Need help with Tank transfer

[Michael Cooper]

I did a transfer from my 55 to my now 120 about 2 months ago. I put everything it big storage containers during the transfer: fish in one, coral in another, rock in others. I didn't reuse the sand because you have to worry about the diatoms and all the different unwanted critters now living in the sand like bristle worms. I drained all the water from my tank into my containers, already had fresh saltwater made as well as plain fresh rodi water. I kept heaters in the fish and coral containers as well as airstones so the water would be agitated and everything was getting oxygen. I used all new live sand, added all of my rocks (that's didn't have corals attached, before adding water), added some new rocks too. Then i added the water from my old tank from the rock container, and started filling with fresh saltwater too. Once tank temp was right i added my corals and more tank water. Then once tank was filled I drip acclimated my fish and added them. I also supplement bacteria with Brightwell Acquatics Naturbacter7 to help add bacteria. I use a 40 gallon sump on my system and it's perfect. 20 gallons is way too small. Everything today has been thriving incredibly!

 

[Triggreef]

Sounds Like it went as well as possible. Just fyi for future endeavors, match salinity and forget about drip acclimating its a waste of time as long as salinity is the same.

 

[Michael Cooper]

Sounds Like it went as well as possible. Just fyi for future endeavors, match salinity and forget about drip acclimating its a waste of time as long as salinity is the same.

Yeah that's true. I can be a little paranoid when I come to my fish, and I had the extra time so I decided to play it safe. But yeah I agree matching the salinity saves time.

 

[Nicolas Sabrun]

I use a Vectra, I have about 4'-5' if head pressure and run it about half power; but I don't have other items plumbed in.

Thanks I will check it out

 

[Nicolas Sabrun]

If you were local I'd give you a 20g high already drilled

That would be great. since don't have anything to drill glass.

I am still trying to find a 30L. Seems they all stock the 20g or 40 breeder. Bummer.

 

[Nicolas Sabrun]

I did a transfer from my 55 to my now 120 about 2 months ago. I put everything it big storage containers during the transfer: fish in one, coral in another, rock in others. I didn't reuse the sand because you have to worry about the diatoms and all the different unwanted critters now living in the sand like bristle worms. I drained all the water from my tank into my containers, already had fresh saltwater made as well as plain fresh rodi water. I kept heaters in the fish and coral containers as well as airstones so the water would be agitated and everything was getting oxygen. I used all new live sand, added all of my rocks (that's didn't have corals attached, before adding water), added some new rocks too. Then i added the water from my old tank from the rock container, and started filling with fresh saltwater too. Once tank temp was right i added my corals and more tank water. Then once tank was filled I drip acclimated my fish and added them. I also supplement bacteria with Brightwell Acquatics Naturbacter7 to help add bacteria. I use a 40 gallon sump on my system and it's perfect. 20 gallons is way too small. Everything today has been thriving incredibly!

Thank you for all the info.

How much sand did you use in your 120g? What kind ? Live sand?

How long did it took to do the transfer?

Did you had any major algae bloom after the transfer?

For the sump, I am still debating on reusing my old one which is 42x10x12 with 7" of water in or start with something new.

Do you think the Brightwell helped?

Also what kind of return pump are you using on your 120?

Thank you for your help

 

[Michael Cooper]

Thank you for all the info.

How much sand did you use in your 120g? What kind ? Live sand?

How long did it took to do the transfer?

Did you had any major algae bloom after the transfer?

For the sump, I am still debating on reusing my old one which is 42x10x12 with 7" of water in or start with something new.

Do you think the Brightwell helped?

Also what kind of return pump are you using on your 120?

Thank you for your help

I wanted to go with a deep sand bed, so I used 140 lbs of Live Aragonite Sand from Natures Ocean.

The transfer was an ALLLLLLLLLL day process. Between draining my old tank and transferring everything out, moving the old tank and stand out, moving the new tank and stand in, filling it adding everything it took me 16 hours, but I took my time and made sure everything was perfect. I'd recommend doing it on the weekend and waking up early and starting it early in the morning. I also might've started getting lazy as the day went on, but it's an all day ordeal.

I had no algae bloom at all after. I credit the use of my preexisting live rock, live sand, and the NaturBacter7 as the reason, as well as my skimmer doing an amazing job. The brightwell definitely helped, I've used it on all my tanks I've started and it works wonderfully. Again, rather be safe then sorry. Plus it's only a $15 bottle, so why not when you're talking thousands for fish and corals.

