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Pre-Tank Transfer - need advice (: no idea what'm doing.


anizato

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Hey everybody,

 

I will be transferring my 50 gallon tank (running since Oct 2014) to a Red Sea Reefer 350 (ordering soon).

We want to ditch the old tank and with it, the sand as well. but don't know how many # (pounds) would be enough. 3 or 4 20# bags?

 

There's approx 40# of Live Rock and I will be adding 2 Marine Pure Ceramic Plates (already have one in the tank now)

 

 

What would you suggest to be a proper way to do this? This is what I was thinking. Suggestions are needed.

 

I have no clue what to do.

 

i have 5 fish. 2 Leopard Wrasse, 2 Clown and 1 lawnmower. 4 BTAs. What do I do with them? when do I put the rocks in the new tank? do I just put new saltwater into the new tank and put the Live Rock/Sand in there and drip the fish or just put them in?? What about the anemones?? they are all on LR.

Do I clean the New Tank with something before adding the new water?

 

Sorry about all the questions but I would really appreciate the help. As you can tell, I really have no Idea what I am doing and need help to solve this as I do not want to lose any one of my friends, thank you.

 

Happy Reefing!

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If you will detail your movement between tanks with pics I'll link it

this has been common thread lately, how to access sandbeds and live animals with no recycle

 

 

This covers an opinion on what to do with new sand if you start fresh

http://reef2reef.com/threads/the-official-sand-rinse-thread-aka-one-against-many.230281/

Care tip from two recent tank move thread details that went wrong:

 

If current live rock is clean and porous, no harm. If it's packed full of detritus, placing it in holding buckets can cause it to cycle some ammonia briefly and kill or stress things in the same bin. Hold fish in their own container. Have a non API ammonia test ready for this job, test the rocks and cleaned sand before re entry. Salifert is tops, Hanna, not API. It will mislead nearly always.

 

Incomplete rinse

Recent poster didn't have enough water made to allow full sandbed rinse, upon setup a small ammonia cloud made some problems

 

Contrasted against full rinse examples where no death occurs, ideally coming from tanks that weren't storing waste in the first place.

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Can't help with how much sand you'll need, but for the transfer.

 

Are you putting the new tank where the old one is (does the old one have to go before you can setup the new)?

 

If not then setup the new system, get it salty and warm and slowly move stuff over, stock shouldn't mind to much as long as temp, salinity and PH match, it will just be like a 100% water change. Be ready to remove extra water as rock displaces it (save it for your first water change).

 

If the old tank has to go, get a large storage box/vat and fill it with your current tank water and stock with a heater and something to create water movement (power head/air stone etc) and if it's going to be there a few days maybe set your lights over it for any coral/nems. This will allow you to swap tanks over. Then once temp, salinity and PH are stable transfer to the new tank as above.

 

You say you intend to ditch the sand, save or transfer a cup full into the new tank to help seed the new sand bed (not essential but won't hurt either).

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As Brandon has pointed out, if your current rock is full of crap, shake it out well in the old tank before transferring it/putting it in the holding tank and possibly use a second tank for your live stock if your holding it in buckets for a day or 2.

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We want to ditch the old tank and with it, the sand as well. but don't know how many # (pounds) would be enough. 3 or 4 20# bags?

 

 

Marinedepot has a nice little tool that lets you pick the tank size, the grain size, and then how deep you want the bed, and then tells you how many bags you need to achieve that.

 

 

I have no clue what to do.

 

 

i have 5 fish. 2 Leopard Wrasse, 2 Clown and 1 lawnmower. 4 BTAs. What do I do with them? when do I put the rocks in the new tank? do I just put new saltwater into the new tank and put the Live Rock/Sand in there and drip the fish or just put them in?? What about the anemones?? they are all on LR.

Do I clean the New Tank with something before adding the new water?

 

 

I've transferred tanks many times and I'll share what I do, but can't say it's the best way. But it's always worked for me.

