Moving fish tank and inhabitants help please

[RKeenan]

So have had a RS425 up and running a couple of years (3 bigger tangs, 2 Chromis, 2 Anthias, 2 wrasses, coral beauty and a clown) and moving a few miles down the road. Decided to step up and bought a new RS625. Just moved the tank in this yesterday and setting it up this week. By the end of the week hope to have plumbing (lines for RO and ATO out to garage), aquascaping (almost all of it new Caribesea dry rock) and full of water. The issue is, I have to be out by 03/15th and wondering the best way to cycle the tank quick enough I can transfer all the fish to the new tank on the 15th. I have a smaller Gem tang being held at LFS and was going to throw him in this weekend and a ton of Microbacter 7 and try to do a cycle in a few days before the rest of the gang gets moved in. Have a bunch of bio bricks and a few of the rocks that have been in the tank a long while going in plus 120lbs of live sand to hopefully help as well. Only a few corals (hardy low end stuff) and since got to run with the lights off for a few weeks in new tank anyways going to put them in a little Bio cube I have so hopefully they will be ok. Anyways that is the plan. Any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated!

Thanks

 

[JC1977]

So have had a RS425 up and running a couple of years (3 bigger tangs, 2 Chromis, 2 Anthias, 2 wrasses, coral beauty and a clown) and moving a few miles down the road. Decided to step up and bought a new RS625. Just moved the tank in this yesterday and setting it up this week. By the end of the week hope to have plumbing (lines for RO and ATO out to garage), aquascaping (almost all of it new Caribesea dry rock) and full of water. The issue is, I have to be out by 03/15th and wondering the best way to cycle the tank quick enough I can transfer all the fish to the new tank on the 15th. I have a smaller Gem tang being held at LFS and was going to throw him in this weekend and a ton of Microbacter 7 and try to do a cycle in a few days before the rest of the gang gets moved in. Have a bunch of bio bricks and a few of the rocks that have been in the tank a long while going in plus 120lbs of live sand to hopefully help as well. Only a few corals (hardy low end stuff) and since got to run with the lights off for a few weeks in new tank anyways going to put them in a little Bio cube I have so hopefully they will be ok. Anyways that is the plan. Any thoughts or suggestions greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Yeah sounds like you’re dealing with serious time constraints here and that's never fun. Idk if it’s ideal but when I set up my 180 gallon tank I essentially took all the water, rock, and bio media from 75 and the fish and transferred e everything at one time. I had a few fish that weren’t happy for a couple days but in the end I didn’t lose anything. You’ll most likely have s mini cycle but I think you’ll be ok and honestly with the short amount of time you have to work with it might be your best bet. Best of luck!

 

[RKeenan]

Going to transfer some of the water and rock work to new tank. Was going to use a lot of the sand but read should not do that. Think I might still move some of it maybe like 20lbs over as well.

 

[JC1977]

Going to transfer some of the water and rock work to new tank. Was going to use a lot of the sand but read should not do that. Think I might still move some of it maybe like 20lbs over as well.

I’ve read that too I’ve never used sand so didn’t have to worry about that. Besides the sand I still think you’ll be ok !

 

[RKeenan]

Any other thoughts?

 

[Super Fly]

I went through same situation when I moved within same town. I moved all livestock & rocks in 2 separate brutes and then kept them all in one brute for a week (ran heater, powerhead and light) while setting up the new tank. Everything survived except for one fish. I used new sand, reused the existing LR and reused existing sump/equipment in the new tank. All the beneficial bacteria reside in the equipment, pipes and LR. Threw out old sand and water as it's essentially dirty water, however should've kept 1-2 cups of old sand to help seed the new sand.

If u plan to reuse old sand, I'd highly recommend rinsing them clean first while keeping 1-2 cups of old sand. If it was me, I'd cook the new rocks separately in a brute and only after they've matured would I add them to the new tank.
GL

 

[Nemo&Friends]

Use most of the live rocks you currently have in your tank, and use most of your current tank water when you move your fish. This way you will keep most of the same bacteria and pods you already have. I jus added fresh water to cover the volume difference and did not get any problems.