Questions about upgrading my tank

adamfrer12 · Dec 27, 2015

Hey all! So I just purchased a new 40 gal cube. I currently have a 16 gal nuvo and plan to move and transfer my stock. I currently have a few soft corals and a cuc (no fish at the moment). My 16 gal has been running for 11 months now. My questions are when I upgrade to my bigger tank. What is the best way to clean off my live rock when transferring to new tank? I want my new to tank to look as if new live rock is present (as I will be having to add more live rock to the 40). I also have been reading a lot about benefits of sand. I want a new sand bed in my 40 and prefer not to use any sand from my 16. Thoughts on this? Will just buying new live sand cause my tank to cycle. What is best way to do transfer. I prefer slow and steady but also don't want to have to wait a long time for the new tank to cycle ? Advice is appreciated.

Rybren · Dec 27, 2015

Don't waste your time or money on live sand. If you want to use new sand, that's fine but I would add a couple of cups of sand from your existing tank. You will get a cycle of sorts regardless of what you do; how long it will last is dependent on how much new material you use.

What is wrong with your existing rock? At 11 months old, it is just fully maturing. If it isn't covered with algae or some other type of pests, I'd probably just swish it around in a bucket of salt water and plop it into the new tank.

adamfrer12 · Dec 27, 2015

When I started my tank I was inexperience and just added my rock. I am unsure what pest could have been in my rock. Currently on my rock I have small amounts of aiptasia (just added pepp to help clean up) I also have large amounts of pineapple sponges on a few of my rock. I know they're filter feeding a and not bad. But look undesirable on some of my rock. Just was looking to give my rock a good clean before essentially trying to start a new tank the right way with my year of experience under my belt. My area for precaution is that in my current 16 I have been able to keep corals and have made soft corals that have split so much I sell them back to my Lfs. But the weird thing is I haven't been able to keep a fish for longer than 3 months. Also have weird things happen. (Heater failure, possible velvet , the list goes on). I've deemed my 16 a curse. And want to avoided the crazy water parameters of that small of a tank so I upgraded and start a new salt tank that I can feel confident in what I put in my tank will have success in the future of my new tank.