How do I move to a larger tank?

[PugsAndFish]

I’m upgrading from a 10 gallon tank (Innovative Marine 10) to a 45 gallon tank (Red Sea 170). I’d like to transfer the livestock over as soon as possible. How can I go about this safely and quickly?

My plan is to use dry rock to build a new scape in the display of the new tank. I haven’t decided on the rock but I’m consider about 25 pounds of Reef Savers or Carib Sea Life Rock.

Can I use new rock to build the display, dump the rock and Seachem Matrix in my 10 gallon into the new tank’s sump and then put my livestock in the new tank? Or do I need to cycle the new tank as if I’m starting from scratch and if I need to do this, how about when I move in the future?

 

[redfishbluefish]

You need to first cure the rock....and then cycle it. Get the rock into saltwater and let it start to cure. This can be done in a buck without heat (assuming in a living space and not in you garage in the middle of winter in Montana). A little flow (powerhead) should be added here as well.

 

[dugthefish]

No different than if you're adding more dry rock to an existing tank. If I were me, I'd scape the new tank, mix fresh saltwater, and let it run for a couple days to get temp/salinity the same as existing tank. Then just move everything to the new tank.

 

[norfolkgarden]

You can use most of your current rock in the new scape to jumpstart the complete cycle of the dry rock.

Dry rock goes through multiple phases before it has a complete cycle.

Jumping from a 10 to a 40 with the same amount of fish gives you a lot of flexibility and breathing room. Keep some amquel or prime available and keep testing for ammonia daily for the first few weeks.

Wait a month before adding more fish.
[emoji4]

 

[Gareth elliott]

Are you adding the previous rock from the 10 as well?

 

[Dragonreef202]

I would get a bucket and cycle the dry rock first. You should add a piece of existing rock you have in your tank to help cycle the dry rock. Then a couple weeks add to your new tank and add the rest of your existing rock and let cycle for 2 weeks or then add your fish in your new tank. I wouldn't rush putting your fish in a new tank. It's like there in a Qt tank anyway so just take your time. You want to have all your animals alive after the move.

 

[dugthefish]

Curious why people think dry rock needs to be cycled on this scenario. If guy has 10# of live rock in 10 gallons of water and it handles his bio load, why wouldn't the same 10# of rock handle the same exact load in 40 gallons of water?

 

[PugsAndFish]

You need to first cure the rock....and then cycle it. Get the rock into saltwater and let it start to cure. This can be done in a buck without heat (assuming in a living space and not in you garage in the middle of winter in Montana). A little flow (powerhead) should be added here as well.

I'm going with rock that doesn't need to be cured. Leaning ReefCleaners

 

[PugsAndFish]

Are you adding the previous rock from the 10 as well?

Yes probably going to just dump the rock in my 10 gallon into the sump.

 

[PDR]

I'm going with rock that doesn't need to be cured. Leaning ReefCleaners

I have always had great luck with reefcleaners, I highly recommend their rock.

 

[PugsAndFish]

I have always had great luck with reefcleaners, I highly recommend their rock.

Yea probably one of the few rocks where I haven't read a con. I was thinking Caribsea Shapes but it's a bit pricey and some stories of some matter coming off of it down the line.

 

[don_chuwish]

Even clean new dry rock benefits from a 'curing' period. Preferably in the dark. Helps get a nice bacteria population established and a bio film on the rock that may help keep unwanted algae growth in check. It's not critical, just one of those tips along the lines of 'take it slow' in this hobby. If you take the rock from the 10G and put it in the sump then I think you'll be fine in terms of handling the fish bio load. Especially if also adding some bacteria in a bottle.

 

[Huff747]

There's been a series of articles along the same lines (bigger scale of a 300 to 500) that may help too. Goes through the process pretty in depth I'd say. The most recent one - https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/planning-and-transitioning-to-500-gallons.519/

 

[Daniel Waters]

I’m upgrading from a 10 gallon tank (Innovative Marine 10) to a 45 gallon tank (Red Sea 170). I’d like to transfer the livestock over as soon as possible. How can I go about this safely and quickly?

My plan is to use dry rock to build a new scape in the display of the new tank. I haven’t decided on the rock but I’m consider about 25 pounds of Reef Savers or Carib Sea Life Rock.

Can I use new rock to build the display, dump the rock and Seachem Matrix in my 10 gallon into the new tank’s sump and then put my livestock in the new tank? Or do I need to cycle the new tank as if I’m starting from scratch and if I need to do this, how about when I move in the future?

No need to cycle the new rock IF you are going to transfer over your existing live rock and seachem matrix material when you switch livestock. I still think it's a good idea to setup the new tank and aquascape and fill with new saltwater and run the tank for a few days beforehand (and maybe add in some of your seachem matrix material or a little live rock into the sump at that time). Obviously you want the new tank temperature, salinity, and PH to be close to your existing tank parameters when you make the transfer. Also, with any new tank (or material going into a tank), it's a good idea to be sure to rinse it / sterilize it beforehand. You never know what residual chemicals might be on something. Running some carbon also isn't a bad idea.