Should I go ahead and do the tank swap?

[Woodneers]

So I have a 75 gallon that’s been up and running for 3 years. I also have my newly setup 225 up and running a week now with cycled rock. I’m trying to decide when and how to move everything over to the new tank. Rock, fish and coras will all be moving to a much larger space. They are currently across the room from each other now. How long would you wait to start moving things over? In my head it’s basically like moving a tank from one place to another but I’m still a little worried and don’t want to lose any critters. Only thing not coming over to the new tank is the sand.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I don't see an issue with just moving it all over. How come your not reusing the sand?

 

[Woodneers]

Never really liked the sand as it seemed to clump quite a bit not sure why. Oh here are a few pics for reference.

 

[brandon429]

That sand can kill your need reef if it’s not rinsed.
do rinse or replace that sand before new tank

pre rinse your new sand to cloudless perfection before use, use tap water then final rinse in ro.
if you use old sand, rinse in tap till clear, last rinse in ro water.


Make a cloudless new reef and the whole thing will skip cycle, your sandbed bacteria are not needed the rocks are enough to handle all new system waste.

dont run lights on full on the new tank, start low intensity ramp up over a week.

 

[Woodneers]

They are non dimmable t5 8 bulb fixture. Think I can just run the 2 on one channel or should I pull a few bulbs. I’m new to t5’s so I could use some input on that one.

 

[brandon429]

You could even place long strips of black elec tape on the glass lid on top as light deflection/adsorb strips then peel em back

or mount lights up higher then move em down, some form of intensity ramping. This is for bleach protection, we’ve robbed all the organic waste stores in the name of moving no waste, which avoids the recycle. The corals like light bumped down while the reef is new and uber clean.

 

[Tyler Miceli]

That sand can kill your need reef if it’s not rinsed.
do rinse or replace that sand before new tank

pre rinse your new sand to cloudless perfection before use, use tap water then final rinse in ro.
if you use old sand, rinse in tap till clear, last rinse in ro water.


Make a cloudless new reef and the whole thing will skip cycle, your sandbed bacteria are not needed the rocks are enough to handle all new system waste.

dont run lights on full on the new tank, start low intensity ramp up over a week.

Can confirm, have done this three times most recently a couple weeks ago. Never causes a cycle when done as stated. Just spotless sand that allows you to keep it spotless by moving it around everyday. I use a turkey baster and move the sand around everyday to keep it clean. When doing so it kicks up all the poop and left over food from the prior day so it can make it's way out of the display to the filters

 

[Woodneers]

Well here goes nothing! For those of you with t5 can you suggest a good starting point for the height of the T5 fixture to start with?

 

[Tyler Miceli]

Well here goes nothing! For those of you with t5 can you suggest a good starting point for the height of the T5 fixture to start with?

How deep is the tank?

 

[Woodneers]

had to raise it up and check but the light is fully loaded with 7 blue plus bulbs and one purple plus, bought it used.

 

[Woodneers]

24” tall 34” deep and 72” wide

 

[Woodneers]

60” fixture

 

[brandon429]

Not sure, just something that Is less bright than current setup, tape strips are best cuz u peel them off in steps

 

[Eggs]

For light adaption, I’ve used layers of screen material to cut down on initial light intensity when I used to install new MH bulbs.

 

[Woodneers]

It’s all moved over! I seriously need to stock some fish! I’ll play with the aquascape a little more once it all settles down in there!

 

[brandon429]

That was no small job you did there.


Ive never seen unrinsed sand be that clear in a day, did you rinse attack that stuff it looks very clear.

 

[Woodneers]

Rinsed 200lbs of new sand a week ago then filled the tank with fresh saltwater. My back hurt then and it hurts again today. Everything is plugging right along. Phosphates are now at .03 and nitrates 2.5. I’ll keep testing daily to make sure things stay within bounds. The tank is packing up alkalinity like crazy so I’ll have to figure that out.

 

[Woodneers]

A fresh photo! Had to add the Kessils back in there for the shimmer.

 

[Terry Le]

Look good. I had done it 3 times from 150 to 180 and then 375. Its a back killer job but I bet you are glad it done

 

[Woodneers]

Everything chugging right along for the most part. Waiting for a warm day to have the barn tin on the canopy and front wall but other than that it’s done! I am starting to get a little brown dusting on the sand, not sure yet what it is but other than that I’m happy with it so far. I need to add more fish! It’s vacant!

• Phosphates- 0.06
• Nitrate -2.5
• Alk- 8.4
• Calcium - 420
• Mag- 1460