Going from canister filter to sump.

[AdamW0611]

Hey, after about 3 months of running a fowlr tank, I'm going to make the switch from an FX6, to a sump setup. My question is the sump I have won't fit in the stand I have through the door, but it should fit through the top, and worst case I have a 2nd stand that was built for a 75 gallon with a sump that I don't like as much... anyway either option means draining the tank, I have a 20 gallon tank I was gonna fill with tank water for the fish to go into, my 2 questions are, will draining the tank 99 percent for about an hour cause severe problems with bacteria in the rocks? I don't want to leave my fish in a 20 gallon prison waiting on another cycle or something along those lines. Also as long as I match salinity, temp, and PH of the new water will I have to re-acclimate the fish back to the main tank with new saltwater?

 

[lapin]

I have a 20 gallon tank I was gonna fill with tank water for the fish to go into, my 2 questions are, will draining the tank 99 percent for about an hour cause severe problems with bacteria in the rocks?

No.

I don't want to leave my fish in a 20 gallon prison waiting on another cycle or something along those lines. Also as long as I match salinity, temp, and PH of the new water will I have to re-acclimate the fish back to the main tank with new saltwater?

No. You might also check alkalinity. Im sure your using the same salt mix so all should be good

 

[fishface NJ]

+1^

Good luck! I ran a FX6 for about 5 years. It stopped working and now I will be setting up a sump. Ordering a new tank but I am having a hard time deciding on which overflow box to use Exotic Marine and Modular marine

 

[Deezill]

This brings back memories. My very first tank was an undrilled non reef ready 125 gallon. I ran the Fluval fx6 for 2 years.
never could get nitrates below 20 even though I did my weekly water changes. I found out that because I was not cleaning the sponges inside the fx6 it became a nitrate factory. fx6 will forever be loved. Congrats on moving to a sump. I enjoy having a sump.

 

[brandon429]

When I do occasional big cleanups, big water change series to keep my old reef running I drain the whole tank empty and sit corals and rocks on my counter in the air as I clean the tank. Clean the walls off from the inside by direct contact usually a wet paper towel and peroxide

Scrape off any algae if applicable, scrape calcification

30~ mins later corals seemingly dry (but not) I reassemble with all new water and nothing recycles, these bacteria are so tough. I’ve done this more times than I can count on the tank. The key to transferring systems or draining them successfully is to consider the detritus, not the bacteria. Though I’m treating my tank seemingly harsh it’s really just a plan to isolate sensitives away from muddy tank filth as it’s being blasted out by force. Reassembled tank is cloudless, no detritus on rocks or sand, so by rule of microbiology it doesn’t recycle the bacteria think that’s play day compared to what happens in Fiji for all millennia

*pods and worms recoil into the rocks for a ride and back again. Recently added pics of my post rinse sand in our sand thread and then worms back again in a few months.

 

[fishface NJ]

This brings back memories. My very first tank was an undrilled non reef ready 125 gallon. I ran the Fluval fx6 for 2 years.
never could get nitrates below 20 even though I did my weekly water changes. I found out that because I was not cleaning the sponges inside the fx6 it became a nitrate factory. fx6 will forever be loved. Congrats on moving to a sump. I enjoy having a sump.

I never used the foam inserts. Just filled it with Marinepure media, Seachem Matrix and a small bag of BRS Rox

 

[Deezill]

I never used the foam inserts. Just filled it with Marinepure media, Seachem Matrix and a small bag of BRS Rox

yeah I used the foam that came with it ordered more on top of that foam i had a lot of mechanical filtration going on there lol.

 

[Silent]

Just make sure the media you are using in the canister filter will be put into your sump to help the transition.

 

[BeejReef]

Any chance of removing one of the side panels of your stand and have a second set of hands help to stabilize while you slide in the new sump and re-attach panel?

 

[AdamW0611]

Thanks for all the advice, but it seems my plans may have changed and my job will be alot bigger.. after pricing out the parts to upgrade to a sump it was about 600 dollars. I found a bigger drilled tank, stand, sump, skimmer etc for the same price locally on market place, probably gonna pick it Saturday. Only problem is the tank has to go in the same place, so draining the tank moving it etc, while using the same rocks and sand with new water will be a bigger undertaking, but better in the long run. Not 100 percent sure how I'm gonna do the switching rocks, sand, without ticking the fish off so much.

 

[brandon429]

I recommend not straying from the order of ops we use in the sand rinse thread for 23 pages

no recycles

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

If you are reading this thread to cure a tank invasion from a link I sent you, we do not need to identify your type of invasion here we do not need you to test anything at anytime regarding nitrate, phosphate etc Above all, we do not need to see a microscope slide picture of your invasion at...

www.reef2reef.com

If you do make a custom approach first go, we want to document that too. Big $ on the line