 

Begin by cleaning out the new tank with something non-chemical like vinegar or rubbing alcohol. The benefit of alcohol to me is that it doesn't small horrible (to me) and it evaporates very quickly and will also kill critters.

 

Now fill it with your new sand and maybe 1/2 or more with new mixed saltwater and all your mechanical stuff.

 

Get some buckets, styrofoam boxes, or plastic/rubber totes.

 

First I try to catch any fish that are extra tame and easily caught and place them in the buckets with existing tank water.

 

Next I start taking out live rock. Start from the top and take carefully. The goal is to make it easier to catch livestock and preserve coral without crushing your pets.

 

Place these items in existing tank water. If you are short of water use something like newspaper to keep them wet.

 

Whenever you can catch fish, do so. Keep getting what live creatures you can out of the tank.

 

Remove the last rock and that last fish that was hiding under the rock.

 

*NOTE: I use separate totes for rock with corals and nems and rocks without growth.

 

Place the live rock and rocks with corals into the new tank and arrange how you would like and then fill the rest of the way with water from the existing tank.

 

Reacclimate the fish and inverts like you just bought them. Then place in the new tank.

 

 

*Note: If the tank is going in the same place, Just skip the pre-fill portion, get some airstones for the containers with lifestock since it will take longer for the 2nd half of the transfer.

 

That's it. GL

As Brandon has pointed out, if your current rock is full of crap, shake it out well in the old tank before transferring it/putting it in the holding tank and possibly use a second tank for your live stock if your holding it in buckets for a day or 2.

 

If you have any type of mild infestation it's also a good opportunity to dip your corals at the same time.

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Can't help with how much sand you'll need, but for the transfer.

 

Are you putting the new tank where the old one is (does the old one have to go before you can setup the new)?

 

If not then setup the new system, get it salty and warm and slowly move stuff over, stock shouldn't mind to much as long as temp, salinity and PH match, it will just be like a 100% water change. Be ready to remove extra water as rock displaces it (save it for your first water change).

 

If the old tank has to go, get a large storage box/vat and fill it with your current tank water and stock with a heater and something to create water movement (power head/air stone etc) and if it's going to be there a few days maybe set your lights over it for any coral/nems. This will allow you to swap tanks over. Then once temp, salinity and PH are stable transfer to the new tank as above.

 

You say you intend to ditch the sand, save or transfer a cup full into the new tank to help seed the new sand bed (not essential but won't hurt either).

 

The tank will be going in the same spot.

 

I like the 100% water change idea... paints a doable image.

 

 

 

 

 

Marinedepot has a nice little tool that lets you pick the tank size, the grain size, and then how deep you want the bed, and then tells you how many bags you need to achieve that.

 

 

 

I've transferred tanks many times and I'll share what I do, but can't say it's the best way. But it's always worked for me.

 

Begin by cleaning out the new tank with something non-chemical like vinegar or rubbing alcohol. The benefit of alcohol to me is that it doesn't small horrible (to me) and it evaporates very quickly and will also kill critters.

 

Now fill it with your new sand and maybe 1/2 or more with new mixed saltwater and all your mechanical stuff.

 

Get some buckets, styrofoam boxes, or plastic/rubber totes.

 

First I try to catch any fish that are extra tame and easily caught and place them in the buckets with existing tank water.

 

Next I start taking out live rock. Start from the top and take carefully. The goal is to make it easier to catch livestock and preserve coral without crushing your pets.

 

Place these items in existing tank water. If you are short of water use something like newspaper to keep them wet.

 

Whenever you can catch fish, do so. Keep getting what live creatures you can out of the tank.

 

Remove the last rock and that last fish that was hiding under the rock.

 

*NOTE: I use separate totes for rock with corals and nems and rocks without growth.

 

Place the live rock and rocks with corals into the new tank and arrange how you would like and then fill the rest of the way with water from the existing tank.

