Timing...

[Daddio]

Okay, I am moving from a 75 to a 150. At this time I only have 4 fish (clown, 2 Bangai, and a six line + shrimp crabs, etc.)
I have about 100 lbs of live rock a refugium with a DSB and chaeto. Most of the rock is well over 10 years old.

My plan is to use my qt (20 gallon) as a temporary home for fish and a few select rock and corals. The rock is going into tubs. I was going to use my existing water for this with a heater and powerhead in each tub.

I am using new sand seeded with a little old sand. I am also starting over with all "fresh" water.

My questions are:

- how long of a wait for a cycle do you think it should plan on?
- Should I add my rock right away?
- I am planning on adding additional rock, would it be best to do so right away or wait for the old to acclimate?
- Not that they are anything special (at least money wise) but would it be safer to turn my fish in to the LFS and wait for the cycle?

I have many more questions but these seemed kind of a "set"

This is all new to me... Not everyday you start over.

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[Jimbo662]

You should add your rock at the beginning to help get the tank seeded with bacteria and cut down on the cycle...if there's any cycle at all. I'd also go ahead and add the new rock at the beginning too so it's getting seeded at the same time. I would think a 20gal is too small for all 4 fish. Maybe try to split them up into two tanks instead.

 

[Daddio]

I may split them up between the tubs with the rock. I am going to try to rebuild in 4 days...

Day 1: tear down existing tank and stand. Use existing water for tubs & 20 gallon holding tank
Day 2: build stand... I have everything kind of precut but this is going in a basement so I will need to final cut the legs to fit to level out the aquarium. I also need to cover the wall with waterproof sheets. I have the plumbing dry fit but will need to cut to exact lengths. Would like to have that and water test for leaks by that night.
Day 3: actually add saltwater, set up powerheads and other electrics. Have 2 30 gallon and one 40 gallon trashcan full of RODI already. Will mix with salt in the tank.
Day 4: add sand. test, test, test. Hopefully will have water up to temp. Hopefully be able to add rock back in that night.

Somewhere I need to plumb my ato but that can happen later.

I know it won't happen exactly like this but when I moved to my house ten years ago, I pulled it off in one day for the most part. Closed on both houses the same day and barely got my tank out in time.

I may go ahead and "donate" my fish to the LFS and let my tank cycle. I won't have to worry about them at all then.

Over the winter we had horribly cold stretches and my temp dropped to 72 - powder blue got ick and lost him, Midas blenny, cherub angle and barely saved my clown. Really like my bangais but they are not irreplaceable.

Do you think this sounds plausible at all (please don't laugh!)

 

[Neptunes Bane]

Talk to your lfs. Is there any chance they will hotel your fish?

Just curious, whats the point of all new water? Why not just take out your old water and rock and stick it in a few brutes. Take down the old, put up the new, put in the rock, add your water and top off with new.

As far as the new rock goes start curing it now. Shove it in your sump or display and seed it from your existing rock.

At the end of the day you might walk out of this with no cycle at all. Some die off, but no cycle.

 

[Daddio]

What a great idea! That makes perfect sense! I have scheduled some days off around Easter. I am going to get the new rock tomorrow... That will give me several weeks head start. I guess since I will be more than doubling the water volume, old water will be fine also... I was just afraid that by the time I pull the rock out into tubs and it sits for several days without being skimmed it might end up with extra waste but it would be kind of like making a 50% water change...

Awesome, awesome suggestions! Thanks!

 

[Daddio]

Got 35 lbs of cured rock today crammed in my sump. Decent stuff... Not super high quality but nice and porous. Going to look at another LFS for one or two pieces of "show" rock - maybe some tonga...