Ive been looking at new tanks, looking to go smaller actually to start growing some coral. My question is how would I transfer my Fish and water to the new tank once I’ve purchased it. I simply just don’t have the room to have both tanks up and running and I don’t want to wait 6 months for my nitrogen cycle to complete.
New tank
- Thread starter willcollv
- Start date
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I moved from an old tank directly to my new tank. I simply transferred all of my rock and sand (plus added some new sand and rock because it was a bigger tank). Nothing died. Didn't even see any spikes.
Greybeard
2500 Club Member
When I was building my new system, I used the following process...
Fill mixing barrel three quarters with new salt water.
Using whatever clean containers I could come up with, siphon out all the water I could get without disturbing the sand.
Manually transfer corals, fish, other livestock to buckets, live rock to barrel of new salt water.
Move sand bed directly to new tank, as gently as possible... I used a clean dust pan.
Let settle for a few minutes...
Move live rock, pump all of the old (clear) water in, move livestock.
Top off tank with new salt water.
So... as little disturbance as possible, total move time a couple of hours, as much of the same water reused as possible...
Closely watch ammonia, nitrates, nitrites. You might get a spike, but it shouldn't last long.
I had to do it twice. Once from the 60 cube to a temporary 55, then move from the 55 to the new 140g tank, since the new and old tanks occupied the same floor space. I let the 140 cycle normally (well... with red sea reef mature kits) before moving from the temporary 55g tank. Livestock was in the 55 for about 2 months. I can't say everything was happy... but I didn't loose much.
Fill mixing barrel three quarters with new salt water.
Using whatever clean containers I could come up with, siphon out all the water I could get without disturbing the sand.
Manually transfer corals, fish, other livestock to buckets, live rock to barrel of new salt water.
Move sand bed directly to new tank, as gently as possible... I used a clean dust pan.
Let settle for a few minutes...
Move live rock, pump all of the old (clear) water in, move livestock.
Top off tank with new salt water.
So... as little disturbance as possible, total move time a couple of hours, as much of the same water reused as possible...
Closely watch ammonia, nitrates, nitrites. You might get a spike, but it shouldn't last long.
I had to do it twice. Once from the 60 cube to a temporary 55, then move from the 55 to the new 140g tank, since the new and old tanks occupied the same floor space. I let the 140 cycle normally (well... with red sea reef mature kits) before moving from the temporary 55g tank. Livestock was in the 55 for about 2 months. I can't say everything was happy... but I didn't loose much.
ReeferMadness80G
Valuable Member
Just my 2 cents, maybe you can use some maybe not. I learned the hard way not to disturb the sandbed! It will wreck your tank. Good luck, tagging along to see how you end up, I hope everything goes smooth for you. 
