Upgrading my tank, SPS question

[Saltine]

So I finally got everything dialed in on my DT and I went ahead and bought a 180g (Have a Reefer 250 Currently).

SPS has been looking great and growing rapidly.

So my question is, if I'm using new sand, all new rock and basically starting a new tank from scratch, would my SPS survive once it's cycled?

Or would I be better off selling what I have now, since it looks great, and starting over in a few months? I run a mixed reef, only really worried about my SPS in the new tank.

Thanks for your input!
Salt

 

[mannyhernz]

On the same boat...still waiting to transfer sps

 

[tomtom2245]

Why are you using new rock? If you transfer all of your old rock over and a cup or two of your previous sand, that will greatly reduce the cycle, along with keeping your water. If you do it this way, your SPS should make it just fine. If you have been "cooking" your new rock, you should be able to add it all at once then as well. Otherwise I would maybe add a piece or two at a time and then wait before adding more.

 

[Saltine]

Why are you using new rock? If you transfer all of your old rock over and a cup or two of your previous sand, that will greatly reduce the cycle, along with keeping your water. If you do it this way, your SPS should make it just fine. If you have been "cooking" your new rock, you should be able to add it all at once then as well. Otherwise I would maybe add a piece or two at a time and then wait before adding more.

I purchased the 180 used, got a lot of rock with it, had to acid bath it and pressure wash it. Want to build my dream scape and put it in the tank, don't want to mess with the rock in the existing tank. I'll probably shovel some sand out of my existing to put into the new one to jump start the cycle and also move over my marine pure spheres.

I haven't had time to cook the rock yet, so will be putting it in the tank un cycled.

 

[Saltine]

On the same boat...still waiting to transfer sps

Yea, I know it's best to wait, but the longer I wait to sell my current the tank, the longer I have to wait to light the rest of the tank....

 

[Saltine]

 

[Saltine]

Another option I'm not against, is taking all rock I can out of my DT and putting it in the middle of the sand bed for a couple weeks to jump start the seeding. My SPS in my DT could be affected by something I stir up though... Decisions, decisions...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

if its a new tank, your going to have new tank problems. If its a transfer you'll have tank transfer problems. transfers are easier in most cases. IME.
fwiw I can't rave enough about my $60 canister filter when im deep cleaning transferring scapeing etc. 3 pieces of floss only and I can stir up a LOT of junk and it clears fast. I do sometimes use carbon and gfo too as it will absorb a LOT of other funk.

 

[gus6464]

I purchased the 180 used, got a lot of rock with it, had to acid bath it and pressure wash it. Want to build my dream scape and put it in the tank, don't want to mess with the rock in the existing tank. I'll probably shovel some sand out of my existing to put into the new one to jump start the cycle and also move over my marine pure spheres.

I haven't had time to cook the rock yet, so will be putting it in the tank un cycled.

I wouldn't move the sand. Just the marine pure should be fine to not experience much of a cycle, if any at all.

 

[BigJim]

I started a new tank from scratch in October of 2015 with rock I had been cooking for five months. I waited until the end of December to move most of my SPS from my existing tank. Some of my SPS took off immediately (Red Planet, BC Glowstik, setosa). Other corals went dormant but had good color for 8 to 9 months (Tierra del Fuego, Paletta Pink Tips, BC Sky Doppel). I didn't lose anything in the move and everything is doing great now. I wouldn't expect the new tank to be like the old tank right away, but you should be successful in keeping everything alive if you are patient.

 

[Saltine]

I started a new tank from scratch in October of 2015 with rock I had been cooking for five months. I waited until the end of December to move most of my SPS from my existing tank. Some of my SPS took off immediately (Red Planet, BC Glowstik, setosa). Other corals went dormant but had good color for 8 to 9 months (Tierra del Fuego, Paletta Pink Tips, BC Sky Doppel). I didn't lose anything in the move and everything is doing great now. I wouldn't expect the new tank to be like the old tank right away, but you should be successful in keeping everything alive if you are patient.

Thanks! yea, not sure how long I want to run two tanks... My current DT is running MH/T5 combo, so it's sucking some good power.