up grading

reef-freak · Jul 5, 2015

Hello everyone. I am going to upgrade from my 29 G nano to a 60 gal 2x2x2 . It's going in the same spot as my 29. can I swap tanks and use water and rock from the 29?Do I have to cycle 60 before transferring fish , corals, etc.adding 30 + gal of fresh salt water really safe to my fish and corals?Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated. I'm also looking for equipment recommendations for sump, skimmer,led light,and support equipment. I have a new mp-10. will that be enough for extra water circulation or do I need another one? Thank you in advance for your help on this upgrade

edsver2 · Jul 5, 2015

We just did the same thing with one of our tanks... lol. Pain in the butt. You really need a qt tank. Right now our local petco is selling tanks $1 per gallon. Use your existing water for your qt and just move the fish over. I've heard if your tank is over a year old start out with new sand. Start out with new saltwater and remaining water from original tank and treat with a good bacteria starter. We use Fritz Zyme 9. Good stuff. Your live rock from existing tank and original water will help start your cycle. Hope this helps some.

reef-freak · Jul 7, 2015

thank you edsver2 for your reply. can other members please help me out.

hig789 · Jul 7, 2015

reef-freak said:
.adding 30 + gal of fresh salt water really safe to my fish and corals?

What's the difference in this and someone doing a 40-50% water change?

Reefing Madness · Jul 7, 2015

Welp, you can use everything from your old tank, should use everything to help it not go into a full blown cycle. But, because you only have 29lbs of rock, the 60 is liable to run into a mini cycle. Of which should be ok in the short term for your fish. Your corals on the other hand might not take to kindly to it.
Only way for you to totally get away with your new tank not cycling, is to fully cure 30 more pounds of live rock ahead of time, then when thats ready, or you've bought all you need, then you can set up the new tank. Throw your sand in a couple 5 gallon buckets, rinse it out until the water comes out clear.
Throw your rock with enough tank water to cover that rock, in totes or more 5g buckets. Fish in totes or 5g buckets.
Move old tank, place new tank, throw in sand. Make sure you have enough saltwater already made ahead of time, fill the tank half way with new and or old water, doesn't matter which. Add your live rock, then fill the tank the rest of the way. Add fish and corals.
Making sure ahead of time, that the new water is the same SG, CAL, ALK, and Temp as the old water.
And.....your off and running.

Reefing Madness · Jul 7, 2015

hig789 said:
What's the difference in this and someone doing a 40-50% water change?

The tank not being cycled.

hig789 · Jul 7, 2015

He never mentioned he was adding anymore rock was the reason behind my comment there.

He described that he was doing a straight swap of the existing into the new tank. I get in theory he could use more rock just figured he might be going for the minimalist aquascape since he didn't mention adding any. And if that's the case I don't see why there should be any cycle.

Reefing Madness · Jul 7, 2015

Ouch, gotta add more rock, guess I was just assuming that was going to happen.
If he was going with just the 29lbs in a 60, without adding anything else to it, but fish and corals he has, the tank will still mini cycle, small, because of the stir up.

hig789 · Jul 8, 2015

Yeah that's true. My 15g was setup with fully cured and established live rock and I either missed the cycle or didn't even have one. I didn't test for about 3 days. Thought I knew what was from past experience and I was surprised that it didn't. I rinsed the heck out of the rock I got though to remove everything I could.

But yes back to the op. Ignore my posts and follow post 5. Haha.

Reefing Madness · Jul 8, 2015

Nothing to ignore, you brought up valid points.

atlorange · Jul 8, 2015

I think you will be fine. Add everything from your old tank. There sould not be any cycle. I just did this from a 30 to a 68 not long ago. Everything was fine. No cyle. I did put a few new peices of cured live rock in sump of new tank, but only a few lbs.

Lynn52 · Jul 8, 2015

When I moved everything from my 55 to my 125 I had no issues except the sand (issues with cyano). In retrospect I would have gotten all new sand. My rock had enough bacteria for the bio load in the 55 which didn't change when I upgraded. I added some reef saver rock and monitored the ammonia. I had prime available if needed. I added new fish one at a time after a quarantine period. You should be fine just watch your parameters and be prepared to act if ammonia goes up.

reef-freak · Jul 8, 2015

thank you all who replied.do you have any equipment recommendations. sump E-shops gen 3 24"fuge or square one? lights - LED hydor52? skimmer open for suggestions