Planning on moving to a larger tank

[John08007]

Curious if this would work/help. I currently have a 75gal and am planning on making the jump to a 180 eventually. I dont want to go through cycling again with a new tank. If i do water changes on my 75 and maybe half fill a barrel, top off rest with new saltwater. Could i them drop an airstone in and save that for my new tank? Thinking i could even drop the dead rock i plan on using in there also. Im thinking this water will already have all the biological things needed so thar i wouldmt really have a cycle in my new tank

 

[Phil85]

Depending on the cleanliness of the dead rock. You’d probably get at least some cycle from that. Sounds like you’ve got the time, so I would cycle that rock before setting up the 180.
I don’t think that just saving the water from a running system would prevent a cycle on new setup.

 

[John08007]

When i say dead rock, i mean the white, dry rock that can be purchased

 

[Devaji]

if you do , do that I would ad a bottled bac. to the water and rock mixture. fritz turbo start 9000 would work just as good or better than WC H2O.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I JUST did pretty much this same move. 75g + 30g sump moved to 140-150G display with a 40-ish gallon sump.

What I did (which worked.... I did lose one green-slimer, but that thing never did well for me anyways) I took mostly WC water (because it was easily available) and filled a Brute with it, dropped in one new 64lb dry/white rock I bought into it, and put about 40lbs of other rocks from my sump, bioballs, and even about 4-5 cups full of my sand into the container.

I would not put an air-stone in though.... you need a legitimate powerhead (I put a couple strong ones in)

then just close the top! I left mine in there for about 2 months. Pulled the rocks out, found a few crab that miraculously survived 2 months with no real food source, or heat, and discarded the water.

 

[RichReef]

Are you putting the 180 where the 75 was? Or far away? Same room?

 

[John08007]

The 180 is going to replace the 75, i fig i could drain down the 75 enough to move it some and then get the 180 where it will be. Then get the 75 back up and going till i transfer everything over

 

[John08007]

I JUST did pretty much this same move. 75g + 30g sump moved to 140-150G display with a 40-ish gallon sump.

What I did (which worked.... I did lose one green-slimer, but that thing never did well for me anyways) I took mostly WC water (because it was easily available) and filled a Brute with it, dropped in one new 64lb dry/white rock I bought into it, and put about 40lbs of other rocks from my sump, bioballs, and even about 4-5 cups full of my sand into the container.

I would not put an air-stone in though.... you need a legitimate powerhead (I put a couple strong ones in)

then just close the top! I left mine in there for about 2 months. Pulled the rocks out, found a few crab that miraculously survived 2 months with no real food source, or heat, and discarded the water.

True, good idea with the powerhead. I was thinking i also need to use a good amount of the original water. I would think it has a lot of "stuff" in it that i need

 

[Jon Fishman]

True, good idea with the powerhead. I was thinking i also need to use a good amount of the original water. I would think it has a lot of "stuff" in it that i need

I was told the water held very little bacteria etc. I used it anyway

 

[Sailfinguy21]

I moved from my 55g hexagon to my 135g.. moved all the fish corals and rocks in 5 gallon buckets.. drained the tank.. put the old sand in the tank with like 100 lbs more new sand.. about 100 lbs more dead rock from amazon. And then filled it up with fresh salt water. Put the old rock corals and fish after i let it settle for a bit.

I then poured a gallon of nitrifying bacteria from fritz called fritzyme 9 . And i have no issues.


Its not that complicated youre making it sound difficult. Just move everything over and your done. Its not like the bioload will change right away.

Just make sure you mix thr old sand eith the new ssnd.. dont put the nee on top of thr old or youll kill your beneficial bacteria

 

[RichReef]

Fill new tank. Plumb them together using a slow drip to full flow over a week or so. Separate plumbing. Move equipment. Use old tank to swish and clean rock. Put rock in 180. If you have sand you can also clean it as you move it over. I used a kitchen strainer for my sand.