Need little bit of help

[Rayreef710]

Ok..so I have fuvel 13.5 an been running for all most a year have had some battles but have beat them lol so my question is I found a 20 gal acrylic tank an I have made a 10 gal sump for it. In the process of build a stand an all that good stuff. So real question is when my new tank an stands ready can I just take the live rock an water from the small tank an but in the bigger tank. An will thing be ok or do I have to fill the new tank an let cycle..

 

[ryanjohn1]

Yes you can. There are quite a few threads here about the same thing use the search function. I seem to remember most saying to use new sand.

 

[Rayreef710]

Dumb question what would I search? Transferring tank? Old tank to new tank? Thanks for your help I appreciate it

 

[ryanjohn1]

yeah that would probably find it. Keep chucking those key words till you find it bud

 

[Bruttall]

Use everything from inside your existing tank, sand, rock, BIO MEDIA!!!! All that stuff has the beneficial Nitrifying Bacteria on it we need in the system to eliminate the waste toxins. Not to mention all the time we spend GROWING the Algae before we ever add anything to the tanks. You want ALL that entire year's algae/bacteria growth into the new tank. Doing this eliminates the need to Cycle the tank. When you cycle, your growing algae/bacteria on the rocks and sand right? Well since you already have completely cycles rock and sand, all that needs to happen in the new tank is for the algae to grow into the new sand and rock you will be adding because you have more space, and more water. I like to keep close to the 1lb sand +1lb rock per gallon of water ratio.

The only thing that you gain no benefit from transferring from one tank to another is the water itself. Unless you have incredible Pod density in your water column.

I'm upgrading from a 75g to a 300g myself. started the tear down of the big tank yesterday, draining it today and 40 or so Mbuna Cichlids getting re-homed. I had a wall in front of the big one. removed it yesterday. I'm documenting this in a Build Thread if that matters to anyone but me

Anyways good luck to you on the upgrade.

 

[Rayreef710]

Yea when u cycle ur growing/ bacteria out
So if I move everything I should be good. I did just read on a tread here to Rinse the sand before goin in new. But was think about changing type of sand would that cause a problem

 

[Bruttall]

Yea when u cycle ur growing/ bacteria out
So if I move everything I should be good. I did just read on a tread here to Rinse the sand before goin in new. But was think about changing type of sand would that cause a problem

I would not even rinse the sand unless it is loaded with detritus/fishwaste. you're just moving everything into a large home, but if you do rinse the sand, use Tank Water so you preserve all the good stuff in the substrates.

Using different sand presents a new set of challenges because even though it says "LIVE SAND" the bacteria still takes a little bit to get going, that is why everyone says to cycle before adding livestock. What I would do is put your old sand on the bottom, and put an Inch or 2 of the new stuff on top of it. It does not hurt to have 3 inches or more of substrate, in fact it is a bonus if you have Sifter Goby fish.

 

[C4ctus99]

You can reuse live rocks and stuff, works out well. You may need to get more in the future, especially if you’ll be adding fish

As to sand, there are 2 ways that I’ve seen it done, one is wash the crap out of it (which I’ve done successfully), and the other is to move it into the new tank first, put a pan over it, and carefully fill it up so it does not kick up much debris.

Also, try and catch your fish before stirring up any of the sandbed, it will help keep them safe. I’ve had best results using a largish container like a 1 gallon water jug with the top cut off. Chase the fish into it with my hand and carefully lift out

 

[MischiefReef]

Keep everything!! If your sand is super dirty and you do decide to clean the sand, then you may as well rip clean. Search r2r for the rip clean method. And use tap water not tank water for rip cleaning.

 

[Bruttall]

Keep everything!! If your sand is super dirty and you do decide to clean the sand, then you may as well rip clean. Search r2r for the rip clean method. And use tap water not tank water for rip cleaning.

Tap water contains Chlorine most likely which will KILL EVERYTING IN THE LIVE SAND INCLUDING ALL ALGAE AND BACTERIA!!~!!!!!!!!! Worst Advice EVER IMO!

