Time for upgrade

[saltwater newby]

hello! I bought a used 240 gallon cube with sump and stand. I am upgrading from a Red Sea reefer 108 gallon system. I plan on getting new sand but transferring over my existing rocks and most of the equipment. Will my tank go through some type of cycle because I’m switching to a much larger water volume or will the extra water volume help prevent a cycle? The Red Sea has been running about 3 years, so the rock is live and I also have a marine pure block in the sump about 2 years old. I have about 22 fish total, but that includes 6 chromis, 2 cardinals and 2 clowns, 3 hawk fish and the other fish are not big at all, specially for the size of this tank. My second question is regarding the sump that came with the tank. It’s the same dimensions as the tank. 48”x48” which to me seems a bit overkill. What size sump would be recommended for a tank this big? I do not want to use the one it came with as it’s really really dirty and I will have no room underneath the tank for storage as the stand Is also 48x48”. My last question is regarding the internal overflows, they are clear and want to cover them some how so that the pipes won’t show. I know painting won’t be a good idea, any suggestions? Plexiglass or acrylic siliconed over them?
Thanks in advance

 

[jsker]

Wow the tank cleaned up nicely!!

 

[Goodair]

Using new sand and rock in addition to existing rock, it would be faster than starting from scratch. The bacteria on the existing rock should be enough to support some fish.

I'd use the same sump, it looks pretty well designed and the bigger the better.

Is this tank gonna be against a wall or in the middle of a room?
I'm not sure if smearing black silicon to black out the overflow would come out pretty.

 

[lapin]

Nice
Your new tank will go thru a cycle. You will not have live sand or a biofilm/algae coating on anything new. It should be short and not very big. Do not let your live rock dry out. I would monitor ammonia and have some Prime on hand just in case, but I think you will be fine.
The sump you use is your choice. Bigger the better. They make some fancy pricey ones.
Yes you can use plexiglass or glass siliconed over the overflows. No pressure on the cover pieces so you should be fine.

 

[saltwater newby]

Wow the tank cleaned up nicely!!

Thanks you!
Yup! I got a great deal on it too since the person I bought it from didn’t want to have to clean it.

 

[saltwater newby]

Using new sand and rock in addition to existing rock, it would be faster than starting from scratch. The bacteria on the existing rock should be enough to support some fish.

I'd use the same sump, it looks pretty well designed and the bigger the better.

Is this tank gonna be against a wall or in the middle of a room?
I'm not sure if smearing black silicon to black out the overflow would come out pretty.

Hello!
I’m planning to use all of the rock in the display and in the sump including the marine pure block. Wont new rock create a cycle even if it’s “life rock" from an lfs?
I do like that it’s such a big sump Because of the extra water volume.
It will be sit against a wall.

 

[saltwater newby]

Nice
Your new tank will go thru a cycle. You will not have live sand or a biofilm/algae coating on anything new. It should be short and not very big. Do not let your live rock dry out. I would monitor ammonia and have some Prime on hand just in case, but I think you will be fine.
The sump you use is your choice. Bigger the better. They make some fancy pricey ones.
Yes you can use plexiglass or glass siliconed over the overflows. No pressure on the cover pieces so you should be fine.

Hello!
I will be buying new live sand, I plan on putting a little of my existing sand in a media bag in the sump.
I’ll definitely not let my rock dry out I will be doing the transfer same day and keeping it wet.
Any idea of Where can I find plexiglass?

 

[lapin]

Be sure to rinse your sand. There is a debate on this but its my feeling its better to rinse off all the fines and lose a little bacteria than to have that dust cloud stuff in your tank.
Depending on where you are at, there are local suppliers for glass and acrylic. Tap Plastics, EPlastics, Regal Plastics, Professional Plastics. Many local glass shops will cut stuff for you.
There is always amazon for stuff too

 

[saltwater newby]

Be sure to rinse your sand. There is a debate on this but its my feeling its better to rinse off all the fines and lose a little bacteria than to have that dust cloud stuff in your tank.
Depending on where you are at, there are local suppliers for glass and acrylic. Tap Plastics, EPlastics, Regal Plastics, Professional Plastics. Many local glass shops will cut stuff for you.
There is always amazon for stuff too

Ok cool
I will look into this. Thanks for the feedback and advise

 

[Goodair]

Hello!
I’m planning to use all of the rock in the display and in the sump including the marine pure block. Wont new rock create a cycle even if it’s “life rock" from an lfs?
I do like that it’s such a big sump Because of the extra water volume.
It will be sit against a wall.

If the new rock you add is dry, then the bacteria on your existing rock will have to populate the new rock. The more bacteria you have, the more bio load your tank can handle.

 

[saltwater newby]

If the new rock you add is dry, then the bacteria on your existing rock will have to populate the new rock. The more bacteria you have, the more bio load your tank can handle.

Definitely not dry rock..... I rather not add any rock to be honest but if I need to for aquascape purposes I will go live rock all the way.

 

[Goodair]

Ah, the sand will be live sand aswell. I am not sure if you will go through a typical cycle new tanks go through, I believe it will be shorter compared to other new tanks, but I honestly am not sure. Your ammonia should be processed quickly, but as for the other stages and etc, that I do not know. It will prob depend on what the rocks leach, water column etc.

 

[saltwater newby]

Ah, the sand will be live sand aswell. I am not sure if you will go through a typical cycle new tanks go through, I believe it will be shorter compared to other new tanks, but I honestly am not sure. Your ammonia should be processed quickly, but as for the other stages and etc, that I do not know. It will prob depend on what the rocks leach, water column etc.

Gotcha!
It’ll be a wait and see thing. Lol!!