Tips on combining two tanks

Pdandy · Mar 30, 2016

Background: I recently set up a 265 gallon tank. It has 250lbs of live rock, 2 occelaris clowns, 7 blue chromis, 1 melanurus wrasse, 1 diamond goby. It has been completely cycled for a couple weeks now. I am past my diatom bloom and just now getting some color other than brown to the rocks.

I found someone breaking down their tank that lives 2 miles from me. They have 125lbs of Rock with multiple corals attached (zoas, monti, hammer, mushrooms, Duncan, gsp, and others). Also has 1 yellow tang, 1 chalk bass, 1 Royal gramma, 1 bangaii cardinal, and 2 clarkii clowns.

I want to basically put what he has on top of mine with a little rearranging. What is the best way to go about this?

Our salinity and temperature match. He's running a 6 bulb t5. I've got an 8 bulb t5, so I don't think lighting will be an issue. I figure I will keep all the rocks fully submerged during the move and since it will take maybe 45 minutes tops and our parameters are similar I will just drop the rocks and corals in. Fish will be drip acclimated. I will most likely shut my skimmer off for a bit to keep it from going crazy with all the new additions.

Anything I am missing?

Will the two species of clowns be a problem? It's a big tank so I hope they'll be fine.

CodyRVA · Mar 30, 2016

My only thought is to dip the corals, but considering they're attached and you're using someone else's live rock, its pretty much pointless. Any pests, bugs, diseases that this person's tank has, you will most likely adopt. Lights should be fine, +1 on dripping the fish for salinity matches. I would leave your skimmer running, no point in turning it off. If it's skimming, then there's a reason. Clowns may clash, but they're significantly different breeds and with the tank size you should be safe, but stranger things have happened... I would be more concerned about the shock on the corals. Your system seems relatively new, I'm assuming this other system has at least some maturity. If your parameters aren't stable, there may be die off.

Pdandy · Mar 30, 2016

Here are some pics of his tank and what I am getting.

Here is mine right now.

So as long as I can keep my parameters stable in theory it should be ok? This tank is at my work and I check the water every day and all is stable so far.

CodyRVA · Mar 30, 2016

Yea, i mean combining the two isn't black and white, but in theory it should be fine. Again my main concern would be moving a mature system into a very new system. I'd be surprised if you dont have at least some coral loss. If you dont have a doser or something similar to keep the parameters stable in your system, I would tread with caution. You're keeping the live rock so thats good, lots of beneficial bacteria, but it won't mature the new system over night either.

Pdandy · Apr 4, 2016

Well, It's been two days since the transfer. All in all the rock and coral were in buckets for about 30 minutes and they stayed fully submerged the whole time. The fish were dripped for about an hour. Most corals are opened up and doing well. There are a couple that are still adjusting. Didn't lose any fish, although the firefish hasn't been seen since introduction into my tank.

Tested ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate today and all came back at 0. My skimmer didn't even miss a beat. I thought for sure it would start acting crazy and overflow.

Pictures to come.

CodyRVA · Apr 4, 2016

Pdandy said:
Well, It's been two days since the transfer. All in all the rock and coral were in buckets for about 30 minutes and they stayed fully submerged the whole time. The fish were dripped for about an hour. Most corals are opened up and doing well. There are a couple that are still adjusting. Didn't lose any fish, although the firefish hasn't been seen since introduction into my tank.

Glad to hear it!