Hey guys. So my new tank is coming soon so I have to move my current 50 gallon cube to a temporary spot in the house to make room for the new arrival. What should I do with the existing sand when I move it? Tank has been running for about a year so I know when I stir up the sand to remove it from the tank it’ll release some nasties. Have a lot of sps so I’m trying to find the safest way possible for this transition. Thanks
Question about live sand
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Dr. Reef
www.drreefsquarantinedfish.com
rinse rinse and rinse the sand in a silk cloth people use in kitchen (i forgot the name) or filter sock till it runs clear. i would have a few buckets or containers to keep corals in for few days as moving around the tank/rocks and rinsing sand may or may not cause a mini cycle.
Captain Quint
Plank Owner of the Orca
Good info imparted to you by the previous suggestions.
May I ask if you are upsizing or downsizing? And how long before the transfer of all to the new system as well as if you are using any of the same pumps, PH's etcetera in the new system.
The reason I ask is I wrote an article for a mag several years back which might also help as it is kind of a foolproof method to either transfer a tank to a new location or new tank.
May I ask if you are upsizing or downsizing? And how long before the transfer of all to the new system as well as if you are using any of the same pumps, PH's etcetera in the new system.
The reason I ask is I wrote an article for a mag several years back which might also help as it is kind of a foolproof method to either transfer a tank to a new location or new tank.
I might have a happy tear for all the rinsers on board. the zero cloud starters, the lesser diatom seekers, the ability to fill and flood and move rocks around without waiting 3 days to clear people. we mean this clear
if you are keeping the old sand rinse it that well
if you bought new sand rinse it that well, can't go wrong
the decade in which you inquired makes a diff on the recommends here
if you are keeping the old sand rinse it that well
if you bought new sand rinse it that well, can't go wrong
the decade in which you inquired makes a diff on the recommends here
Captain Quint
Plank Owner of the Orca
Agree (with the exception of new LS and depending on the type you buy if you buy new LS I might be inclined to fully agree.
) to keep the old sand alive, rinse with some existing tank water, not fresh water to keep it LS. Rinse with some existing tank water to stir up the nitrates and whatever bad juju, siphon the dark water out, do until clear, and your sand will be good.
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that above was tap like you mentioned. I too prefer the tap pre rinse/infinite
then the final rinse is saltwater, to evacuate and clear the grains, all set n safe. five mins after that tap rinse above the whole reef was put back in that vase. it was all sitting on dinner plates on cabinet during the rinse, I don't even offer them the benefits of water during the wait. 12 yr old system. sand rinsing = infinite no biological lifespan system.
then the final rinse is saltwater, to evacuate and clear the grains, all set n safe. five mins after that tap rinse above the whole reef was put back in that vase. it was all sitting on dinner plates on cabinet during the rinse, I don't even offer them the benefits of water during the wait. 12 yr old system. sand rinsing = infinite no biological lifespan system.
I’m sorry I should’ve been more clear. I’m upsizing. So basically I’ll be all new sand and rock as I have way too many pests on my existing tank. So in the same day I will be moving the tank and all it’s inhabitants to a spot in the house and in its place will be the new tank where it will be cycling for a couple of months and moving things from the existing tank over slowly.
Being that I will be stirring up the sand I want to be educated enough so that I won’t kill any livestock in the process. All corals and fish will be housed in some plastic bins with airstones for a few hours while I move the tank. Hope that paints a better picture for this chore.
Do you have a link to thdo article you wrote? That would totally help me out. Or please post here the cliff notes if you don’t mind lol
a thread of others doing your exact move:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t...ead-aka-one-against-many.230281/#post-2681445
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Captain Quint
Plank Owner of the Orca
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This can be any variation to fit whatever one needs/wants to do and adapt to specific needs. Can be for a move, transfer of tanks or simply placing the tank in another area.
If down and dirty for a simple move; adjust what you infer accordingly.