I use a 40 gallon breeder, which probably holds about 20 gallons of volume,
maybe a bit more, so I would recommend being in that range of volume. Plus you want to have plenty of room for your equipment and refugium.

I use a Jebao DCT 4000 return pump on my tank. I use two Jebao SW-8 circulation pumps in the display.

 

[Nicolas Sabrun]

I wanted to go with a deep sand bed, so I used 140 lbs of Live Aragonite Sand from Natures Ocean.

The transfer was an ALLLLLLLLLL day process. Between draining my old tank and transferring everything out, moving the old tank and stand out, moving the new tank and stand in, filling it adding everything it took me 16 hours, but I took my time and made sure everything was perfect. I'd recommend doing it on the weekend and waking up early and starting it early in the morning. I also might've started getting lazy as the day went on, but it's an all day ordeal.

I had no algae bloom at all after. I credit the use of my preexisting live rock, live sand, and the NaturBacter7 as the reason, as well as my skimmer doing an amazing job. The brightwell definitely helped, I've used it on all my tanks I've started and it works wonderfully. Again, rather be safe then sorry. Plus it's only a $15 bottle, so why not when you're talking thousands for fish and corals.

I use a 40 gallon breeder, which probably holds about 20 gallons of volume,
maybe a bit more, so I would recommend being in that range of volume. Plus you want to have plenty of room for your equipment and refugium.

I use a Jebao DCT 4000 return pump on my tank. I use two Jebao SW-8 circulation pumps in the display.

Thanks again for all the info.

You got me scared now. 16 hours for the whole transfer. Just about that I have 2 tanks to deal with as me wonder for a better course of action. Maybe I should try to keep the 20 g running at another location and only transfer the 55g for now.

and yeah $ 15 vs precious corals is definitely worth it.

How do you like the Jebao DCT 4000? I heard they don t pull as much flow as advertised. I will be reusing 2 PP8 and a PP4 for water movement so I should be fine.

What kind of Natures Ocean did you go with? I was thinking about the Bahamas oolite but it may just keep blowing away with the flow.

Also would you have any pics of your tank setup?

Thank you

 

[Michael Cooper]

Thanks again for all the info.

You got me scared now. 16 hours for the whole transfer. Just about that I have 2 tanks to deal with as me wonder for a better course of action. Maybe I should try to keep the 20 g running at another location and only transfer the 55g for now.

and yeah $ 15 vs precious corals is definitely worth it.

How do you like the Jebao DCT 4000? I heard they don t pull as much flow as advertised. I will be reusing 2 PP8 and a PP4 for water movement so I should be fine.

What kind of Natures Ocean did you go with? I was thinking about the Bahamas oolite but it may just keep blowing away with the flow.

Also would you have any pics of your tank setup?

Thank you

Lol don't be scared! I definitely was getting side tracked, and it was a little more difficult for me because my tank is in a basement so it took a while to move things around and get it into place finally. If you're able to get everything into containers then you might as well transfer everything the same day. Plus, you can reuse the water from those tanks, and that means less fresh RO water to make.

I love the Jebao DCT 4000. It has to pump water up about 5 and a half feet and I run it on half power, if even that, and it does a great job. I use the DCT 4000 on all my other tanks too. Yeah those pumps should be a perfect amount of flow.

I went with the Aragonite sand. It looks beautiful, doesn't get blown around, so I would recommend looking into that.

I custom made the stand and canopy for my tank.

 

[Nicolas Sabrun]

Lol don't be scared! I definitely was getting side tracked, and it was a little more difficult for me because my tank is in a basement so it took a while to move things around and get it into place finally. If you're able to get everything into containers then you might as well transfer everything the same day. Plus, you can reuse the water from those tanks, and that means less fresh RO water to make.

I love the Jebao DCT 4000. It has to pump water up about 5 and a half feet and I run it on half power, if even that, and it does a great job. I use the DCT 4000 on all my other tanks too. Yeah those pumps should be a perfect amount of flow.

I went with the Aragonite sand. It looks beautiful, doesn't get blown around, so I would recommend looking into that.

I custom made the stand and canopy for my tank.

Thank you for sharing. Great looking tank.

 

[Michael Cooper]

Of course, best of luck to you! Keep us updated, and feel free to ask any other questions! Thank you I really appreciate it. If you have Instagram, check out more of my tank and stand pictures @coopsreeftank