Looking for assistance with tank upgrade

[RazorD]

Hello,
In 2 weeks I’m going to be upgrading from a basic 55g reef with a HOB skimmer and about 75-80 lbs of LR to a new 170 system with a sump and looking for some thoughts on ways I can minimize a new cycle process as my current livestock will be moving right into the new tank as it’s going in the same spot as the old one.

First, more rock. I know I need some more for the larger new tank. I have some dead live rock that’s been dried for several years. Maybe another 30 lbs. or so. In an effort to start the bacteria process, I put those in a bin 2 weeks ago with old water from a water change and powerheads (figured there’d be some bacteria in the water). I added some small LR pieces from my tank to it too. Every week or so, I dump it and put that weeks tank water from my water change in there.

Is this an ok plan of helping move things along and getting the old dead rock ready? Also, should I add some of that dry live rock I see at my LFS that is good to go from the start? If so, add it to the bin now to help move the old dead rock along? Or save it dry for the new tank day?

As for sand, my plan was to add all new bags of live sand and toss old sand? Does this make sense or would you guys save some of that sand for the new tank to help seed bacteria?

Also, as for water, should I start saving some water change water a week or 2 out from the big day (kept with a heater and powerheads) for the new tank? Or am I better just using over 100 gallons of new water?

I’m trying to minimize cycle process in hopes of not losing current livestock. Appreciate everyone’s thoughts and/or things I can be doing/planning on over the next two weeks.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Remember, even with more water volume, at first your bioload is the same. You do not need to rush into rock if you just want to get the move done first. It might be helpful in the long run to add rock during the transfer, however.

New sand is the right move. I would use all new sand in fact. Just collects waste. Save some though if you feel you have developed great microfauna.

Would not worry about the water, but would transfer what was in the tank when I moved.

 

[NY_Caveman]

On your rock curing, I would test for Phosphates and see how high they are. If it is dead, dirty rock, it may be pretty high.

 

[RazorD]

Thanks! If the phosphates are high with the formerly live rock, how long will that take to resolve? I’m doing 80-100% changes of the storage bin water weekly. Anything else I can/should be doing?

 

[NY_Caveman]

Thanks! If the phosphates are high with the formerly live rock, how long will that take to resolve? I’m doing 80-100% changes of the storage bin water weekly. Anything else I can/should be doing?

If the Phosphate tests high, like over 1 ppm, I would consider bleaching if it is long dead. If not, at least a good scrubbing. Some folks power wash, etc.

 

[NY_Caveman]

It took my rock about 2 months to drop from 0.75 ppm to 0.22 ppm where it plateaued. That was after I bleached it for two weeks and then dechlorinator for two weeks. Not the same obviously, but an example.

 

[NS Mike D]

how wedded to using sand are you? If I were to do it over again, I would go no sand. I think WWC is on the mark when they said that sand helps initially (about 7 months) but over time no sand becomes easier to maintain and enables them to heavily feed the corals. In any case, +1 on new sand if you go with a sand bed.

As for live rock, there is a member here who spoke at our local reef club (he's built a fine reputation for his coral business) who has no live rock in his frag and grow out tanks but uses marine pure blocks in a sump. He believes live rock clogs up over time losing its effectiveness whereas he can periodically replace the marine pure blocks in his sump. I think he's not alone in reefers who are now using minimal amounts of live rock.

Thus, you may not need more live rock. Just enough to aqua-scape and create sufficient hiding places . Then put a few marine pure blocks in your sump for filtration. Additional benefits are that empty space is dramatic, more room for corals to grow and better flow in the tank.

Food for thought and I will let others join the debate

 

[RazorD]

I’ve been toying with that tbh as I do like a more open look. Thanks for the info

 

[PatW]

If you want to help cycle the dead rock, you could add some liquid ammonia ( often sold at you LFS for cycling) to the water it is curing in. The bacteria will not increase without some ammonia to process. You could change the water it is curing in about every week or so.

If the rock in your old tank was enough for your current fish population, it will be enough in the new tank.

It sounds as if you have 75 lbs of live rock and 30 lbs of old dry rock curing for about 100 lbs total. You could add anywhere between 50-100 additional lbs of dry rock, best to cure and cycle, to your new tank. Depends on how much bioload the tank will have and whether you want a minimalist aquas ape or not.