Tank Transfer

[cbandotho]

I am planning a tank transfer in the next week if possible. [i am sure there will be a couple questions about plumbing before I am done]. But in the meantime...

 

I am planning on moving my current sand and live rock to the new set up and then adding some dry rock and more sand...I am moving from a 34g with no sump to an 80g with a sump so there will be a lot more water, sand and rock. (I know, not really a nano)

 

I have a 20long to hold the livestock in while I set the new tank up. How long do I need to wait to put everything in?

 

Does the tank need to cycle like a new tank? Is there a way to make it a quick transfer?

 

Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[goose240]

interested too.

[jeffblly]

Do you plan to keep the rock out of water?

 

Get rid of most of your sand and start fresh (keep a small amount to seed the new stuff) but the dry rock and new rock should not have a big cycle if one at all. I would wait a couple of days to test and if tests are ok then you should be good to go.

 

When I moved I did not have time so I just bought dry sand and pre mixed water and threw everything in the tank just making sure the temp was consistent. The only problem I had was not getting the tank set up in time and one of my corals nuked a bucket and I lost everything in the bucket.

[cbandotho]

Do you plan to keep the rock out of water?

 

That is the plan I am putting together right now.

 

I have the 20g to hold the rock that has corals attached and the other livestock. I could keep the other liverock in a bucket if I needed to. I was planning on moving it to the new tank as soon as I could.

 

How much current sand do I need to "seed" the new sand?

[1fishmonger]

That is the plan I am putting together right now.

 

I have the 20g to hold the rock that has corals attached and the other livestock. I could keep the other liverock in a bucket if I needed to. I was planning on moving it to the new tank as soon as I could.

 

How much current sand do I need to "seed" the new sand?

 

 

Only need a few cups to seed it. If the sand has been in the current tank for less than 4 months, I'd still use it. Probably not enough junk to cause a spike but to be safe, use all new sand and just a few cups of the old. even a top layer would be good. If possible, move over the LR and set up the sand first. Wait a week if you can until adding the livestock. I've done tank transfers all in one day that have gone well with no casualties so far but it's a little intense as you really have no room for error. LR goes in with all new sand (that went in the night before) and acclimating the fish takes place immediately while you do your rockscape. Leaving the LR out of water for any amount of time will cause a dieoff that may lead to a nitrate spike. Keep them submerged in heated, circulating water as much as possible.

[xJIMx]

I'm also interested in this ? Iv asked lfs and keep getting different answers. I have 3 biocube 29's 1 setup and good for 9 monthes now.the other 2 sitting there in the boxes . I started with 30 pounds of live rock and 40 pound bag of live sand. I now have double or more live rock in there. Not much room left. I pick up live rock when I see a piece I like knowing I would set up another tank soon. I want to use half of the live rock , sand , and water in a new biocube hqi that will be in the same room. But not sure of the details of how to do the transfer without hurting anything in my original tank . Any advice would be appreciated

[1fishmonger]

Few important things to sum it all up:

 

0. I like to use all new water just so you can still have the old set up running while you do the transfer. Allows you to be more gradual with moving LR, fish, corals over.

1. Use all new sand and a few cups of your old sand to seed it.

2. Move LR over first and let sit as long as possible. Week or two would be best. Do not leave LR sitting out for longer than 15-20 minutes. You can, but the longer it sits out of water the more die off you'll have.

3. Transfer livestock and be ready to do water changes to cope for the chemical imbalances. If you can do only a few fish into the new tank at a time, even better.

 

I'm in the middle of a 6th tank transfer and so far I've had no casualties. No corals or fish dying from a tank transfer. Tanks have ranged from 10g to 200g. Good luck

[xJIMx]

Thanx fishmonger

[cbandotho]

This is all very helpful, thanks.

 

I can get the new set up going before I start the transfer, although I will obvisouly need the rock but I can move it right over.

 

I have had the sand for over a year and it is on top of even older sand so it sounds like a good idea to replace it.

 

At some point, I will have three tanks up and running in my living room (a very small living room). Is there a way to do the transfer more quickly while taking the least risk? If it helps to know, I do not have any SPS. I have 3 fish a bunch of zoas, an anenome, some LPS and some softies.

 

 

Few important things to sum it all up:

 

0. I like to use all new water just so you can still have the old set up running while you do the transfer. Allows you to be more gradual with moving LR, fish, corals over.

1. Use all new sand and a few cups of your old sand to seed it.

2. Move LR over first and let sit as long as possible. Week or two would be best. Do not leave LR sitting out for longer than 15-20 minutes. You can, but the longer it sits out of water the more die off you'll have.

3. Transfer livestock and be ready to do water changes to cope for the chemical imbalances. If you can do only a few fish into the new tank at a time, even better.

 

I'm in the middle of a 6th tank transfer and so far I've had no casualties. No corals or fish dying from a tank transfer. Tanks have ranged from 10g to 200g. Good luck

[SquishyFishy]

Im resurrecting this thread because my IMNuvo 16 cracked this morning and this is my first transfer.

 

Waiting right now for hubby to get home with the new BioCube 29 and stand. Fish and coral are waiting in the 2 containers with about 10 gal. of the old water, heated and circulated. LR was only out long enough to transfer to the buckets. Everybody seems fine, the sexies have found the nems and the nems have stayed put. Just don't have sufficient light on them, but not worried about that, as we hope to make the transfer in about 2 hrs if all goes well with the set up. I plan on following the advice above and new sand with a couple cups of the old sand, then new water up to 20 gals or less, then scape with my old LR on which all the corals are on, while syphoning part of the old water into new tank. Will then let system run for a while to get temp up and transfer the fish. Is this correct procedure. This seems so tedious...I'm really nervous.

 

Please help!

[GokesReef]

Seems like you've got it figured out.. not a lot to do. Add sand, rock, water to the BC, bring it up to temp, then add the livestock.

 

I wouldn't expect any problems - good luck!

 

Only note is I would probably make a batch of fresh saltwater to fill the BC, because I'm lazy like that and it would be easier than trying to keep a variety of buckets full.

[amphipod]

Make sure parameters in bucket and new tank are extremely similar and temperatures are the same

[SquishyFishy]

Success, so far only one nem is on walkabout and all coral are open for business, will be checking the numbers for a week or so.

[amphipod]

Lookin good