existing sand in a bowl to help with the cycle.

On388 · Jan 15, 2013

I just went through a situation just like yours where you were upgrading the tank but wife doesnt like the two tank thing. What I did was just move it all over in a day. I didnt fill the new tank I just took everything out of one and put it into the other. If you go this route try to use all the same water and then have the extra that you will need waiting. When I did this I had a mini cycle but nothing was affected I ended up losing no fish or corals. If you have to time to cycle the other tank fully before moving everything over that is the route I would go but if that is not an option I had success doing it this way. That is also just my experience as well so I dont want you to think its a for sure thing going to work just because I may have gotten lucky.

firefightered · Jan 15, 2013

First of all thanks for the reply. I am going to put all new "dry" sand in and add about 2 cups of my old live sand. If I put all my fish and corals in the 75 at one time I'm affraid it will go through a major cycle and kill most of my sps and fish. I have out grown the 46 and need to go bigger (the 75) but don't want to kill everything. What sizes did you go from?

firefightered · Jan 15, 2013

Here is a thought...... Transfer everything eccept the old sand into the 75 and then gradually add new saltwater till everything is full. Do you guys think this will work? Add about 10gal of fresh saltwater a week?

Tone · Jan 15, 2013

Bump this one, iam about to be going through the same dilema pretty soon...

Sent from my T-Mobile myTouch Q using Tapatalk 2

firefightered · Jan 16, 2013

This is what I'm fixin to move: Sorry but do not know how to make it any larger.... It is heavily stocked with SPS, softies, and fish. That is why I'm going bigger. Please help........

occ_motorcycles · Jan 16, 2013

Thought. Move all your rock and corals to the 75. Pump the water from one to te other and then finish filling with fresh salt water. Move all the fish and corals and such and keep and eye on it. Do small water changes if ammonia starts to climb up.

Best to have a couple close friends help because you will need to get it done within 30 min for the corals.

Rock is good as long as its not a day out of the water.

Another idea is to remove what corals you can to plastic containers then you do not have to worry about taking less than 30 min. You can take a little bit longer.

Also doing it that way allows for you to just get it in the tank and then arrange the rock/w corals.

Just some ideas hope they helped.
(I did my 40br to drilled 40br this way)

Neon Reef · Jan 16, 2013

pray? lol

but seriousl, in my experience the best way to ensure a safe transfer of all corals is to have a reefer friend with an established tank house your corals until the new tank parameters let you know that your new tank is ready. good luck with the move.

firefightered · Jan 16, 2013

Thanks for the replies guys.... I have 2 buddies within 3 miles that have established tanks. If I just move the corals to thier tanks and just put the live rock and fish (6 total) in the new 75. Would I be ok as long as i keep an eye out for the cycle? Should I use some kind of "snake oil" cycle boost to get things kicked off. remember I'm using new sand and old well estanlished live rock.....

occ_motorcycles · Jan 16, 2013

firefightered said:
Thanks for the replies guys.... I have 2 buddies within 3 miles that have established tanks. If I just move the corals to thier tanks and just put the live rock and fish (6 total) in the new 75. Would I be ok as long as i keep an eye out for the cycle? Should I use some kind of "snake oil" cycle boost to get things kicked off. remember I'm using new sand and old well estanlished live rock.....

I wouldn't cause your rock is used to filtering that amount of waste so no I don't think you should.