Tank Upgrade

[Samantha142]

Looking for advice on a tank Upgrade. I have a 20 gallon tank that I am upgrading to a 30 gallon. I will be using the rock that is in my system now, as well as adding some new dry live rock. I have new sand. The tank is fishless right now. There are three anemones, one coral and some snails. What is the best way to handle this? A few questions that I have....
-Because I'm adding new rock to the tank in addition to already established rock, can I just make the addition or is there another step? I will add that one of the rocks is currently being cleaned with bleach, so it will no longer be live.
Should I use any of the old sand or can I add the new sand only (I would rather not use my old sand)?
I was planning on using all of the water from my 20 gallon in addition to 10 gallons of fresh water.
How long should I wait to add fish?

 

[blaxsun]

You can literally just move the rock, corals (etc.) over to the new tank. I always suggest something like Bio-Spira or Dr. Tim's for insta-cycling (just to err on the safe side). I wouldn't re-use the old sand until you've thoroughly rinsed, cleaned and placed out in the sun to bake.

You can re-use your existing water but with the insta-cycle treatment you can also just run with new saltwater.

 

[Samantha142]

I was hoping it was going to be this simple
Thank you for the reply and for the information!

 

[kbnh]

In regards to the rock you are bleaching, make sure it is thoroughly dry to avoid bringing any remnants of bleach into your tank, you may get a mini cycle when introducing the rock back into the tank because of the dead microorganisms deep in the rock breaking down. +1 on adding some bacteria to the rocks when they are newly in the tank even if it’s a transfer.

 

[Rmckoy]

Fme … never use old sand . It’s easier to remove and add new if that’s an option but I would still rinse the new sand well ( when you think it’s clean…. Rinse a few more times .

as mentioned above this is a fairly easy transfer with the live rock .
you can use the water from the 20 gal knowing you will need to make more to fill up the larger tank .
Add some sort of nitrifying bacteria to be on the safe side if there were to be anything that would contribute to an ammonia spike .
fingers crossed for a successful transfer .
please keep us posted how it goes .

 

[Samantha142]

In regards to the rock you are bleaching, make sure it is thoroughly dry to avoid bringing any remnants of bleach into your tank, you may get a mini cycle when introducing the rock back into the tank because of the dead microorganisms deep in the rock breaking down. +1 on adding some bacteria to the rocks when they are newly in the tank even if it’s a transfer.

I have a concern about the rock being bleach free. I bleached, it soaked it for two days and have it outside, letting it dry. It's cold here, so I'm concerned it's not drying like it would in the summertime. I may wash it again, just to ease my nerves on that one. Thank you!!

 

[Argentum]

I have a concern about the rock being bleach free. I bleached, it soaked it for two days and have it outside, letting it dry. It's cold here, so I'm concerned it's not drying like it would in the summertime. I may wash it again, just to ease my nerves on that one. Thank you!!

If you are concerned with any trace of bleach, you could always follow up with a soak in water that you've added a dechlorinator to and then follow that up with another rinse. I used some old rock that I left outside for over a year, then rinsed multiple times, then bleached and then dechlorinated and then rinsed and dried again....no problems whatsoever (even though that's probably overkill!).

 

[Samantha142]

Fme … never use old sand . It’s easier to remove and add new if that’s an option but I would still rinse the new sand well ( when you think it’s clean…. Rinse a few more times .

as mentioned above this is a fairly easy transfer with the live rock .
you can use the water from the 20 gal knowing you will need to make more to fill up the larger tank .
Add some sort of nitrifying bacteria to be on the safe side if there were to be anything that would contribute to an ammonia spike .
fingers crossed for a successful transfer .
please keep us posted how it goes .

Thank you! I think I'll just pass on the old sand. I wasn't sure if it would help with the good bacteria for the new tank. My thought process wasn't correct. It's super dirty right now, anyway and doesn't look very nice (my tank has been a bit neglected the past few months ) I'm excited to have it up and running with some tank mates by Christmas.

 

[Samantha142]

If you are concerned with any trace of bleach, you could always follow up with a soak in water that you've added a dechlorinator to and then follow that up with another rinse. I used some old rock that I left outside for over a year, then rinsed multiple times, then bleached and then dechlorinated and then rinsed and dried again....no problems whatsoever (even though that's probably overkill!).

I think overkill is good! I didn't even consider a dechlorinator...I'll do that. This specific piece of rock may be added in a few weeks, as I'm hoping to get everything set up this weekend. I would rather be sure than to deal with a bleached tank. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[billyocean]

Soak the bleached rock I'm seachem prime. It's cheap and will guarantee chlorine free rock.

 

[Rmckoy]

Thank you! I think I'll just pass on the old sand. I wasn't sure if it would help with the good bacteria for the new tank. My thought process wasn't correct. It's super dirty right now, anyway and doesn't look very nice (my tank has been a bit neglected the past few months ) I'm excited to have it up and running with some tank mates by Christmas.

Your exact thought process was the old perception and advice . To keep as much of the sand and do not disturb it as it would help with nitrification … that advice has led many of us including myself to crash a tank when transferring or upgrading . Live rocks are beneficial … I would still swish them around in the old tank water to remove as much detritus that’s settled in and on them . The beneficial bacteria is within and all around the rocks . Not the crud that’s collected .
I’m glad you have it running with livestock for Christmas .

 

[Gatorpa]

Your exact thought process was the old perception and advice . To keep as much of the sand and do not disturb it as it would help with nitrification … that advice has led many of us including myself to crash a tank when transferring or upgrading . Live rocks are beneficial … I would still swish them around in the old tank water to remove as much detritus that’s settled in and on them . The beneficial bacteria is within and all around the rocks . Not the crud that’s collected .
I’m glad you have it running with livestock for Christmas .

The divide better new vs old sand is almost as wide as Dems vs Pubs.

While a messy detritus filled sand bed certainly can be an issue one can not discount the massive amount of micro fauna residing in that mature sand bed.

Personally I’ve moved my tank/tanks about a dozen times and only once had what I would say was a mini crash but that was likely due to a big delay in transfer during very warm weather.