 

[Dburr1014]

Yea when u cycle ur growing/ bacteria out
So if I move everything I should be good. I did just read on a tread here to Rinse the sand before goin in new. But was think about changing type of sand would that cause a problem

Rinse the sand.
Lots of crap in it and the sand itself won't lose much of the bacteria in by rinsing with tap water. The benefit is your getting rid of all the fish waste. Finish rinse in rodi.

If going with new sand, also rinse. Dry sand with have lots of dust being tossed around dry and live sand will also have dead stuff in it as well. Live sand, IMO, is more of a gimmick unless it's shipped directly from being collected and shipped wet.

 

[Bruttall]

Rinse the sand.
Lots of crap in it and the sand itself won't lose much of the bacteria in by rinsing with tap water. The benefit is your getting rid of all the fish waste. Finish rinse in rodi.

If going with new sand, also rinse. Dry sand with have lots of dust being tossed around dry and live sand will also have dead stuff in it as well. Live sand, IMO, is more of a gimmick unless it's shipped directly from being collected and shipped wet.

Tap Water contains Chlorine which kills all bacteria/algae on contact. Why would you give someone advice that will kill the stuff they spent a year growing?

1st rule of Aquatics is NEVER USE TAP WATER FOR ANYTHING, IT HAS AMMONIA/CHLORINE AND FLUORIDE IN IT. Why do you think Freshwater treat with PRIME, and we all use 4 and 5 stage RO/DI systems to make our water? Would you use Tap Water to make Salt Water for your tank? WHY NOT?

 

[MischiefReef]

Tap water contains Chlorine most likely which will KILL EVERYTING IN THE LIVE SAND INCLUDING ALL ALGAE AND BACTERIA!!~!!!!!!!!! Worst Advice EVER IMO!

Pretty sure there’s quite a few experienced reefers that would disagree with you on that one. Your rocks will retain enough bacteria to sustain your tank. @brandon429 has a whole thread if not multiples on it I believe. And overall hundreds of rip clean threads on this site alone.

 

[Rayreef710]

Use everything from inside your existing tank, sand, rock, BIO MEDIA!!!! All that stuff has the beneficial Nitrifying Bacteria on it we need in the system to eliminate the waste toxins. Not to mention all the time we spend GROWING the Algae before we ever add anything to the tanks. You want ALL that entire year's algae/bacteria growth into the new tank. Doing this eliminates the need to Cycle the tank. When you cycle, your growing algae/bacteria on the rocks and sand right? Well since you already have completely cycles rock and sand, all that needs to happen in the new tank is for the algae to grow into the new sand and rock you will be adding because you have more space, and more water. I like to keep close to the 1lb sand +1lb rock per gallon of water ratio.

The only thing that you gain no benefit from transferring from one tank to another is the water itself. Unless you have incredible Pod density in your water column.

I'm upgrading from a 75g to a 300g myself. started the tear down of the big tank yesterday, draining it today and 40 or so Mbuna Cichlids getting re-homed. I had a wall in front of the big one. removed it yesterday. I'm documenting this in a Build Thread if that matters to anyone but me

Anyways good luck to you on the upgrade

Wish I had a 300g lol but yea man I check out ur build would like to see

 

[MischiefReef]

Tap Water contains Chlorine which kills all bacteria/algae on contact. Why would you give someone advice that will kill the stuff they spent a year growing?

1st rule of Aquatics is NEVER USE TAP WATER FOR ANYTHING, IT HAS AMMONIA/CHLORINE AND FLUORIDE IN IT. Why do you think Freshwater treat with PRIME, and we all use 4 and 5 stage RO/DI systems to make our water? Would you use Tap Water to make Salt Water for your tank? WHY NOT?

You are literally arguing something that is common practice, and has been tried and documented with success by numerous reefers.

 

[Dburr1014]

Tap Water contains Chlorine which kills all bacteria/algae on contact. Why would you give someone advice that will kill the stuff they spent a year growing?

1st rule of Aquatics is NEVER USE TAP WATER FOR ANYTHING, IT HAS AMMONIA/CHLORINE AND FLUORIDE IN IT. Why do you think Freshwater treat with PRIME, and we all use 4 and 5 stage RO/DI systems to make our water? Would you use Tap Water to make Salt Water for your tank? WHY NOT?