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My personal notes after several years of passing this on:
This can be any variation to fit whatever one needs/wants to do and adapt to specific needs.
*Have new tank ready to transfer all from existing tank. Ie; RO Vinegar wipe down inside the tank, Ro rinsed carbon or whatever media you will use in your new filter.
***If using the same equipment such as power heads, heater, filter...it would be good to clean them in RO Vinegar water to get rid of junk... algae, Aiptasia, etc. Then just RO rinse and they are good. Place the equipment in the new tank where you want it to be.
*Have new RO Saltwater ready and temp at the same degree range as the existing tank... Simple to do by having it in a covered container(s) with a heater in it. ***Make sure the salinity and pH are the same as your existing water in 'old tank'. (always try to have a little more of both RODI Saltwater as well as RODI fresh if adjustments need to be made for volume and/or SG tweaking.
*Have several containers; 5-gallon buckets, Rubber Made trash cans or some kind of clean tubs on hand. Amount of containers will vary according to how much volume you are going to store.
*Remove LR from existing tank and place in the bucket(s), tub(s) and dip existing water into a container with a pitcher, or use a pump with flex hose to fill. Again, depends on what size you are doing as to the fastest way possible.
*Remove water to fill the bucket(s) about with about X amount of gallons of established water and place critters in containers covering with egg crate so no jumpers or any critter gets out. If you're not going to an extremely large tank I don't believe it will not be necessary to keep a heater in the container(s) as it will not take all that long to do it. You can keep an air stone in the bucket with critters or just stir the water if this 'switch' runs longer than an hour or so. If big project, have heater if necessary and circulation pump.
*Remove remainder of water to bucket/container leaving about X amount gallons of established water in tank with existing sand.
*Stir, stir and stir which will turn almost black from debris, nitrates, phosphates and all the bad junk which would create a crash if you just moved the sand 'as is' like some do to another tank without bringing the bad stuff to the water instead.
*Start dipping the bad water from old tank to a 'waste' container as you will be tossing this water. You will lose a few pods but your critters will be fine. While doing this stir some more, push the sand to the side of tank allowing the water to drain from sand and have more area to dip the remainder of bad water out...continue until you have the bad water out.
*Dip sand out with something like a large plastic drinking glass and pour off whatever water is at the top of the cup. Have a container to hold your LS. It will be fine for the little time it's going to take you to switch tanks...if it's going to be an all-day project it is wise to have water atop the sand with mild circulation.
*Hard part is done and now the fun and rewarding part...This will go quick.
*In the tank you will be putting them in, add around 50% or so of NEW RO Saltwater, does not need to be exact, but close. Put in LR, add sand with the cup you used to remove the sand from old tank and slowly submerge ti to new rank pouring it around in the tank around the LR. If you are adding more LS, it would be fine to put in at any point either with your existing sand, before or after it does not matter. It would also be wise to add double dose of 'Prime' to ZERO out any bad juju remaining.
*Add the remainder of established water you have contained to new tank slowly. Should have very little cloudiness and 'sandstorm'. At this point I admit, I use some Stability by Seachem. In your new tank would add caps of it according to directions...it will mix in with no issues. Probably not necessary but this is what I have always done with success.
*Add NEW RO Saltwater to tank to capacity. ***I do not have power on yet as to not stir anything around as it's already got plenty of oxygen in it from adding the water.
*Remove critters however you normally do and place in new tank. If you have an anemone it would be good to place it where you like. ***Do not use the gallons of water from this container as it will be full of NH 3 at this point...simply dispose of it.
*Turn power on and make sure powerheads, filter, etc are working.
*******What you have done is essentially is a good cleaning as far as all is concerned by using established everything removing the bad gunk which eventually leads to old tank syndrome and possible crashes in old tank at some point and ~50% water change. Your critters will be happy in a clean, bigger, or different home with no ill side effects.
Enjoy the new, yet established home.
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