Prepping for tank swap/size upgrade.

[ianryd]

I am getting ready to upgrade from a 75 to a 150 gallon tank. I'm looking for advice on the best way to go about it. what works, what doesnt. The 75 has been running for over 2 years. Bubble algae has gotten bad in the 75. (Not the reason for the swap but I feel its important info). The new tank is going in a completely different place in the house so I can do a nice slow transition. I plan on reusing as much rock and sand as possible. I have about 70 lbs of rock currently and plan on adding about 50 more. There is about 80 lbs of sand and will be adding 40 more. Most rocks have corals that should be fairly easy to remove if necessary. Here is my plan for the swap.

1. Remove live rocks from 75 with no corals on them. Manually remove as much bubble algae as possible, and cure these rocks in a brute with no light. Not sure how long I need to do this or if it will get rid of the bubble algae. I would like to keep all the benificial bacteria I can. Any advice about this?

2. Design partial aquascape with new rocks and rinse them. I plan on using the new rock for base structures and cementing them together. I figure they won't need a full cure since I will be using rocks from the old system

3. Set up new tank, fuge, plumbing, aquascape etc. check for leaks using water from old system and NSW.

4. Rinse old sand and add all sand to new tank.

5. Test ammonia and nitrites/nitrates. Depending on readings, add Dr. Tims, and retest in a few days.

6. If all testing is good mount lights and begin adding soft corals and LPS. I have a 20 gallon nem tank that can house the SPS while things level out in the 150.

7. Full testing Add fish and CUC, add SPS.

Please critique my plan, if anything seems out of order or I'm forgetting something please tell me!

 

[BighohoReef]

I am getting ready to upgrade from a 75 to a 150 gallon tank. I'm looking for advice on the best way to go about it. what works, what doesnt. The 75 has been running for over 2 years. Bubble algae has gotten bad in the 75. (Not the reason for the swap but I feel its important info). The new tank is going in a completely different place in the house so I can do a nice slow transition. I plan on reusing as much rock and sand as possible. I have about 70 lbs of rock currently and plan on adding about 50 more. There is about 80 lbs of sand and will be adding 40 more. Most rocks have corals that should be fairly easy to remove if necessary. Here is my plan for the swap.

1. Remove live rocks from 75 with no corals on them. Manually remove as much bubble algae as possible, and cure these rocks in a brute with no light. Not sure how long I need to do this or if it will get rid of the bubble algae. I would like to keep all the benificial bacteria I can. Any advice about this?

This is a sound plan I might also suggest you but Reef Flux (Fluconazole) in with curing it'll help to kill/remove algae. Though I don't know if it helps with bubble algae, but it works really well GHA and bryopsis not to mention it killed all of my macro algae. When I've cured rock for our larger tank I did for 5-6 weeks prior to putting it into the tank, totally blacked out with flow, heater and Dr. Tims.

2. Design partial aquascape with new rocks and rinse them. I plan on using the new rock for base structures and cementing them together. I figure they won't need a full cure since I will be using rocks from the old system

I also like this plan and it's good for a fresh start. Just watch your parameters there could be things new rocks leech, with the live rock being added you should have a successful bacteria build.

3. Set up new tank, fuge, plumbing, aquascape etc. check for leaks using water from old system and NSW.

4. Rinse old sand and add all sand to new tank.

Are you adding new "live" sand? Part of me thinks killing the bacteria in your old sand could cause some parameter spikes.

5. Test ammonia and nitrites/nitrates. Depending on readings, add Dr. Tims, and retest in a few days.

Good plan

6. If all testing is good mount lights and begin adding soft corals and LPS. I have a 20 gallon nem tank that can house the SPS while things level out in the 150.

I'd take it slow, make sure the new tank itself is cycled and do!

7. Full testing Add fish and CUC, add SPS.

You have this planned well, not sure I'd add much. If you are testing and parameter watching that's what needs to be done

Please critique my plan, if anything seems out of order or I'm forgetting something please tell me!

Responded in the quotes... Looking forward to seeing this transition to the new tank! Congrats!

 

[ianryd]

Responded in the quotes... Looking forward to seeing this transition to the new tank! Congrats!

Thanks! I forgot to mention I would be using vibrant during the live rock cure for the bubble algae, as suggested by a friend, and will probably dose vibrant at some point after taking some water to get any bubble algae out of the 75 before transferring the corals.

As far as the sand I was also planning to rinse with salt water to preserve as much bacteria as possible. Its how I did my last sand transfer and it worked great.

I'll be sure to start a new build thread once it's under way.

 

[BighohoReef]

Thanks! I forgot to mention I would be using vibrant during the live rock cure for the bubble algae, as suggested by a friend, and will probably dose vibrant at some point after taking some water to get any bubble algae out of the 75 before transferring the corals.

As far as the sand I was also planning to rinse with salt water to preserve as much bacteria as possible. Its how I did my last sand transfer and it worked great.

I'll be sure to start a new build thread once it's under way.

I've tried vibrant but have had little success... 7-8 weeks of dosing it. Reef Flux has been my go to for algae now, couple that with Emerald crabs which I find to be the best bubble eaters I think you'll have success

I just wanted to make sure you didn't lose all the good stuff in your substrate! You have a sound plan... time and testing that in my opinion are the keys to success.

 

[ianryd]

Cool I'll look into the reef flux