 

Reacclimate the fish and inverts like you just bought them. Then place in the new tank.

 

 

*Note: If the tank is going in the same place, Just skip the pre-fill portion, get some airstones for the containers with lifestock since it will take longer for the 2nd half of the transfer.

 

That's it. GL

 

If you have any type of mild infestation it's also a good opportunity to dip your corals at the same time.

 

 

Great suggestions bud!

 

I will definitely consider it all when it comes down to it.

 

Fortunately i am pest free, so I don't need to dip anything.

 

Any ideas on how to catch the fish? Do you guys use any special techniques? or should I be fine with a regular net?

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I used 4 20lb bags in my 350 and I think its plenty. Also as a note I had a marine pure block in the sump for the first couple of weeks and it made a huge mess. It slowly disintegrated even though there was no noticeable vibration from any of the pumps.

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Any ideas on how to catch the fish? Do you guys use any special techniques? or should I be fine with a regular net?

 

A light feeding gets everyone swimming around and then net what you can at that time. That's the best way to start imo.

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gulfsurfer101

I've moved tanks probably more than anyone on this forum. Here's my disaster free recipe. All fish and coral go in a large tub or container while you swap the rock. If your rock is covered in coral then it goes in the tub too with a heater and powerhead. Now fill your tank 3/4 of the way into your entire system with all new water. Take your new dry sand, don't use that live bs, and rinse small portions about half a bucket or less until the runoff runs clear and dump it directly in your tank. Repeat. If you did it corectly it should fall like snow and your water will be clear by the time you dump your next bucket. After all your sand is in there take the rock out your old tank and transfer it in. Your system should be looking pretty full by now. Start it up. Wait an hour or two then add your fish then your coral and all your remaining rock from the bucket. Your done. I've gone from empty to sps and anemone filled tanks in under 12 hours doing it this way.

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the only thing that makes me cringe is all this talk about "rinsing the sand"

 

Is this purely for aesthetic reasons? so it doesn't look cloudy for a day or two? -despite the fact that the 2 (yes only 2) tanks I have set up never clouded up or anything. I poured the water carefully on the rock work to avoid moving any sand.

 

or,

is this really detrimental to the water quality?

 

also, hypothetical guys (haven't ordered the tank yet), if I don't rinse the sand AND it clouds the water, what are the possibilities of the coral and fish suffering from staying in "limbo" in the containers (with heater and pump) in between tanks while the dust settles in the display (2-3days)?

 

also, where does one get dry sand from? i have looked but don't know where to get white dry reef sand.

 

cheers everybody!

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the only thing that makes me cringe is all this talk about "rinsing the sand"

 

Is this purely for aesthetic reasons? so it doesn't look cloudy for a day or two? -despite the fact that the 2 (yes only 2) tanks I have set up never clouded up or anything. I poured the water carefully on the rock work to avoid moving any sand.

 

or,

is this really detrimental to the water quality?

 

 

As far as I'm aware there is no real detriment to water quality if it's new sand, if it's used/second hand sand you ideally want to rinse all the waste out of it that can cause a hard cycle as when you dump it in it releases all the crud and causes an ammonia spike.

If your careful adding the water like you have been and I was, your right, you don't get a cloudy tank until something stirs up the sand, even then it's not much and it goes with time, it won't cause any harm (I had a cloudy tank for 3 days after adding a pair of diamond gobies, the tank had been running 6 months, they stirred things up good lol). Just run filter wool to clear the fine sand faster.

 

 

 

also, hypothetical guys (haven't ordered the tank yet), if I don't rinse the sand AND it clouds the water, what are the possibilities of the coral and fish suffering from staying in "limbo" in the containers (with heater and pump) in between tanks while the dust settles in the display (2-3days)?

