Transferring to a new tank

[Atrumblood]

Hello everyone,

I am getting a new tank soon to replace the one I am currently using. I am trading my 55 tall for a 55 short, so I will not be able to cycle a brand new tank in preparation to receive my livestock.

Can anyone offer any advice on how I can accomplish this move and keep all of my coral/fish/snails alive and happy?

I am thinking of using my spare 10-gallon as a temporary holding tank while I get the other tank setup.

I have 2 clownfish, 1 small bumblebee Gobie, and a sail fin blenny.
I also have 6 coral. 1 GSP grown onto a rock, 2 zoa colonies, a candy cane (kryptonite), a favia, and a chalice coral.

Thoughts, suggestions?

 

[tritonpower]

I ended up draining 2/3 of my 60 gallon tall into tote containers and moving it out of the way to place the new tank in its place (see my build thread). I then cycled the new tank with water and rock from the old tank and then moved everything over once the new tank was ready. Worked great. I had no fish or coral losses. Good luck.

 

[Azedenkae]

Hello everyone,

I am getting a new tank soon to replace the one I am currently using. I am trading my 55 tall for a 55 short, so I will not be able to cycle a brand new tank in preparation to receive my livestock.

Can anyone offer any advice on how I can accomplish this move and keep all of my coral/fish/snails alive and happy?

I am thinking of using my spare 10-gallon as a temporary holding tank while I get the other tank setup.

I have 2 clownfish, 1 small bumblebee Gobie, and a sail fin blenny.
I also have 6 coral. 1 GSP grown onto a rock, 2 zoa colonies, a candy cane (kryptonite), a favia, and a chalice coral.

Thoughts, suggestions?

So especially since the tank volumes will be exactly the same, you should be able to just directly transfer everything over in one go without having to cycle the new tank or anything like that. Basically just move all live stock to a temporary holding container, put your live rock and all media in another container. Then move the old tank away, put the new tank in, add the live rock and media and stuff, add water and livestock, tada.

 

[Atrumblood]

So especially since the tank volumes will be exactly the same, you should be able to just directly transfer everything over in one go without having to cycle the new tank or anything like that. Basically just move all live stock to a temporary holding container, put your live rock and all media in another container. Then move the old tank away, put the new tank in, add the live rock and media and stuff, add water and livestock, tada.

Thanks for the reply.

What about sand? Should I transfer that? Or would it be better to get new sand and just dose some Dr Tim's?

 

[tritonpower]

Thanks for the reply.

What about sand? Should I transfer that? Or would it be better to get new sand and just dose some Dr Tim's?

New sand. I did and had no issue with a new cycle since I used all my old rock. Old sand risks a deadly spike.

 

[Azedenkae]

Thanks for the reply.

What about sand? Should I transfer that? Or would it be better to get new sand and just dose some Dr Tim's?

Either/or. A lot of people will recommend new sand and that's probably safer, but personally I would just rinse the old sand in some saltwater then chuck the sand (and as little of the water as possible) in.

 

[Atrumblood]

Thanks all, I appreciate the feedback.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Definitely new sand. Washing used sand adequately can and will take hours. That's time you could be using on getting the new tank set up. I always give new sand a rinse also but that is a lot faster and can be done beforehand. Washing your old sand cannot.

 

[brandon429]

agreed

we still rinse the new sand coming up to total cloudlessness because the counter option is getting a three day cloud that doesnt help anything. the live rock bacteria are all that matters, not the old sand bac.

toss

rinse new sand for a while in tap water, final rinse is ro

then use it for a skip cycle new setup.