Upgrading to a nuvo 40 gallon.

Devlin · Sep 9, 2015

Here's my issue. I have a 15g loaded with coral ,fish and rock. Everything but the sand is going to be transferred into the 40 gallon. But the tank is going where my 15 gallon is. How can I make this happen in a day. I have enough equipment for the break down. I just need to know what I can do to prevent a major cycle that will be harmful to the fish and coral. I'm going to be doing this in about 14 days. Would really really appreciate the best advice possible. Have a ton of money invested already. By my standards anyway. LOL!

Reduck · Sep 9, 2015

It can be done. Planning is everything! Make a list. Check and recheck it.
In short:
Get some brutes to drain your small tank into. Have a power head and heater in it to keep up circ and temp. Cover it once your livestock is in it to avoid jumpers. Then move the small tank out and slide the new one in its place. Make sure your new water mix matches the parameters of the old water exactly.
It will be like a large wc. Make sure your new substrate is well washed!

I recently upgraded from the fusion 40 to a cad 75 in this manner. See my build thread for other ideas.

XocyrusX · Sep 9, 2015

I had to do the same thing when breaking down my 150 to sell and put in my IM 30GL frag tank. What I did was get large rubber made storage containers as a holding. Heater air stone in there while I slid the new one over in its spot and filled it up. I mixed up all of the new water. My whole new setup was almost completely built when I did this. While in the holding tub I switched over the last equipment. Hope that helps...

Devlin · Sep 9, 2015

I'm going to go with 40lbs of live sand. So I should just rinse it good before putting it in my tank? Going to get my saltwater pre mixed from my lfs. Was planning to just add the water I take out from the old tank at the end right before I add my fish back. I'm set up to make it happen. Just not knowledgeable on what I should add to help prevent a major cycle when its done.

Devlin · Sep 9, 2015

XocyrusX said:
I had to do the same thing when breaking down my 150 to sell and put in my IM 30GL frag tank. What I did was get large rubber made storage containers as a holding. Heater air stone in there while I slid the new one over in its spot and filled it up. I mixed up all of the new water. My whole new setup was almost completely built when I did this. While in the holding tub I switched over the last equipment. Hope that helps...

Thanks

Reduck · Sep 9, 2015

Devlin said:
I'm going to go with 40lbs of live sand. So I should just rinse it good before putting it in my tank? Going to get my saltwater pre mixed from my lfs. Was planning to just add the water I take out from the old tank at the end right before I add my fish back. I'm set up to make it happen. Just not knowledgeable on what I should add to help prevent a major cycle when its done.

Using live wet sand, no, don't rinse it. Even with premixed fresh sw, I'd still test your small tank and try to get the fresh as close as you can. Get a bottle of your favorite bacterial additive to kick start the fresh sw, like Stablity or MicroBac7.

Devlin · Sep 9, 2015

This is a little bit better pic from my phone. I have too many fish and coral for the 15g. Also 2 seahorses that are literally the most aggressive thing in my tank. I got them not knowing I couldn't have some of the fish I have in my tank. But they have been in for 4 months and doing great so I'm going to stay with what I have. I got some real nice acans in 2 weeks ago from rare reef. Y'all should check the site out. He doesn't have much left. But the deals are better than any site I've seen.

Devlin · Sep 9, 2015

Reduck said:
Using live wet sand, no, don't rinse it. Even with premixed fresh sw, I'd still test your small tank and try to get the fresh as close as you can. Get a bottle of your favorite bacterial additive to kick start the fresh sw, like Stablity or MicroBac7.

Thanks for the pointers. I'll post pics in a couple weeks from a better camera when its done.

Virtualbasil · Sep 9, 2015

I think a 50 gallon brute would be a bit large ... maybe three 5 gallon buckets?

Devlin · Sep 9, 2015

I've got another 15g tank I'm going to just move the live rock and everything into. Then transfer it to my 40 gallon.

XocyrusX · Sep 9, 2015

I always liked using the plastic 20 or so gallon storage tubs since they have lids and handles they are large bottom space for corals and rocks plus they can store all the extra fish stuff I have laying around. We all know we have a lot laying around

Reduck · Sep 10, 2015

Virtualbasil said:
I think a 50 gallon brute would be a bit large ... maybe three 5 gallon buckets?

Yep. 5g buckets will work too. They make smaller brutes too, not just 50s. I have and use 20g brutes for my wc.

Devlin · Sep 10, 2015

My 40 gallon will be here by Wednesday. Going to get it all set up Saturday before the LSU game. Sand extra rock and water going to be picked up at 10 Saturday morning. Wish me luck. Say a prayer if you're religious. I'm going to need it. LOL!

Reduck · Sep 10, 2015

Good luck!

Virtualbasil · Sep 10, 2015

ya trash cans are way easy to carry since you can use both arms, or you can put it on like a little dolly

chadrab50 · Sep 11, 2015

I just made an upgrade from the 29g Biocube to the 40g Nuvo 2 weeks ago after about a month of planning. You can do as much planning as you want but it's still a slow process. I just 1 20g brute trash can and 5g buckets. 1 bucket had only water and LR, 1 bucket for fish, and then I separated corals out so they wouldn't sting each other in different small contain. I daisy chain an air pump going for the containers with fish and coral in them. You shouldn't have a problem using your old sand plus new sand since your old sand is only a small footprint compared to all the new sand u will need. From 14g to 40g will obviously be mostly new sand so be prepared for a diatoms algae bloom within a week. I did not get my fish and coral in the new tank until the next evening because I didn't want there to be cloudy water when I re introduced everything. They tank is awesome, you'll love it! You will absolutely need an ATO though unless you don't mind added RODI water pretty much everyday, it's veryyy sensitive before micro bubbles start coming out of the return. Best of Luck!

chadrab50 · Sep 11, 2015

Sorry for such a long post lol

Devlin · Sep 11, 2015

chadrab50 said:
Sorry for such a long post lol

Good to know. Appreciate the info. I got with my LFS. He's going to give me 30g of cycled water. Going to used what I can of mine as well. Have everything planned as best as possible. Going to go with 40lbs of live sand. My tank now doesn't have live sand. Going to get about 6lbs of live rock as well to add to what I have already. Add microbacter7. And hope for the best.