Need Advice - Upgrading Tank

[GoPitt88]

I want to move everything from my 55 gallon mixed reef tank to my dream tank (Red Sea Reef 425 XL). Need advice on the best way of doing so while keeping all my fish and coral. Is it OK to add new sand without cycling the tank? Can I make the transfer in one day? I currently have about 80 lbs of live rock. Here's a video of my tank to give you an idea of what I have. Thanks for the advice! [emoji16]

 

[TheEngineer]

Yep, you can do the transfer in one day. I’ve had to move my tanks quite a few times over the years. Depending on how much detritus has built up you might get quite a bit of muck. Also, if you’re sand bed is deep and hasn’t been disturbed in awhile I’d leave that for the last bit. You can mix up the funk in the remaining water before transferring it over.

 

[GoPitt88]

What steps were taken in the process? Need to make a plan.

 

[Clownfish2]

I want to move everything from my 55 gallon mixed reef tank to my dream tank (Red Sea Reef 425 XL). Need advice on the best way of doing so while keeping all my fish and coral. Is it OK to add new sand without cycling the tank? Can I make the transfer in one day? I currently have about 80 lbs of live rock. Here's a video of my tank to give you an idea of what I have. Thanks for the advice! [emoji16]

Congrats on the upgrade! I am planning on upgrading my 110 gallon next year when I move. Here is what I would do: Set up the Reefer 425 88 gallon and fill it with freshly mixed saltwater. Check the plumbing for leaks. If everything looks good and you have enough storage or buckets for water siphon out 55 gallons of the freshly mixed saltwater for future use or water changes.

Now siphon out approx 55 gallons of your established tank water and put that into your new 88 gallon tank. Then transfer all your corals and fish to the new tank.

If you want to re-use your sand, I would siphon the sand into a bucket in small batches, rinse it under a water faucet, then use dechlorinator on it. Once I have the 88 gallon tank operating and aquascaped how I want it, use a 3 foot long or so PVC pipe and a funnel at the top and add a baseball size amount of sand into the funnel, add few ounces tank water to the funnel and the sand slides down the pipe onto the tank bottom. This reduces chance of your tank visibility turning to zero.

 

[TheEngineer]

You’re going to a bigger tank, so will you add more rock? You’ll need water already made since you won’t have enough. I move everything to bins and then to the tank rather than straight to the tank. Allows for you to be methodical.

For me, it is corals out first. Then fish, if you can catch them. Rock that isn’t in the sand before fish if they hide. Rock in the sand. And finally sand.

 

[GoPitt88]

Yeah, I'll need more rock and sand.

 

[TheEngineer]

Yeah, I'll need more rock and sand.

I would recommend starting to cure the new rock and sand as soon as possible. That will minimize the mini cycle you’re going to get.

 

[GoPitt88]

I would recommend starting to cure the new rock and sand as soon as possible. That will minimize the mini cycle you’re going to get.

Yep....I think I'm going to end up putting the new tank in a different location anyway, so I'll be able to put new rock down first as the base layer, then new sand, let it cycle, then put the old rock and corals in. I'll be able to take my time [emoji2]

 

[Bpb]

Moving from one tank to another tank, same house, different location, is the easiest move you can do. Will you be using any of the same equipment? Are you able to fill the new tank entirely and get it running with saltwater and new sand only?

 

[GoPitt88]

Moving from one tank to another tank, same house, different location, is the easiest move you can do. Will you be using any of the same equipment? Are you able to fill the new tank entirely and get it running with saltwater and new sand only?

Mostly....I'll be able to reuse my existing Kessil A360WE's, and MP10'S, but the new tank will have a sump. I'm currently using an Aquaclear 70 HOB and Fluval 306 canister filter. With the larger tank, I'll need more rock and sand, so I'm thinking I'll put the new tank where I want it, fill it with water to make sure there are no leaks, buy the new rock and put it in as the new foundation, then put the new sand in and let that cycle since I won't be in any hurry, seeding it with some rock and sand from my existing tank.

 

[Bpb]

Mostly....I'll be able to reuse my existing Kessil A360WE's, and MP10'S, but the new tank will have a sump. I'm currently using an Aquaclear 70 HOB and Fluval 306 canister filter. With the larger tank, I'll need more rock and sand, so I'm thinking I'll put the new tank where I want it, fill it with water to make sure there are no leaks, buy the new rock and put it in as the new foundation, then put the new sand in and let that cycle since I won't be in any hurry, seeding it with some rock and sand from my existing tank.

That’s exactly what I’d do. Set it up. Maybe toss a couple cheap powerheads in there for extra flow. Get it running. Dose a ton of bacteria with that new rock and sand. Cause a deliberate bacterial bloom. Dose a little vodka/vinegar. Get a bottle of dr Tim’s ammonium chloride and just feed the tank with that for a few weeks to let the bacteria really build up. Start catching your fish one by one and add the fish to the new tank. Then start bringing the old rock and coral over bit by bit.

It goes without saying don’t put the fish in the new tank if it’s showing ammonia.

By dosing so much bacteria you’ll speed up how quickly it is running as it should. I’d avoid using any light on the tank until corals are in.