Semi-Tank transfer questions

[srpntmage]

I currently have a 29g Biocube with about 20lbs of live rock, 5 fish, and a bunch of different corals of all varieties. I just purchased a 65 g (54g display-11g sump) Reefer 250 tank. I plan to keep the Biocube as a secondary tank, maybe a clown and anenome tank, with some soft corals. The larger tank will be mixed reef.

My plan is to use some of the live rock from the smaller tank, live sand, and dry rock to aquascape the new 65g tank, but I have questions, if you can help me.

1. How would I move live rock with coral into the new tank without hurting it with a cycle? Most of my live rock in the 29g has coral attached to it, in some cases it is encrusted and would not be easily and cleanly removed.

2. Will removing live rock from the Biocube and replacing it with dry rock (reefcleaners, so it has been cleaned and soaked already) cause a problem?

3. Once the new tank is cycled, if some live rock was used, do I still need to wait months to add livestock? Some, say wait until cycled, others say add stuff after a month or two.

I am trying to find the best and easiest way to do this with minimal loss of livestock. Can someone here help me out?

 

[Dastins]

Is there any way you can do several water "exchanges" over a few days so that your new water will be closer in chemistry to the smaller tank? This may help cut down on cycle time tremendously. Example would be to do a 20% water change in your 29g and use that water in your new tank. That would give you roughly six gallons of climates water. That over three days would give you a decent start on your larger tank. Roughly 20 gallons in a new 60g would be like a 30 percent water exchange.

**Use caution when your doing multiple water changes especially with sensitive coral** probably goes without saying but I would be remiss if I didn't physically mention it. The last thing I want to do is cause a tank to fail because of my advice.

Anytime you swap live rock your going to cycle the tank especially if your swapping it out with dry rock. It's going to have to cure even if it's been soaked.

As far as how long to wait.. Depending on how sensitive your corals are, you want to get as close to the same levels in both tanks before you transfer. It may help to transfer over some hardier fish first to help balance the tanks for transition. I would wait until last to move coral but I would say a week or two after the initial cycle should be fine as long as the levels balance. I see no need in waiting for two months before you add anything. Hope this helps.

 

[Trailermann]

I currently have a 29g Biocube with about 20lbs of live rock, 5 fish, and a bunch of different corals of all varieties. I just purchased a 65 g (54g display-11g sump) Reefer 250 tank. I plan to keep the Biocube as a secondary tank, maybe a clown and anenome tank, with some soft corals. The larger tank will be mixed reef.

Hey there srpntmage, while I am not experienced, I have been reading here for many months. I too am intrigued with your challange. Seems to me, that there should be no problem moving live rocks and corals into the new larger tank once it is fully cycled. If the water parameters match the 29g tank, all you are doing is moving more, not less, healthy bacteria in. The problem comes when you remove all the lively active healthy live rock out of the 29. My thought would be to only leave very hearty fish in the small tank, no coral. There certainly would be a ammonia spike initially that should be monitored. Perhaps using Amquel to get you past the spike.

Does that make sense?

 

[bevo5]

Moving stuff over is no different than when you moved it home from the store. Acclimate accordingly and you will be fine. Adding some established live rock and a hand full of sand from the old tank will help a bunch with the cycle.

One thing to keep in mind - a new tank presents new challenges with keeping levels, maintenance schedule, etc. You might want to cycle the 65g and start slowly with adding corals etc. until you've got your system down on that tank so it's more established and you have the routine.

I'm going from a 29g to a 200g right now and I'm taking a few chunks of rock and a bunch of sand and cycling from there. Same deal.

 

[Triggreef]

I'm going to differ a little. The live rock in your 29 should have enough bacteria to carry your 5 fish into your 65g. Keep it submerged from one tank to the next as much as possible. Transfer no waste from the 29 to the 65g. I would leave your sand bed where it is, and after your done moving things around, take the time to vacuum that sand out like crazy while the live rock is out. The rescape the 29 with new rock. Do it that way, and neither tank should run into a cycle.

Also be careful with amquil that someone else mentioned. Be aware that it works by reducing ph a lot, which in turn makes ammonia not as toxic. But the ph drop is not exactly a good thing in general.

 

[srpntmage]

I'm going to differ a little. The live rock in your 29 should have enough bacteria to carry your 5 fish into your 65g. Keep it submerged from one tank to the next as much as possible. Transfer no waste from the 29 to the 65g. I would leave your sand bed where it is, and after your done moving things around, take the time to vacuum that sand out like crazy while the live rock is out. The rescape the 29 with new rock. Do it that way, and neither tank should run into a cycle.

Also be careful with amquil that someone else mentioned. Be aware that it works by reducing ph a lot, which in turn makes ammonia not as toxic. But the ph drop is not exactly a good thing in general.

Interesting idea. I had not thought about moving over everything and re-doing the 29 gallon. Only problem is there are a few fish, namely a pair of clowns and a watchman goby/pistol shrimp pair that were to stay in the 29. I wonder how much live rock I could move out before causing a problem in the 29.

 

[Triggreef]

Interesting idea. I had not thought about moving over everything and re-doing the 29 gallon. Only problem is there are a few fish, namely a pair of clowns and a watchman goby/pistol shrimp pair that were to stay in the 29. I wonder how much live rock I could move out before causing a problem in the 29.

All live rock can and should move. The 29 has sand, and more bacterial space via inside tank walls even powerheads etc everything in the tank has a bacterial lining. That tank will be fine.