I’m not sure how to do this...

[BestMomEver]

I’ve set up quite a few tanks through the years but I’m not sure I’ve ever moved the contents of one tank and moved it to another. I’m not sure what’s the best way. I have two tanks, sitting side by side, that have to go into a larger tank. Problem is, the larger tank has to sit where the two tanks are. That means both tanks have to be nearly empty just to move them out of the way. I can siphon some of the water into some kind of containers then put my rock in some and fish in the others. But here’s the thing... I’d like to use some or all of my sand bed if I can do it without polluting the new tank. I won’t be able to rinse it because of the logistics of this thing. Would it be safer to buy new sand and just seed it with the old? I’m also gonna have limited options for landscaping because all my rocks are covered with coral colonies and frags. I’ll be using the old equipment which means the old tank will be pretty much unplugged while I do all this.

What is the best way to do this? Also, when I disconnect everything to put in a new equipment board/cabinet how do I keep everything healthy? Do I empty the tank contents into buckets then dismantle the equipment or do I leave everything in the tank until the new one is completely ready to go? I’d like to use some of my water but will have to reserve enough to put rocks in.Unfortunately, there will be no way to cycle this tank empty so I need to keep die off to a minimum (if at all).

This is what has to go in the new tank...

 

[Arricefe]

You have a project on your hands! I did something similar recently but it was a slow project. I moved from a 125 to 120. The 125 was where I wanted my 120 so I but everything in buckets and containers and moved the 125 to a temporary spot. I set the 120 up with new sand and over a couple of months I added the water change water into it. After about 2 months I drained my new tank and then added newly mixed saltwater; moved the rocks in and pumped water from my old to the new, I caught all the fish and moved them into their new home, done. All coral, fish and invers seemed happy in their new home.

 

[sbash]

Yes, new sand is recommended. Apparently there can be toxins trapped in the old sand, so pull as much livestock out as you can before disturbing the old sand bed.

Air is the key to keeping everything healthy and alive. I have done this a few times. I use large "Tough Box" plastic tubs, add an airstone and put the lid over it. Heating the tubs is also advisable if they will sit for over, say, 4 or 5 hours.

 

[Oldreefer44]

Speaking from experience, yes new sand is a much better option. When I made a similar move I lost about half of my livestock.

 

[sharpimage]

get some new trash cans from home depot. put everything in them, including an air stone. move old tanks, install new tank, new sand, and put rock, coral fish in new tank. a single power head and an airstone in the new tank will suffice so you can set up the sump. There really should be no cycle if all the rock goes. It isn't that bad once you start. Deep breathes and remain calm and it will go smoothly.

 

[WVNed]

Move rocks down so they don't fall. Take the water out of a tank. I drained it into Brute cans on wheels. Move old tank out of the way. Put the water back. Move new tank into spot and plumb it. Test it with tap water. No leaks drain it. Put new substrate in and half full of new salt water. Move rocks from old tanks. Then some of the water from old tank and fish last. Tear
down old tank

and you are done

Piece of cake.

 

[doughboy]

here's how I did my tank swap:
drain old tank low enough so it can slide out of the original location (I have laminate flooring)
fill the old tank back and run using all old equipment
setup new tank in old tank location, using all new sand, rocks, pumps, light.
wait for new tank cycle to complete.
while waiting for new tank to cycle, sell off livestock, corals, rocks etc that I don't want.
once new tank cycle is complete, pick and choose what goes in the new tank.
drain and sell old tank and equipment.

 

[Tom Kats]

Here is how I am planning my tank swap:

Build a frag tank and populate it with my present colonies in my old tank with same rocks and water.
Discard everything or sale the remaining.
Cook the live rock for a month while the frag are encrusting.
Establish proper cycle and new aquascaping for new tank.
Add slowly fish and frag to tank.
Enjoy a new tank instead of an adaptation from the old tank.

 

[Mariette]

I’ve been doing similar research because I’m upgrading to a larger tank. I haven’t done it yet but here’s what I would do if I was you:

- new sand. Don’t know why. Seems to be the general consensus on here. My plan is to buy the minimum needed for new tank and slowly add back my old substrate over time to save money.
- Move all life to a qt (easier said than done. I know)
- transfer contents of other 2 tanks into new tank. This may take a while specially w placing rocks w corals. Take your time. Fish are done in qt.
- add back fish

 

[BestMomEver]

Move rocks down so they don't fall. Take the water out of a tank. I drained it into Brute cans on wheels. Move old tank out of the way. Put the water back. Move new tank into spot and plumb it. Test it with tap water. No leaks drain it. Put new substrate in and half full of new salt water. Move rocks from old tanks. Then some of the water from old tank and fish last. Tear
down old tank

and you are done

Piece of cake.

Ha! But it’s not a bad plan.

 

[BestMomEver]

get some new trash cans from home depot. put everything in them, including an air stone. move old tanks, install new tank, new sand, and put rock, coral fish in new tank. a single power head and an airstone in the new tank will suffice so you can set up the sump. There really should be no cycle if all the rock goes. It isn't that bad once you start. Deep breathes and remain calm and it will go smoothly.

Thanks... that’s a good plan too.

 

[RichReef]

Got some trash cans.
Put rock, corals, and fish in cans.
Moved old tank to the side using furniture sliders.
Put rock, corals, and fish BACK into old tank. Used cans to make water for new tank.
Kept stirring old tank sand, blowing and swishing rocks every chance I got while running double up socks. Like 2 weeks or so of this.
Set up new tank. Took my time.
Plumbed new tank into old tank very slowly. Temporary. From dripping to full flow over a weeks time. Corals loved it. Like a giant acclimating water change.
Moved livestock and equipment to new tank.
Separated tank plumbing.
Best part was being able to play with the scape, sand, and corals because there were 2 tanks, same water. Right next to each other.
Worst part was the space this took.

But the transition was flawless.