Switching over to new/different tank advice

[TK0321]

Hey guys thought I'd see if anyone has any guidance as I'm sure many of you have been through something of the sort.

Recently I decided I was going to build a matching stand and canopy for my 57g tank. I am still in the process of doing that but the idea sparked a fire of upgrading some more of what I had. So I contracted Will to make me a custom sump that I felt would use the space in the new stand better.

I then started thinking about how nice it would be to have a little bit diff tank as I currently am set up with an overflow In the right side corner which obstructs some view as it's pushed back into a left side wall.

Last week I happened upon a 65g with a left side over flow and jumped on it. It's the same foot print so my stand design doesn't have to be altered just lengthen some hoses for my sump. That being said it made me feel like I wanted to go a step farther. I am now planning putting mostly new live rock into the 65 as I've never been a fan of what came with my current set up.

So my question is how to go about making the switch. My current set up has been running for about a year so I have fish and corals in it. Most of the coral I will probably be giving away before the switch anyways as it was mostly PIFed and I want to narrow my scope quite a bit on what I keep so hopefully that makes it a little easier. The new tank will have to go in the same spot the old one is after being emptied.

I just really am unsure if what my first move should be. How fast can I switch things over if I am getting live rock? My current tank is completely barebottom so I have no sand to move. I do plan on using a few of my favorite tonga pieces in the new one but had some algae issues in the old one so don't want to carry over much.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Even more questions to think about!
Thanks!!




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[Palting]

What equipment do you have in the 57 gallon now?

 

[Jimbo662]

Will your sump have a space for live rocK? If so put all the rock you don't like in there.

 

[TK0321]

Reef octopus 110, adjustable eheim return pump, jagr heaters, couple koralia 4s with a few more nanos down behind my rocks so nothing settles in back corners, evergrow 2080 LEDs. All equipment should be good and ready to make the switch over after a thorough cleaning.


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[TK0321]

Will your sump have a space for live rocK? If so put all the rock you don't like in there.

I will have about a 10g fuge in my sump but if be afraid that the old rock will carry over more algae and just re seed the DT. I plan on growing some macro in there.


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[Palting]

Reef octopus 110, adjustable eheim return pump, jagr heaters, couple koralia 4s with a few more nanos down behind my rocks so nothing settles in back corners, evergrow 2080 LEDs. All equipment should be good and ready to make the switch over after a thorough cleaning.


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I was thinking you would set up the 65 first with the new liverock, let that run and cycle for a while before moving things over. But if you are going to be moving most if not all your equipment over, that may not make too much sense. However, the problem with immediately switching livesrock and equipment over is that you will be changing over to new liverock, and that new liverock will have to cycle and parameters will have to stabilize before you can move livestock.

Algae on the old live rock is not an issue, IMO. The algae is not the problem. Algae is part and parcel of a living reef. It's only when it gets out of hand that it becomes a problem. The real issue is what led to the out of hand algae in the first place. If you don't figure what caused it and correct it in the new tank, you will end up with the same algae laden rocks eventually even if you use all new liverock and throw away the old liverock. So my first step would be to figure out what caused my algae problem and prevent that from happening again in the new tank.

Once I've done that, I would set up the 65, then empty all the contents of the 51 into the new tank. I would use the old live rock, algae and all. Do less feeding, frequent water changes, set up the refugium with macro........and sit things out and see what happens.

 

[TK0321]

I was thinking you would set up the 65 first with the new liverock, let that run and cycle for a while before moving things over. But if you are going to be moving most if not all your equipment over, that may not make too much sense. However, the problem with immediately switching livesrock and equipment over is that you will be changing over to new liverock, and that new liverock will have to cycle and parameters will have to stabilize before you can move livestock.

Algae on the old live rock is not an issue, IMO. The algae is not the problem. Algae is part and parcel of a living reef. It's only when it gets out of hand that it becomes a problem. The real issue is what led to the out of hand algae in the first place. If you don't figure what caused it and correct it in the new tank, you will end up with the same algae laden rocks eventually even if you use all new liverock and throw away the old liverock. So my first step would be to figure out what caused my algae problem and prevent that from happening again in the new tank.

