Tips on moving into a bigger tank.

[Cool Cat]

We are upgrading our school's 15 year old 125g reef tank into a 210g tank next week (at the moment I am making as much water as we can store). The new 210 tank will sit in the same space that the old 125 currently resides. So I'm going t have to break down the old tank, remove it and then set up the new tank. I am using all the established LR (a good 125 to 150 lbs) that is in the 125 along with some LR (about 80lbs) that I have been cooking all summer. A large 4x4x8 marine pure brick that has been in the 125 for over a year will go into the new sump. I also plan to use a combination of dry sand, argalive and some sand from the old tank. We have two 40 breeders for the live stock and a couple rubber maid containers to hold rocks while we move tanks. We are going to use a kiddie pool to lay out the rocks while we aquascape. A couple of reefers will be there to help. Is there anything I'm missing? Do you guys or gals have any tips to make this a smooth transition? How long do I need to let the new set up run before I reintroduce the live stock? We now have a 4 inch sailfin tang and I'd like to add 2-3 more tangs to the new set up, I know that adding them at the same time would be best practice, should I just add all the fish old and new at the same time? I do plan on adding some Dr. Tims (enough to treat 240 gallons) to the tank when I introduce the fish and coral or would it be better to add it after I aquascape to avoid an ammonia spike from the die off? Whew! That's a lot of stuff to read through, but I know you guys have great ideas and experiences that I can learn from. Thanks!

 

[ca1ore]

How long do I need to let the new set up run before I reintroduce the live stock?

Use as much of the old water as you can and 5 minutes ought to do it. Not sure why there would be any die-off. Best practice would be to QT any new fish, but if that's not in the cards then reintroduce them all at the same time.

 

[Cool Cat]

Thanks! I was thinking that there may be some die off as I aquascape the tank. Quarantine...I could do that...I'd need to house the sailfin with the new tangs as they quarantine correct?

 

[Cool Cat]

Do I even need the Dr. Tims?

 

[HairyGary]

Do I even need the Dr. Tims?

I would add it for the sake of the new fish. Just add a small cup of old sand not the full amount. You might have a small cycle spike so be sure to monitor any ammonia spikes as well.

 

[ca1ore]

In the last five years I have gone from 90 to 265 and then to 450 - in both cases the new tank was in the same spot. I've not found it necessary to use any of these bacteria-in-a-bottle tonics and had no cycle. I suppose it cannot hurt but I'm mostly of the view that it doesn't help either. You should certainly test for ammonia initially, and probably cut back a bit on the fish food.

Reusing old sand is a somewhat controversial topic. Since you are using the existing rock, there's no need to use any old sand to seed the new tank - unless you have extensive benthic fauna, in which case a cup or two isn't really going to do much. If the old tank is less than 2 years old I always reuse sand; if it's older I discard and use new.

 

[User1]

To piggy back what @ca1ore said about the sand is that it is also difficult to move between tanks. When I moved mine I grabbed a cup or two of the existing sand to seed the new stuff I put down. Like noted above the rock is already going to have the bacteria and other life on it so it really isn't necessary. I had some clams in mine that once everything was out I raked my fingers through the sand to grab them out and put them in the new tank. In any case you can always grab a cup or two and move otherwise like Ca1ore said not necessary.

 

[Titanwerx]

Thanks! I was thinking that there may be some die off as I aquascape the tank. Quarantine...I could do that...I'd need to house the sailfin with the new tangs as they quarantine correct?

Aquascape in a wet tank not dry one otherwise you are going to get die off. I could be wrong but I believe it only takes a few minutes for stuff to start dying off rock if left out in the open

 

[Cool Cat]

Thanks for all of your input! Now I just have to figure out which tangs would go best with our desjardini...

 

[ZoWhat]

Get a 2nd source of income

 

[Cool Cat]

Thanks all for your help! Here is a picture of our new tank!