New reefer! Tank help!

[Christian Cole]

hi everyone I am new to the reef tanks. I have an established(ing) tank and have some questions. My tank is cycled, has 3 happy fish, shrimp, snails and a few hermit crabs. I started it off with 100% cured rock fromy LFS.

I am having a few problems with my tank. My biggest problem is the tank itself. I let the guy at my LFS convince me that this tank was fine. It is terrible. Silicone is coming off on the inside and the plastic on the top is warping from the lights.
I need a new tank I want to get an AquaMaxx rimless tank.

Is there any way to just move everything to a new tank? Like take the out out of the filter and put it in the new tank and let it fill up? And drain the other one. My biggest concern is keeping my fish and new corals alive but I’d like to get everything out of my original tank before all the silicone comes off and I have a flooded room.

I also want to maybe put dry rock in so it has a cleaner look because now I have alege growing and it’s turning into a mess?

 

[Tahoe61]

Hi and Welcome to R2R,

Use the LR you currently have to avoid an ammonia cycle, use some bacteria bottle, have some prime and an ammonia badge, water changes as indicated. Once everything stabilizes you can remove the LR a couple pieces at a time and replace with new rock if you like but the will likely not cure the current algae issue.

 

[reef lover]

Welcome to r2r!

 

[Timothy Davis]

Yea, welcome to R2R!
As somewhat stated above, if you were to start with dry rock you would essentially be starting a new cycle. Which would not be very nice to the livestock. Algae (uglies) is almost guaranteed in new tanks. I would recommend filling the tank with new RODI saltwater, and even a couple gallons of your current tank water. Leave the livestock in a 5 gallon bucket with current tank water, and drip acclimate it to the new tank. As far as the live rock goes, you could scrub it clean in tank water you are going to discard, and then transfer it to the new tank. After the transfer is complete, continue to monitor/test tank parameters to make sure you catch any sort of spike in ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate. Also, this should go without saying, but make sure to account for water displacement if you fill tank before putting in the live rock.

 

[Palyzoa]

Welcome to R2R! I agree with @Tahoe61 It can be done.

 

[Christian Cole]

@Timothy davis when putting my love stock in a 5 gallon bucket, it might be in there for a few hours can will the water cool down tomich of should I buy another small water heater to throw in there?

 

[Christian Cole]

Hi and Welcome to R2R,

Use the LR you currently have to avoid an ammonia cycle, use some bacteria bottle, have some prime and an ammonia badge, water changes as indicated. Once everything stabilizes you can remove the LR a couple pieces at a time and replace with new rock if you like but the will likely not cure the current algae issue.

@Tahoe61 thank you, that’s what i thought haha I can always get rid of that later I just need to get everything in a new tank. Thanks again

 

[Christian Cole]

@Timothy davis @Tahoe61 could I start with new sand to avoid transfering some of the alege or should I clean the sand and then transfer it?

 

[NinnJinn]

With the new tank just be sure to have food for your cuc. Your snails hermit crabs and shrimp

 

[Timothy Davis]

@Timothy davis @Tahoe61 could I start with new sand to avoid transfering some of the alege or should I clean the sand and then transfer it?

I think you could get away with new sand, personally I go bare bottom, but that's personal preference. As far as the temporary holding for your livestock, if it is going to be a prolonged time then yes put a small inexpensive heater in there to keep the temperature where it needs to be. Also, just to be safe, I would get a cheap air pump and put the tubing just under the surface of the water to help keep the water oxygenated! Walmart sells them pretty cheap.

 

[Kelsey Fletcher]

For the rock part, you can put dry rock in but if you are going to be growing corals in the future, you should keep the live rock because thats the only rock you should grow coral on!