Risk associated with Tank swap

[If_Only]

So currently, I am redoing, and replacing a freshwater tank , and the spot I put it in MATTERS, because when I upgrade my reef tank, which will be in give or take 3 months, (tank order has been postponed, due to well... you know) and If I put my "new" tank in the spot I plan too I need to do an "in place" swap.
My questions is, what is the risk I am running when I move all my livestock from my established reef into a newly setup tank, with as much live rock and such Brought over as I can. I have three fish right now, all eating great, looking great, and very fat. I DO NOT want to mess with them. I also don't want to mess with the hard earned coral growth I have had.

So, what is the risk I am running moving everything into a new tank at once. This is necessary based on space requirements.
*Upgrading from a 60 cube to a 4' 90 gallon.

All help appreciated.

 

[tamanning]

Are you using a sump? Your live rock should take the bio load as long as you don't go crazy and buy a ton of critters. add new fish crabs etc. just do it slowly and let you bio filter adjust to the new load before you add any more.

 

[If_Only]

Are you using a sump? Your live rock should take the bio load as long as you don't go crazy and buy a ton of critters. add new fish crabs etc. just do it slowly and let you bio filter adjust to the new load before you add any more.

Yes, quite large sump. I don't plan on adding any livestock well after the swap. Have you had any experience doing such a thing?

 

[tamanning]

yes I started with a 40 tall then a 55 now i have a 75 . I was able to move my rock but I changed my sand bed when I upgraded each tank because I use a deep sand bed.

 

[splitting_lanes]

Swapped the reef out of a biocube into a reefer 170 without any problems.
the 170 did have an uglies phase at 6-8 weeks, but everything came through fine

 

[If_Only]

Swapped the reef out of a biocube into a reefer 170 without any problems.
the 170 did have an uglies phase at 6-8 weeks, but everything came through fine

So you just drained the tank, plopped everything in and boom healthy tank (don't care about ugly, asking about health). No casualties?

 

[tamanning]

So you just drained the tank, plopped everything in and boom healthy tank (don't care about ugly, asking about health). No casualties?

I did not lose any of my inhabitants.

 

[sagee]

Are you planning on moving sand over from the old tank to the new tank? And how much larger is the new tank compared to the old?

 

[sfin52]

I tore down 75 and replaced with a 90. I started at 1700 and finished at 0130. About 5 hours total to take down move and add live stock. Another couple of hours heating and adjusting the new water.

 

[splitting_lanes]

So you just drained the tank, plopped everything in and boom healthy tank (don't care about ugly, asking about health). No casualties?

1) Moved old tank over to make room for new tank
2) setup new tank, with sand and water
3) Drained some water from new tank
4) drained water from old tank and put into bucket and new tank ( minimize shock of water change)
5) caught fish, put in bucket
6) moved reef into new tank
7) put fish into new tank

no casualties. That was Labor Day weekend last year

 

[christopher.lauwers]

just my 2 cents... When I swapped my red sea 350 to a 525 I did not accurately plan for the water I would need.

So learn for me and make more then you think you will need...

 

[tamanning]

1) Moved old tank over to make room for new tank
2) setup new tank, with sand and water
3) Drained some water from new tank
4) drained water from old tank and put into bucket and new tank ( minimize shock of water change)
5) caught fish, put in bucket
6) moved reef into new tank
7) put fish into new tank

no casualties. That was Labor Day weekend last year

I cant imagine moving a tank with water in it must have been heavy! How did you accomplish that feat?

 

[splitting_lanes]

I cant imagine moving a tank with water in it must have been heavy! How did you accomplish that feat?

Drained 1/2 the water into buckets, slid it over with some help, put the water back in.

 

[If_Only]

I tore down 75 and replaced with a 90. I started at 1700 and finished at 0130. About 5 hours total to take down move and add live stock. Another couple of hours heating and adjusting the new water.

Ahhhh, I didn't think of that, I would have to heat the new water. Thanks your experience. No casualties?

 

[If_Only]

Are you planning on moving sand over from the old tank to the new tank? And how much larger is the new tank compared to the old?

New sand, new aquascape, the old LR, will be put in the sump. From a 60 cube to a 90ish gallon. Says in initial post.

 

[sfin52]

Ahhhh, I didn't think of that, I would have to heat the new water. Thanks your experience. No casualties?

Nope. I thought I lost the pistol putting sand back in the tank I found it. I put it in it's own container and released with the ywg