Tank upgrade

Dmac979 · Jun 30, 2016

so I'm going to upgrade from a 90gl to a 150gl will my SPS suffer? Of so how to limit the stress?

TUSI · Jun 30, 2016

If you have the 150 cycled and ready it should be no problem moving them, just make sure they are getting same light and about same flow at the beginning at least so the change is not drastic. Good luck that is a nice upgrade

Dmac979 · Jun 30, 2016

It's not cycled I'm using all my water from my 90 gl and outing it into my 150 then adding the rest new water

SeahorseKeeper · Jun 30, 2016

How do you plan on doing the transfer? How old is the current tank?

One thing to keep in mind is that the beneficial bacteria that helps with cycling and converting ammonia into nitrite and nitrate primarily lives on the porous surfaces in our tanks. It is not present in the water column at high enough quantities to prevent a cycle.

Can you post some pics of the existing tank?

TUSI · Jun 30, 2016

You will be moving live rock and sand bed too?

Dmac979 · Jun 30, 2016

My old tank is doing great colors are crazy it's like 8 months old. I

bobman · Jun 30, 2016

Assuming you are transferring all your rock over you will be fine. The bacteria on the rocks in the 90 has all the bacteria needed to sustain your bioload already. I would consider replacing the sand though. Just try to get them close to the same light and flow in there new home and you are good.

Dmac979 · Jun 30, 2016

Yeah I have all new sand and I'm transferring everything over.

bobman · Jun 30, 2016

Then you should be good you can reuse the old water if you want but the only real benefit will be the savings on salt. There is little to no bacteria thats beneficial to you in the water.

Dmac979 · Jun 30, 2016

Oh really I thought reusing the water would be the most beneficial

bobman · Jun 30, 2016

No it contains little to no beneficial bacteria and carries almost all the nitrates over to the new tank. As long as the new tank water closely matches your old tanks waters salinity and temps then it is the equivalent and doing a 100% water change.

Dmac979 · Jun 30, 2016

Wow I didn't know that so doing a 100% water change is better then transferring the water

bobman · Jun 30, 2016

Doing a 100% water change in theory get rid of 100% of the nasty stuff in your water

Chibils · Jul 4, 2016

Dmac979 said:
Wow I didn't know that so doing a 100% water change is better then transferring the water

Just make sure pH, salinity, temp, and alkalinity are the same.

pgammon · Jul 5, 2016

I don't think you necessarily have to use 100% new water. I upgraded from a 72 to 120, I saved as much old water as possible, so it was more like a giant water change for the livestock, didn't lose one thing. HTH.

Dmac979 · Jul 12, 2016

The new tank lost a few things but not much thanks for everyone's help

Jason lowe · Nov 26, 2016

pgammon said:
I don't think you necessarily have to use 100% new water. I upgraded from a 72 to 120, I saved as much old water as possible, so it was more like a giant water change for the livestock, didn't lose one thing. HTH.

Did you reuse the sand? In going from a 75 to a 125 and I'm worried about it recycling and having a spike in nitrates and nitrates... Also what size sump are you using?

PatW · Nov 27, 2016

The new tank looks great. Good job.

pgammon · Nov 27, 2016

@Jason lowe, I don't have sand, but I believe that you should not reuse. Once you stir it up, it releases some nasty stuff. I bought my sump off ebay a few years back, it's custom acrylic with a skimmer chamber, three baffles and return pump area. It's 35 X 15 X 15. HTH