Transferring a 3 week old 10 gallon tank to a 28 gallon nano cube

[findiesel]

I'll be transferring my 3 week old 10 gallon invert tank to a 28 gallon nano cube. 2 nassarius 2 margarita snails 1 peppermint shrimp and 1 emerald crab. I've got a few concerns about cycling in the new tank and reusing my live sand.

 

• I've heard not to reuse live sand but my sand is only 3 weeks old. would this still be ok to transfer to my new tank? do i transfer all my old water to my new tank also?

 

• if I use the same live sand and rock as i did in my 10 gallon, will it still need to cycle? if it doesnt is it ok to put in my inverts?

 

p.s. ive got about 7 lbs of live rock and about 25 lbs of live sand in my 10 gallon

 

Thanks!

 

[Bobyboy]

Your tank is so immature that you shouldn't have problems doing a 100% transfer, if your cycle is over then you shouldn't experience a new one.

[findiesel]

Your tank is so immature that you shouldn't have problems doing a 100% transfer, if your cycle is over then you shouldn't experience a new one.

yeah my 10 gallon has finished cycling but adding 20 gallons of new saltwater to my old saltwater wont start a new cycle? and just to make sure after the salinity and temp match is it safe to add my inverts? will my margarita snails be ok even though there wont be any algae on the new tank?

[Bobyboy]

A cycle only happens when there is mass die off, add new saltwater is essentially the same as doing a 75% water chabge

[jgaepi]

I am in a similar situation for this but I have an 8 week old tank. I probably will leave the sand behind. But is it worth scooping out a couple handfuls of the sand? I also started with miracle mud but I probably should avoid that entirely?

 

Will my Zoas & Palys on my live rock survive a transfer without water in there? Or should I:

A) Transfer about 5g into the new tank

Add another 10g of new water

C) Move the live rock

D) Pour in the new sand

E) Let the dust settle

F) Top up with the rest of the new water

 

Can I add in a 10p piece of dry rock along with the live rock. I am transferring about 14p of live rock but will want about 25p of total rock.

 

Thanks.

[jservedio]

I am in a similar situation for this but I have an 8 week old tank. I probably will leave the sand behind. But is it worth scooping out a couple handfuls of the sand? I also started with miracle mud but I probably should avoid that entirely?

 

Will my Zoas & Palys on my live rock survive a transfer without water in there? Or should I:

A) Transfer about 5g into the new tank

Add another 10g of new water

C) Move the live rock

D) Pour in the new sand

E) Let the dust settle

F) Top up with the rest of the new water

 

Can I add in a 10p piece of dry rock along with the live rock. I am transferring about 14p of live rock but will want about 25p of total rock.

 

Thanks.

 

With a young tank there is no reason not to reuse your sand. Empty some water into a bucket where you can put your LR and corals while your work and make sure you have enough SW mixed up to fill the entire new tank (that is temp, pH, and alk matched). After the corals and most water is out, stir up the sand to suspend and detritus then dump out all the water down the drain.Transfer the sand, trasnfer the live rock, then fill it back up with your new water. Almost all coral will be fine out of water for a couple hours. Don't reuse any water that has mixed up detritus in it - there is no reason you can't use 100% new water.

 

No you most likely can't add in a new large piece of live rock from the LFS without causing a cycle. Unless the rock is coming from a well established tank and has no die off, it'll cause a cycle. And no - the vat of LR at your LFS is not a mature system.

 

If you want more rock either use dry rock to add to your current rock or slowly add pieces of live rock a few pounds at a time after your tank has time to settle (like a month). If you don't like those options, put the rock you get from the LFS in a bucket with a powerhead and a heater and let it cycle - then add it to your tank.

[jgaepi]

If you want more rock either use dry rock

Dry rock is pretty much my plan. It at least allows me an opportunity to search around online for a really cool shape of dry rock. Then my live rock can seed it. My live is 75% bright purple. Bought that way from the LFS.