New tank new cycle old corals?

Jvesche20 · Oct 22, 2019

I'm going to be building a new tank very soon. just getting everything together. I plan on using new rock but keeping a good amount of live rock in my sump. How do I go about transferring my corals from my current DT to this new tank? I am going to be building this new tank in a different location. So ill start the cycle. Since this will be considered a "new" tank and I have a mature tank how do I move my sps corals over to the new tank without stressing them out and killing them?

DLHDesign · Oct 22, 2019

How long will you be able to keep the current DT running? The more time you can give the new tank to establish and the slower you can move things over, the higher your chances of not loosing anything. The idea will be to get the new tank fully cycled (giving it as much time as possible). Then get the two tank parameters matching (temp, ph, alk, ca, etc.). Get the lights and flow as close as you can. Then move over a few corals at a time, waiting for the tank to stabilize (alk, ca, etc.) again between each batch.

Jvesche20 · Oct 22, 2019

DLHDesign said:
How long will you be able to keep the current DT running? The more time you can give the new tank to establish and the slower you can move things over, the higher your chances of not loosing anything. The idea will be to get the new tank fully cycled (giving it as much time as possible). Then get the two tank parameters matching (temp, ph, alk, ca, etc.). Get the lights and flow as close as you can. Then move over a few corals at a time, waiting for the tank to stabilize (alk, ca, etc.) again between each batch.

Well I was planning on keeping my current tank up as long as the tank is going through the cycle. I figured I don’t need a skimmer during this time because I have no fish. So I was going to move my pump and skimmer over to the new 220 when it’s done cycling. I also don’t have lights to support 2 tanks. So that’s why I was just gonna move everything over at once. Sounds like this is a bad idea? I just don’t know how else to do this

ReefBeta · Oct 23, 2019

If you move everything to your new tank, it would be just fine. It's basically like move the tank to a different house. Many people did that successfully. The eco system is mostly around the rock, so your moving the whole balanced system when moving the whole rock scape.

Aquanaut WA · Oct 23, 2019

I completed the same process a year ago. Life Reef Rock base, bare bottom and fishless cycle with Dr Tims Bacteria. Still takes 6weeks for Nitrite to zero out within 24hrs of dosing Ammonia. Added fish stock and waited for system to stabilize cycle 8weeks. Then moved corals over when I was certain that disease didn’t breakout. Yes, it happens. When corals stress and pale, its common because there’s a lack of nutrients in a new setup. So I used Phyto, oyster feast, and coral frenzy that worked like a charm.

Jvesche20 · Oct 23, 2019

zsxking said:
If you move everything to your new tank, it would be just fine. It's basically like move the tank to a different house. Many people did that successfully. The eco system is mostly around the rock, so your moving the whole balanced system when moving the whole rock scape.

Well I’m going to make a new scape with new rocks. So I would say half of my old rock won’t be used anymore. What I can do is place a majority of the rock in the sump till everything is good to go. I have a 75 gallon sump so should be able to hold a decent amount.

Aquanaut WA said:
I completed the same process a year ago. Life Reef Rock base, bare bottom and fishless cycle with Dr Tims Bacteria. Still takes 6weeks for Nitrite to zero out within 24hrs of dosing Ammonia. Added fish stock and waited for system to stabilize cycle 8weeks. Then moved corals over when I was certain that disease didn’t breakout. Yes, it happens. When corals stress and pale, its common because there’s a lack of nutrients in a new setup. So I used Phyto, oyster feast, and coral frenzy that worked like a charm.

Awesome so you waited a total of 8 weeks to move over the corals and fish?

Bluedore · Oct 23, 2019

Following along, planning a similar move in a few weeks. I've got my new rocks seeding now with some old ones in a container.

Aheinz · Oct 23, 2019

Following as well since I'm olim planning to move to a larger tank and not keeping old rock though no sps some softies currently

Aquanaut WA · Oct 23, 2019

Jvesche20 said:
Well I’m going to make a new scape with new rocks. So I would say half of my old rock won’t be used anymore. What I can do is place a majority of the rock in the sump till everything is good to go. I have a 75 gallon sump so should be able to hold a decent amount.

Awesome so you waited a total of 8 weeks to move over the corals and fish?

6 weeks Fishless
Add fish and wait 8weeks then if no disease the tank is mature enough for corals