I've had my 20 gallons for a few months and I'm already working on an upgrade to a 30 gallon. My friend is experienced in freshwater and suggested I take the rocks and water to my 30 gallon, add the new rocks then fill it the rest of the way up and add my fish in. Would this be safe or even with the water and rocks would it not be safe to add fish right away? The new rock is dry rock not live rock. Thank you for your answers in advance and forgive my inexperience.
Transfering tanks
- Thread starter DevonMeep
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It's fine, you can add a bottle of bacteria to be on the safe side, you will lose some bacteria from the 20G in the transfer process. I moved from a 45 to a 80, added a bunch of dry rock in addition to my existing live rock with no issue.
What kind of dry rock? You could put the dry rock in some saltwater and let it cure a bit. Some types are filthy, others just dusty. If it is pukani, for example, it needs to be cured because it will have organic material that will break down and possibly cause an ammonia spike. Something like brs reef saver rock could have a rinse and go in the tank.
Otherwise your plan sounds fine.
Otherwise your plan sounds fine.
jsker
Reefing is all about the adventure
Message @john.m.cole3
john.m.cole3
cyclOps
Let's talk about it here so other people can chime in and/or learn from our discussion.
I just did this 5 weeks ago. I had a 46 gal up for 13 months and transferred that whole tank over to a 72 gal w/ new rock and sand, but kept my live rock in the tank until it cycled. A few questions first...
Do you have sump now or plan on having one on the new tank?
How long has the 30 gal been running?
Are you able to set up tje new 30 in the place it will remain? Or does the new tank need to go where the current one is?
How many fish and what kind?
Did you quarantine the existing fish?
What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?
Any corals?
Any clean up crew?
sandbed?
Post a pic of your current tank.
LEt's start here and we can figure this out so you don't have any casualties/
I just did this 5 weeks ago. I had a 46 gal up for 13 months and transferred that whole tank over to a 72 gal w/ new rock and sand, but kept my live rock in the tank until it cycled. A few questions first...
Do you have sump now or plan on having one on the new tank?
How long has the 30 gal been running?
Are you able to set up tje new 30 in the place it will remain? Or does the new tank need to go where the current one is?
How many fish and what kind?
Did you quarantine the existing fish?
What are your nitrate and phosphate levels?
Any corals?
Any clean up crew?
sandbed?
Post a pic of your current tank.
LEt's start here and we can figure this out so you don't have any casualties/
This topic is often exaggerated and seen to be far more complex than it really is. I agree, cleaning the dry rock can help, but if it is DRY ROCK it should have zero organic matter, depending on where you buy it i suppose. Unless your current system was not cycled and established, theres no need to cure anything. All you're really doing is increasing the water volume around the already live rock and adding more dry. It's very similar to adding a large sump. You will have bacteria loss, which is why i always use a bottle of bacteria when swapping tanks, but thats really it. Might have some diatoms, but again if your current system is even only slightly mature, you should be fine.
I do not have a sump and don't plan to add one.
The 30 gallon is not running yet, I'm getting all he essentials for it now.
It doesn't need to go where the current one is.
I have three fish, a Firefish, an Ocellaris clown, and an Orchid Dottyback.
I jsut did a water change to nitrates should be low or gone.
No corals, no cleanup crew and a two inch or so livesand sandbed.
The green ball of algae is a piece of liverock rubble I put in.
The 30 gallon is not running yet, I'm getting all he essentials for it now.
It doesn't need to go where the current one is.
I have three fish, a Firefish, an Ocellaris clown, and an Orchid Dottyback.
I jsut did a water change to nitrates should be low or gone.
No corals, no cleanup crew and a two inch or so livesand sandbed.
The green ball of algae is a piece of liverock rubble I put in.
john.m.cole3
cyclOps
Id set up the new tank with new rock and let it cycle by adding one pice of live rock and a bottle of Dr tim one and only our biospira. The cycle should happen in about a week. Add Fish and remaining rock now. Transfer the sand to a bucket and rinse it real good. You know your sand is rinsed well when you can pick up a handful if it and drop it from the top if the bucket with no cloud. Add the sand to the new tank and your done!
john.m.cole3
cyclOps
Id set up the new tank with new rock and let it cycle by adding one pice of live rock and a bottle of Dr tim one and only our biospira. The cycle should happen in about a week. Add Fish and remaining rock now. Transfer the sand to a bucket and rinse it real good. You know your sand is rinsed well when you can pick up a handful if it and drop it from the top if the bucket with no cloud. Add the sand to the new tank and your done!
