Upgrading tank size

[cylon032]

Hey, I have a 20 gallon that is 3 months cycled with fish and cuc gonna upgrade to a 55 gallon, can I transfer everything and add water to the 55 or do I have to cycle the tank before transferring.

 

[Sailingeric]

I transferred a 29 gallon to a 75 gallon with no problem. Just remember to add new fish slowly so the bacteria in the system can keep up.

 

[VSVP bet]

I transferred a 55 to a 90. When i transferred, I put all my corals in a shallow tub separated from each other, and placed all my fish in a Rubbermaid bin. I drained all my water into separate bins, and left the sand in the tank. With a little bit of salt water water, I stirred the sand aggressively to release as much detritus as I could. I did this two or 3 times, and each time I would dump the water and keep the sand. After that, I placed the sand into the new tank, added the rocks, filled all the old water from the 55 into the 90, then added 20 gallons of fresh salt water, then added the corrals and the fish.

 

[Super Fly]

Hey, I have a 20 gallon that is 3 months cycled with fish and cuc gonna upgrade to a 55 gallon, can I transfer everything and add water to the 55 or do I have to cycle the tank before transferring.

Either way would work but transferring such a young tank may result in a mini cycle. I'd keep an eye on parameters and livestock if you decide to transfer w/o cycling.

 

[VSVP bet]

^ good point. Keep in mind the 55 before transfer was 3 yrs old.

 

[cylon032]

So I should just cycle the 55 gallon to be on the safe side for the livestock? Also forgot to mention adding about 40lbs rock, would it need to be live rock?

 

[Gpettit721]

People do huge water changes with no ill affect. I’ll be upgrading from a 60 cube to a 200 all at once. I’ve done similar upgrades in the past. Typically I’ll cure any additional lives rock about two months before the upgrade and keep all the water I can From the old to put in the new. Be slow adding new live stock and be prepared for any problems to arise sometimes it will sometimes it won’t.

 

[VSVP bet]

So I should just cycle the 55 gallon to be on the safe side for the livestock? Also forgot to mention adding about 40lbs rock, would it need to be live rock?

If youre doing an immediate transfer, you should do live rock. If you were doing 40lbs of dry rock, I would wait and cycle your 55 before transferring inhabitants from the 20.

 

[Reef-junky]

Forget the 55 and do a 40 breeder or 75. You will like the extra width.

 

[VSVP bet]

Forget the 55 and do a 40 breeder or 75. You will like the extra width.

I also agree

 

[PatW]

Sometimes people have problems transferring a tank. I think it most of those cases, they have older systems with large amounts of built up detritus. During the tank transfer, everything gets stirred up and the detritus gets exposed to rapid decay. This rapid decay can produce a nutrient boom and a mini cycle.

Like others, rather than the 55 you can go with a tank with the same long dimension (48") but go with a larger tank with more width like a 70, 90 or 120. The extra width is really nice for aquascaping and the extra volume will help with stability. Also, the difference in equipment needed for a 55 vs a 70, 90, or 120 is not that great.

 

[Super Fly]

So I should just cycle the 55 gallon to be on the safe side for the livestock? Also forgot to mention adding about 40lbs rock, would it need to be live rock?

this is the way I would do it with such a young tank... why risk problem/death with current livestock? If rock hasn't been cured, then it needs to be prior to adding to tank or u can cure it in the 55 as it cycles. Otherwise, u can buy liverock from lfs or online that's already been in water and cured.

Like others said, if you can go larger tank ($ & space), I'd highly recommend it. I upgraded from 60 to 90 and regret not going bigger.

 

[cylon032]

Thanks everyone gonna just wait it out and prob do 125g

 

[Reef-junky]

Thanks everyone gonna just wait it out and prob do 125g

You’ll be a lot happier