Okay, your opinion.
Do you know he has chlorine and fluoride?
My well water doesn't.
Most water has ammonia.
And I said final rinse in rodi. This washes away whatever is in the tap.
Bacteria won't wash away.

I have done this countless times as well as others.
My statement stands. This is how I would do it.

 

[Bruttall]

Pretty sure there’s quite a few experienced reefers that would disagree with you on that one. Your rocks will retain enough bacteria to sustain your tank. @brandon429 has a whole thread if not multiples on it I believe. And overall hundreds of rip clean threads on this site alone.

how many of those rip threads had issues in the next month? How many tanks have you migrated contents from? Salt or Fresh?

How many of those who follow my method had issues in the next month?

Not trying to start a fight, but I am 55 years old, and been at this for more than a minute, I tapped a hole in a 40tall at 4 years old with a hammer trying to get my dads fish to play with me. I have migrated from small to large and large to small more times than I want to count. I have had everything from 20g cubes to a 300g I am converting to salt right now, that will get the entire contents of my 75g migrated into it.

All I can speak on what I know, this I know. You Never Rinse anything in aquariums with Tap Water. NEVER! unless you want to kill everything the tap water touches.

 

[Bruttall]

Okay, your opinion.
Do you know he has chlorine and fluoride?
My well water doesn't.
Most water has ammonia.
And I said final rinse in rodi. This washes away whatever is in the tap.
Bacteria won't wash away.

I have done this countless times as well as others.
My statement stands. This is how I would do it.

OK So now you inform us you're on well water, not city water. All my arguments STAND for city water. Your mad at me for giving this guy advice that WILL NOT kill his stuff, but if he lives in the city, your advice kills his stuff, and I'm the bad guy? You get your opinion, but what your saying will cause people reading this to make costly avoidable mistakes that will kill their livestock unless they also live on well water and sorry buddy but MOST OF US here are in cities.

Now my advice is usable on city or well water. It is universally safe. Is your advice the same?

 

[Dburr1014]

how many of those rip threads had issues in the next month? How many tanks have you migrated contents from? Salt or Fresh?

How many of those who follow my method had issues in the next month?

Not trying to start a fight, but I am 55 years old, and been at this for more than a minute, I tapped a hole in a 40tall at 4 years old with a hammer trying to get my dads fish to play with me. I have migrated from small to large and large to small more times than I want to count. I have had everything from 20g cubes to a 300g I am converting to salt right now, that will get the entire contents of my 75g migrated into it.

All I can speak on what I know, this I know. You Never Rinse anything in aquariums with Tap Water. NEVER! unless you want to kill everything the tap water touches.

Again, your opinion.
Many, many, many, people rinse in tap, final rinse in rodi.
No problems.
I'm 57, reefing for 30 years. Changed tanks also, sand too. So what, doesn't matter.
The fact is, many, many, many people do it this way with no problems.

Happy reefing
Edit: not mad at all.

 

[MischiefReef]

how many of those rip threads had issues in the next month? How many tanks have you migrated contents from? Salt or Fresh?

How many of those who follow my method had issues in the next month?

Not trying to start a fight, but I am 55 years old, and been at this for more than a minute, I tapped a hole in a 40tall at 4 years old with a hammer trying to get my dads fish to play with me. I have migrated from small to large and large to small more times than I want to count. I have had everything from 20g cubes to a 300g I am converting to salt right now, that will get the entire contents of my 75g migrated into it.

All I can speak on what I know, this I know. You Never Rinse anything in aquariums with Tap Water. NEVER! unless you want to kill everything the tap water touches.

With all due respect, I wouldn’t offer that advice unless I’ve personally done it before at least a few times with success. Funny you should ask how many transfers I’ve done as i can say I have moved or transferred over 20 tanks of 100-500 gallons both salt and freshwater. I have personally owned way too many tanks to count.
I don’t want to pick a fight either. And while I agree with you that experience plays a huge part in this hobby, I think it’s also necessary to test different practices to see if something actually does work. I mean you can’t honestly claim you guys had all the answers to reefing decades ago when there’s still so much we don’t know even today! If nothing changed in this hobby we’d still be running metal halides and chilling our water just to counteract the heat.