 

 

As I first described, if you have heat and flow (and light for coral) in your holding tanks you can keep things in there indefinitely providing your keeping on top of water quality. I had a load of coral stock in a plastic tub in my garage for a month, I'd cured my new LR in it and as I had a filefish nipping the coral before I transferred to my current tank I chucked it in there under a PAR 38 and it did fine. The stock then lived in the new tanks sump for another month while the LR recycled in the display as some of it had been left out of water while I built the scape and I got a really hard cycle off it.

 

 

 

also, where does one get dry sand from? i have looked but don't know where to get white dry reef sand.

 

 

Most LFS sell crushed coral sand by the bag, over here in the UK I can get 5-25kg bags or order it by the kg off ebay etc. Never bothered with 'live' sand, it livens up plenty quick enough off your LR.

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Awesome reply Benny!

 

So guys check it out... I am asking the wife " so babe I will start to look for the hippo tang, since it has to be a baby for it to fit into the 70 gallon for at least 4-5 years before we must upgrade or give him away" ... i expected a simple "ok" .. but instead i got:

"70 gallon? I thought we were getting the 90 gallon so we could have a happier blue tang for longer before we needed to upgrade, I won't give up my friends"... i was like :o:blink::haha::wub:omgomgomg:haha:

 

of course i was excited but wanted to consult with you fellas before.

 

would you go for the 450 (90 gallon) over the 350 (70 gallon) ?

 

what would my hypothetical scenario be if i were to get the 450? I mean, I obviously need more Rockwork,and how much? and will need to cycle more rock for it! :excl: ...will it mean I will have to cycle rock before I can get it up and running, :happydance: or could i have it run with the current situation while i separately cycle some rock and then add it, :wizard: or is it better to just cycle rock, and hold off on getting the tank until the rock is cycled? :scarry:

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Hey everybody,

 

I will be transferring my 50 gallon tank (running since Oct 2014) to a Red Sea Reefer 350 (ordering soon).

We want to ditch the old tank and with it, the sand as well. but don't know how many # (pounds) would be enough. 3 or 4 20# bags?

 

There's approx 40# of Live Rock and I will be adding 2 Marine Pure Ceramic Plates (already have one in the tank now)

 

 

What would you suggest to be a proper way to do this? This is what I was thinking. Suggestions are needed.

 

I have no clue what to do.

 

i have 5 fish. 2 Leopard Wrasse, 2 Clown and 1 lawnmower. 4 BTAs. What do I do with them? when do I put the rocks in the new tank? do I just put new saltwater into the new tank and put the Live Rock/Sand in there and drip the fish or just put them in?? What about the anemones?? they are all on LR.

Do I clean the New Tank with something before adding the new water?

 

Sorry about all the questions but I would really appreciate the help. As you can tell, I really have no Idea what I am doing and need help to solve this as I do not want to lose any one of my friends, thank you.

 

Happy Reefing!

 

Holy cow! I am transferring my 45g AIO to a reefer 350 as well! The tank is now in the house so I will be following along :)

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Holy cow! I am transferring my 45g AIO to a reefer 350 as well! The tank is now in the house so I will be following along :)

 

 

cool! will you be making a thread for the 350?

 

As you can see, I am now debating between the 350 and the 450... decisions...

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cool! will you be making a thread for the 350?

 

As you can see, I am now debating between the 350 and the 450... decisions...

 

Yeah, will be making a thread. Got a deal with amazing equipment... So much extras! Haha.

 

If you are considering 450, go 425 or 525 and get some width to work with.

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Excellent news about the co-operative wife lol, just tell her bigger is better generally lol.

 

You will be able to run a larger tank with your current rock and stock as long as you like really.

It'll just look a bit empty.

You can either get dry rock from some where like BRS to add to the system (from what I've read on this forum this shouldn't cause any ill effects and just become live over time seeded by you current rock), or get rock from you LFS or someone breaking down a system. If it's fully cured you can just drop it in no issues, if it's uncured or been out of water for a while either add very small amounts over a few weeks so you don't get a dangerous ammonia spike, or run one of your holding vats with a heater, flow and a bit of your current rock and allow it to cycle for a few weeks before adding it.

