Upgrade

[Windy City Reef]

I have a 40 gallon tank with about 50 lbs live rock and soft corals. I want to transfer everything over to a 93 cube. Should I use all fresh saltwater put some of the live rock in and let it run for couple days before transferring corals and fish? What's the best way for this upgrade? Thanks for any help

 

[CodyRVA]

I would use your existing water and make as much new water as you need. Just do some math, make the water, heat it and have it ready to go. No point in disposing of your current water. I always add a bottle of bacteria when I do tank transfers; you'll likely lose at least some bacteria in the process. This is a good way to replace your bacteria loss. I've swapped a 45 Bow front over to an 80G rimless in a few hours.

 

[Windy City Reef]

I would use your existing water and make as much new water as you need. Just do some math, make the water, heat it and have it ready to go. No point in disposing of your current water. I always add a bottle of bacteria when I do tank transfers; you'll likely lose at least some bacteria in the process. This is a good way to replace your bacteria loss. I've swapped a 45 Bow front over to an 80G rimless in a few hours.

Do you remember the name of the bacteria you used? Thanks for the info

 

[Jimbo662]

When I did a similar upgrade I did just what you mentioned. Move some live rock and some water but use all new sand in the new tank. I let the new one run 24 hrs then transferred the rest of the rock and the fish / corals. I always use a bottle of Dr Tim's bacteria also.

 

[CodyRVA]

No preference on bacteria, but I usually spring for Instant Ocean because it's easy to find. I've heard great things about Dr. Tims as well.

 

[Jason lowe]

When I did a similar upgrade I did just what you mentioned. Move some live rock and some water but use all new sand in the new tank. I let the new one run 24 hrs then transferred the rest of the rock and the fish / corals. I always use a bottle of Dr Tim's bacteria also.

Why new sand?

 

[Jimbo662]

Why new sand?

moved to a larger tank.

 

[Maritimer]

A lot of folks feel that sand is a detritus sink, and that moving it will uncork a pretty unsafe genii. I'm planning a similar move, and also planning to keep (but tumble & rinse) my sand - and all of its microfauna. ... Well ... A lot of it, anyway.

"New" sand has been tumbling about in the ocean (or a quarry somewhere) for the last several thousand years, so . . .

~Bruce