Moving Into New 72g - Need Help

patsheridan · Jun 9, 2016

I currently have a 36 gallon mixed reef (attached pic - refugium with skimmer, two filter socks, live plants), and have just purchased a used 72g bowfront. This unit came with a MarineLand Magnum 350 canister filter, Rena 200w heater and a four-bulb T5 canpoy light fixture. I did not want the rock work, but have kept the sand. I am planning on moving my current everything from my 35g into this 72, and have lots of questions:

Should I keep the sand from the newly-purchased tank (was not much in this tank when I got it except the water, sand and some rock work - he had sold off everything else). Rinse it well and reuse? Add my existing sand to this, after a good rinse? What about all the good critters in my existing sand?
I am interested to keep the canister filter, and maybe add a skimmer that hangs over the back. Will this combination do a good job of filtration? If so, what should I add (if anything) filtration-wise? If no good, what suggestions? I prefer a more simple approach, but want to do what is right to keep a healthy mixed-reef system.
Can I simply put in 30-40 gallons of saltwater I would purchase from my LFS, bring it up to temp, add my current sand to the existing, add my existing rockwork, then add back my existing water and livestock? Leave the tank at about 80% full, then add in new rockwork and water slowly over the course of a few days?
Do I need to cycle the new tank before adding back livestock?
How can I get some of that beautiful coralline algae going from my existing tank into my new?
What are the biggest concerns to watch out for during this process?

Thanks is advance!

cjd · Jun 10, 2016

1. Should I keep the sand from the newly-purchased tank (was not much in this tank when I got it except the water, sand and some rock work - he had sold off everything else). Rinse it well and reuse? Add my existing sand to this, after a good rinse? What about all the good critters in my existing sand?
* Going through the painstaking process of rinsing out the sand from the new tank assuming it dried out and everything living in it died , just easier to buy new sand .Add your sand on top of the new sand , don't rinse your sand , but maybe a good vacuum before adding it to your new tank.
2. am interested to keep the canister filter, and maybe add a skimmer that hangs over the back. Will this combination do a good job of filtration? If so, what should I add (if anything) filtration-wise? If no good, what suggestions? I prefer a more simple approach, but want to do what is right to keep a healthy mixed-reef system
*Personally sumps are easier to work with and hide equipment, but you can get away with the canister set up and a hang on the back protein skimmer for sure.
3.Can I simply put in 30-40 gallons of saltwater I would purchase from my LFS, bring it up to temp, add my current sand to the existing, add my existing rockwork, then add back my existing water and livestock? Leave the tank at about 80% full, then add in new rockwork and water slowly over the course of a few days?
* I would put new sand or rinsed sand in the tank add your sand to the top of that add your current tank water enough to submerge sand ( 2inches above) . Add your rock work , Aquascaping with no water is easier to get a better idea how things look and when you keep moving things around to get that perfect fit or look, things don't get stirred up and a cloudy mess . A few minutes is alright, don't start this and walk away for an hour and come back to it. When you have the scape you want fill the tank with remaining water from your established tank . Top off the tank with the store bought salt water.
4.Do I need to cycle the new tank before adding back livestock?
*shouldn't have to, the existing bacteria on your rocks and sand should be adequate for now , just don't add any new livestock.
5.How can I get some of that beautiful coralline algae going from my existing tank into my new?
*Scrape it off the glass , catch as much as you can with a fine net and just put the new tank . This will seed the new tank.
6.What are the biggest concerns to watch out for during this process?
* A cycle , watch for a new cycle . I have upgraded and changed tanks many times and this is basically how they all were done , never lost anything in my transfers. things will be a little unhappy at first with the new change , let them settle and they will be good again. Using store bought salt water is my only concern with the process for you , because you have no control of the waters parameters. You trust they mix it to the same consistency every time to match your existing water.
Hope this gives you a direction to move in , I know how it is to look at a new tank and think "How do I get that stuff in there?" - Good luck!

patsheridan · Jun 10, 2016

Thanks CJD. That gives me a lot to go on. I have a pretty dependable LFS in my area, but I think I'll test their water before I dump it in to see that the parameters are within range of mine.