Help me with my Reef move/ Upgrade -> 75Gal

[stlcard]

I have a bounty of questions. Heres my back story:

New to reef2reef i frequented the other for awhile but got no help. Ive heard great things of reef2reef.

Ill be moving in about 4-5 months. I plan to use the move as a means to upgrade from a 33 mixed reef tank to an SPS dominated 75.

Lets start with the move: (I've done alot of pre-research so i know the basics of a move)
1. Is it POSSIBLE for me to move from point A to B in about 2-3 days time and use all brand new base rock? this will create a cycle i know, but is it possible for me to put my current livestock (corals and fish) into the 75 and manage during a cycle? or is this a no no?
1A. Does that mean im limited to adding/using live rock only?

2. I suppose i could move my 33 set it up again(at new place) & then cycle my 75... and transfer inhabitants once the cycle is done. (thoughts?)

3. If i move directly from a 33 ->75 using my liverock, what water percentage do i use in the new DT? (Old tank water:: new water ratio?)

4. Should i use all new sand? I wont go barebottom, its not natural to me and i hate the look. I know the advantages, but i have sand critters and like sand.

75 build setup:
1. Sump: 40breeder or 20 long? I dont like refugiums. i had one but removed it as i did not see overwhelming benefits.
2. how many overflows? 1 or 2? corners or 1 in middle?
3. 2 vortech mp10's? or 1 vortech mp40?

Lighting:
1. LEDS?: I want to move to leds, but have to go the DIY route. Ive choosen RapidLED as my future provider. (unless i can be pointed elsewhere)

1A. I am beyond overwhelmed with the color combinations and opinions on led colors with pros/cons of different colors. I like the 12-14k look. What colors would you recommend? just stick with royal blues and cool whites? add supplemental as i like? I Obviously want growth and color.

2. Im on t5's right now. What percentage dim should i start LEDS at? I will use an apex for dimming. Is it better to limit the photoperiod, or limit the percentage output?

Thank you all for looking! If you can respond to this with some or all answers that would be great. Are there any solid 75gal build threads here?

 

[PaulKreider]

If you keep the live rock from your 33, you should be able to add base rock into new tank along with the old live rock and avoid a massive cycle, same being said id go with all new dead sand to avoid the die off cycle from the 3 day move. Use a nitrifing bacteria (starter bacteria) to get rid of the new cycle within a few days and fish should be safe during the mean time. If nitrates get too high just do a large water change. You should be able to transfer everything within a few hours of setting it up if youkeep your current live rock!
Also on the leds, i went the rapid led rout also, i got the 36 crees over my 55gal 48inch long 28 deep. Theyre insanely bright! makesure to get a dimmer! i went with 18cool whites, 14 royal blues and 4 blues, but theyre too bright so i only use 6 cool whites, 14 royal blues and 4 blues., and thats with them dimmed too 40% I would definatly recoment getting a 2/1 ratio of blues/whites when choosing the leds!

Sorry for all the errors this is off my ipod lol

 

[stlcard]

Awesome, I think i will use my current live rock and add additional base rock to get the aquascape im looking for. Are you getting good results from your Rapid LED build? noticed any growth or color changes? What kind of corals are you keeping? Lastly, what optics are you using?

 

[PaulKreider]

The things are insanely bright i love them! Right now, i have birdnests, acro's, montis, a couple different lps peices and lots of zoas!
iv noticed some peices changed color a little when they came from mh grow tanks, i like the colors more under mine though. I have the 60deg lens i believe. Theyre hung about 12inches off of the water.

Heres a link to my tank thread.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/member-tanks/108902-pauls-55-gallon-reef-tank.html

 

[stlcard]

Sweet thanks Paul. Any others have input?

 

[stlcard]

What size sump? 40 breeder or 20 long?


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[caudill187]

Great advice so far. I think you'll be ok if you use the old rock and sand in the new tank with the additional rock and sand. I have moved large systems before and kept about 1/2 of my original water. If you match the alkalinity fairly closely, you can probably do more new water.

 

[Eggs]

Ill be moving in about 4-5 months. I plan to use the move as a means to upgrade from a 33 mixed reef tank to an SPS dominated 75.

3. If i move directly from a 33 ->75 using my liverock, what water percentage do i use in the new DT? (Old tank water:: new water ratio?)

4. Should i use all new sand? I wont go barebottom, its not natural to me and i hate the look. I know the advantages, but i have sand critters and like sand.

I've done this a few times when upgrading: used approx. 2/3rd new water and rest old. Do a mini-acclimation for the fish.
I would use new sand and seed it with the old. You'll be stirring up allot of bad stuff transferring the old.
I've also added new rock, but in small increments.

 

[_Alex_]

Use old rock to put bacteria in your tank. New sand, yes, unless your sand is less than a year old I wouldn't risk moving old sand. Risk chance of big cycle. Any size sump will work but I like biggest can fit for more water volume.

Current 2 mp10 would suffice but if you ever go bigger tank you will need mp40.


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