 

Doing this over time saves you having to layout a lot of money upfront/all at once for the extra rock and also gives you the opportunity to cherry pick nice and interesting shaped pieces to give you a really cool scape.

 

I'd had my new tank in the garage for a while as I had to do some work on it as it was a second hand bargain and I was able to find the perfect rock for the scape I had in mind stupidly cheap on ebay. I had it couriered to me and recurred it in my garage for a few months before I was ready to move the new tank into the house. This worked out really well as I had the space to keep the rock before I had the tank setup, however there is no reason why you can't do the same in reverse and set the tank up and then add rock as you find it.

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wow great ideas!

 

I am excited about the 425xl. it is just 3 inches wider, but I consider it worth it. Its only $350 bucks more ...so whatever :wizard: In terms of Display water volume it is only 7gallons more that the 350. I like the idea of the depth so I am sold on this XL series over the regular Reefers.

I should mention I really want to keep a Hippo Tang. :owned: The 525xl I think is too long I think, but I have seen happy Dorys in 90gallon tanks. The 525xl is about 108gallon display, but $800 more expensive than the 350. lots of cash! :scarry:

what do you guys think?

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wow great ideas!

 

I am excited about the 425xl. it is just 3 inches wider, but I consider it worth it. Its only $350 bucks more ...so whatever :wizard: In terms of Display water volume it is only 7gallons more that the 350. I like the idea of the depth so I am sold on this XL series over the regular Reefers.

I should mention I really want to keep a Hippo Tang. :owned: The 525xl I think is too long I think, but I have seen happy Dorys in 90gallon tanks. The 525xl is about 108gallon display, but $800 more expensive than the 350. lots of cash! :scarry:

what do you guys think?

The 425xl has some pretty awesome dimensions but I'm a big fan of the 450 and that 60" long tank. Either way you decide you will give yourself plenty of room for some great aquascaping and swimming space for fish. I'm sure you can find a nice baby hippo tang that will take many years to outgrow either one. I just purchased my first Tomini Tang, no bigger than my female ocellaris, and was so excited to finally get one so I understand the desire for that tang.

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buuuu the 525xl would have been beyond EPIC! unfortunately, not only is it $1000 more than the 350 I initially intended, it is $500 more than the 425xl. BUT I need another light fixture $400, and I need a larger return pump $200, and I also need another powerhead $300. So it is not the time for that, since I can run the 425xl perfectly with the current equipment I own.

I spoke to BRS and they'll have the Reefer XL Series in stock on March 2nd. So there is plenty of time to plan it out. Looking forward to March 2nd!

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So in retrospect I think I am going to get more Dry Rock and cure it meanwhile along with the the MarinePure Ceramic plate ( it would be the 2nd plate in the system), so they can be ready for when the tank arrives.

 

Where should I get the rock from?

What type of rock and what shapes do you recommend?

 

The rocks I currently have in the tank where cured in a black bin with the heater and pumps and also the lid on for the entire time. I had a huge algae problem for like 6 months, gunklike algae. Gross. Corals where stunted and overthrown. The conquest was won until I added GFO reactor and the algae started to die off. Problem is, some SPS lost their intense colors, sorta bleached a little, I attribute this discoloration to the more-pristine-than-before water quality, low nutrients, but I have nontest kit to figure this out, but sice nothing else in the tank has changed...

 

How would you cycle this rock+ceramic plate? Should I add light this time, or simply dont do it in the utter darkness? What do you suggest?

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My vote is for haitian rock if you can get it where you live for a decent price. The stuff is super dense and usually is pretty flat which is great for making shelves and walls to place coral on. I'd cycle in the darkness unless you want to grow a lot more algae than normal for the cycle.

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