Once I've done that, I would set up the 65, then empty all the contents of the 51 into the new tank. I would use the old live rock, algae and all. Do less feeding, frequent water changes, set up the refugium with macro........and sit things out and see what happens.

Ok first I'll give you a very quick background. My tank came from a colleague that had it set up for years but started a new business and left it to die. He had a major crash and then it sat for even another 4-6 months before I got it. He gave me everything he had for it under the condition that I bring it back to health or try my hardest. I fought with it for close to a year with weekly/twice weekly water changes. Little to no feeding and daily hand removal of tons of algae. I have finally gotten it to a pretty good looking state. So I know where my algae problem came from and how to fix it.

My problem now is a few types of macro growing in my DT like grape caulerpa that I don't want to bring to the new set up. I also have some rocks with things such gsp and button polyps I don't want to bring either.

If I get some new rock to replace those how many pieces can I pull out before it will re-cycle? Would you recommend putting some of those in my sump for a few weeks to seed some of the new rock with the old? Any way you could see this working? I would really like to pull out about 1/3 of the old stuff I don't like, for the reasons mentioned and replace it.

Thanks for your help so far!



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[Palting]

Yes, I agree that you don't want to transfer Caulerpa and GSP as they are particularly hard to eradicate once they take hold. I don't think anyone can give a true estimate on how may rocks and how long it will take to recycle. Whatever you do, it will have to carry some risk given the situation. With the new rocks being mostly liverock, the risk of re-cycling should be less. Anyway, it seems you already have quite a bit of experience dealing with problems. If it were me in this situation, I would just go for it.

 

[Damon]

Yes, I agree that you don't want to transfer Caulerpa and GSP as they are particularly hard to eradicate once they take hold. I don't think anyone can give a true estimate on how may rocks and how long it will take to recycle. Whatever you do, it will have to carry some risk given the situation. With the new rocks being mostly liverock, the risk of re-cycling should be less. Anyway, it seems you already have quite a bit of experience dealing with problems. If it were me in this situation, I would just go for it.

I just have to give kudos to you. You, in the last couple of posts, have given some of the most thorough and good advice I've seen yet. It took a bunch of searching for me to learn exactly what you have advised.

Many thanks from one just viewing!

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[TK0321]

I just have to give kudos to you. You, in the last couple of posts, have given some of the most thorough and good advice I've seen yet. It took a bunch of searching for me to learn exactly what you have advised.

Many thanks from one just viewing!

Note2 on Tap Pro

Yes I second that been some of the most help that I've gotten on any of these forums!


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[TK0321]

Yes, I agree that you don't want to transfer Caulerpa and GSP as they are particularly hard to eradicate once they take hold. I don't think anyone can give a true estimate on how may rocks and how long it will take to recycle. Whatever you do, it will have to carry some risk given the situation. With the new rocks being mostly liverock, the risk of re-cycling should be less. Anyway, it seems you already have quite a bit of experience dealing with problems. If it were me in this situation, I would just go for it.

Ok. Thank you again for all the advice. Once I get it going I will let you know what happens. If anyone else has anything else to add still feel free.


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[Damon]

Yes I second that been some of the most help that I've gotten on any of these forums!


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It's surprising that there are no stickies regarding this topic. It's one we all face when we're heavy in the hobby. And it's seeming to be one with the last amount of information and likelihood, even for an extreme veteran animal keeper to fail. That's if they've never done a massive one before.

They really should sticky this specifically for reef keepers. With the amount of coral we are able to maintain, it's disheartening to think that moving(most of the time to provide a better living and growing area) can wipe everything we've worked so hard for and grown to love.

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[TK0321]

Here are a couple more questions I thought of while looking at the new tank this morning.

1) Any great ways to get the tank cleaned up of all the old coralline build up and such? I'm familiar with the good old vinegar bath but how much should I use? Any other ways people have heard of?

2). The tank I bought has sat a few years. Should I replace the bulkheads in case the rubber on the fittings has worn out? I pulled out my durso pipe this morning and it still seemed snug. It's compression fit not threaded.

3) Something I just thought of, when I do make the big switch between tanks. Should I be attempting to bucket all of the water and put it back in the new set up or should I do basically a major water change.

Thanks


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