Opinions on upgrading to a 180g

John08007

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 4, 2019
Messages
945
Reaction score
653
What state or country do you live in
South Carolina
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am in the planning stages of an upgrade from a well established, 10+ yrs 75g to a 180. I've read all the articles about moving a tank, using the old rock and washing the sand to prevent a cycle. I'm planning on using my old established rock but would obviously need a lot more. If I use dead rock and add my established rock do you think I'd have enough bacteria for the new tank? I was also thinking about adding some of the bio blocks to my sumo for a few months to get them seeded also.
 
Theory= If the current rock is supporting your bioload, moving everything (minus detritus cleaning) should not be a problem. The dilution factor of +100 gallons of water should improve the room animals have to roam and lower the immediate impacts of their normal biolgical activities upon water qualities.

I would get a Brute or old an old tank and put the dead rock in with a small circulation pump in new water* and measure initial concentrations of Alk, Phos, nitrates. After it has soaked for a few days test again to see if the dead has impacts upon the clean water parameters. If you use dry quarry rock I would expect to see a drop in Alk and a little Phos & possibly nitrates. If the Phos is significant I would add lanthanum chloride to the barrel and let it soak awhile to remove that. If it drops alk, I would add an excess of baking soda to the mix to get those empty spots in the rock structure filled with alk.

I would recommend testing for copper if this is old tank rock that may have been used in a copper treatment.

Ultimately I would want to be assured of what was going into the tank that might impact water quality going forward.

IF you change your mind and go with live rock then I would do the same thing but look for live hitchhikers, crabs, sponges, corals, vermitids (if it's from another reefer), etc. Live corals I might add a light over the barrel, hth.

Edit. *Good place to start with brute water is from a water change, using your DT water (known parameters) for soaking the new rock and measuring what it is brining.
 
I second bio blocks idea.
If you move all or big chunk of your "old" live rock to a new tank, you will have enough bacteria to support current bioload. Dry rock will be seeded from your established rock pretty soon. I assume you will be adding additional fish, inverts and corals gradually.
I strongly suggest adding some live rock from different source, even it it is just few lbs. Suggest Tampa Bay Rock.
This would further boost your biodiversity.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
Back
Top