I could really use your help on this...!!

[ShawnSaucier]

Good Morning everyone,
I'm in the process of a new build. My current tank is a 75g, and the new tank will be going in the same place as the old. So what this means is that I will have to move the 75 to get the new tank set up. I'm thinking of setting up a kiddie pool in the garage as a holding tank and eliminating the 75 once it's broken down. Livestock may be in there for up to 5 months as the new tank cycles and settles. The other thought was just sell everything and start fresh, but my wife is attached to a few pieces and the fear that we would loose money. As she is letting me build the new "dream" system, I can't argue. Nor would I want to. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as far as making a big move like this. Other ideas are water troughs..

 

[pickupman66]

Go get you a stock tank from Tractor supply. They work Wonderfully and will hold up much better than a kiddie pool.

 

[cimmorine]

What size tank are you upgrading to?
When I upgraded from a 75 to a 150 I saved about 3 weeks of water changes and bought 2 new bags of sand. When I finally did the transfer I added my sand from my 75 to the 150 and topped it with the 2 new bags of sand. I added about half the amount of dead rock compared to live rock to the new system and added the water from my 75 plus the 3 weeks worth of water changes and finished it off with about 40G of fresh saltwater. I waited for everything to settle which took about 2 days and then added all my livestock.
I didnt loose one thing! and had no problems with any type of cycling.

 

[cdness]

I upgraded from a 75G to a 125G in December a few years back. the 125 took the place of the 75 so the one needed to be down before the other could go in. I did what I could to pre-measure the PVC and build what I could in advance. The 125 was hauled upstairs and sat in the middle of the room. The tank was drained into buckets and a large 150G stock tank. All corals, fish, and other assorted livestock was moved to the stock tank and rock into buckets. Then I tore down the 75G and took it out of the house. After it was out of the way I moved the 125 into place and glued all the plumbing. I waited 30 minutes to make sure all the glue was dry and started adding water I had saved from the 75G tank. Once there was enough water to cover the bottom quarter of the tank, I aquascaped the tank and added sand. Then I filled it up the rest of the way using the water from the buckets and stock tank. Livestock and corals were IMMEDIATELY added to the new tank when the stock tank got low enough to catch them. I then added the new saltwater to top off the additional 50 - 60 gallons needed. I lost nothing in that move and didn't need to wait ANY time to get the new tank stocked...

Things to note:
1. I added lots of extra liverock to the 75G and the sump that was in place at the time to get additional rock cycled prior to the upgrade...
2. New saltwater was matched EXACTLY to the old water for all target parameters, but especially temp, salinity and pH...
3. I had lots of well qualified assistance from our local reef club. They were awesome and I would never have got it done as fast as I did without their assistance
4. The stock wank was the best thing possible. Since I hardly ever needed one, I was able to borrow one from the LFS in town. It would take up too much room for me to have my own and store it.
5. Start early in the day so if you need parts from the store you can run and get them
6. Put pets in another room so they are not under your feet
7. Keep your volunteers happy with food and beverages. Keep the adult beverages for a completion celebration where you can sit back and enjoy the new tank... Either that or sit back and watch while you tweak the aquascape for the next couple hours because you didn't like it the first time around

 

[TrialandError]

I went from a 55 gallon to a 210 gallon no casulties. Use all new mixed water as there is nothing good in old used water. There is no bacteria in it. I used the sand from the 55 and all the live rock and then some cause the tank was so huge. Just kept an eye on parameters but everything went smooth and all was happy.

 

[cpayne015]

I upgraded from my 75 to 120 about 6 weeks ago and used dr. Tims, old water with new rodi water, new sand and did not lose a fish. I used all my rock from my 75 mixed with a few new pieces.

 

[ShawnSaucier]

Total water volume of the new tank will be around 210 give or take 10g. The tank is a Reef Savvy 60x30x24 which is 190ish gallons, the sump should be about 38 gallons while running. Figuring rock may displace 10 or 20 gallons. When I set the 75 up I had used dry rock, approx 65lbs. I suppose I could do this in a three or four day move. I was thinking of letting the new tank cycle for 3 months before adding livestock in.

 

[ShawnSaucier]

I think my main concern, I don't want to rush the build of the new tank. Or feel that way anyway. I could probably get away with a stock tank for a week long holding tank, run the lights and a few pumps for flow, while I build and test the new system.

 

[Mike J.]

I think my main concern, I don't want to rush the build of the new tank. Or feel that way anyway. I could probably get away with a stock tank for a week long holding tank, run the lights and a few pumps for flow, while I build and test the new system.

That sounds like a good plan.