Tips For Moving Up With The Big Boys

ItalianSausage · 04-05-2008, 11:47 AM

Tomorrom I Am Buying A 150 Gallon Tank With Stand And Glass Tops For 150 Dollars. Sweet Deal. I Want To Combine My 45 Gallon Tank I Have Now Into It When Its Ready. So My Question Is How Do I Do This For The Safty Of All My Live Stock I Have Now. I Want To Use The Live Rock I Have In My Tank Now And Put It Into The New One. Will I Have To Put New Rock In There Now And Run It For A Couple Months. Iam Going With Eaither A 55 Or 75 Gallon As My Refugium. I Would Like To Hear Your Feedback.

Casanova1016 · 04-05-2008, 12:46 PM

well i bought my 150 used and set it back up within 3 days.

i had all the rock in water for 2 days w/powerhead
all the fish in a 10 gallon bucket with an air pump for 2 days/dosed amquel after the first day

the first night we setup the tank and added the sand and water(water came str8 from the big blue)

second day i added the rock

third day the fish and corals

everything was fine.

ItalianSausage · 04-05-2008, 05:03 PM

so adding over 100 gallons of new water will be okay. im going from a 45 to a 150.

psychographic · 04-05-2008, 06:05 PM

I don't see it being a problem as long as the water quality in the 45 is good. Are you planning to use a new substrate?

ItalianSausage · 04-05-2008, 06:48 PM

yes sand

psychographic · 04-05-2008, 07:25 PM

The only problem I would've seen is if you were going to try to keep your old sand. You would never be able to get all of the detritus out of it and it could cause a small cycle. Seeing as your going all new, you should be fine.

ItalianSausage · 04-05-2008, 07:41 PM

my other question is, will i be able to add alot of live rock in the new tank without causing any problems. probably a couple hundred pounds.

psychographic · 04-05-2008, 07:53 PM

Can you leave the 45 up and running while you get the 150 established?
If so I think you're best bet is to cure your rock in the 150, wait a couple of weeks after that and put the contents of the 45 into it.

ItalianSausage · 04-05-2008, 08:02 PM

i can, thats what i was thinking let it run then start adding.its going to be a big move cant wait ill start to take pictures as i start the project. just working on a light setup. not sure if i should go with mh or t5. wobblegong might have talked me into t5's.

ItalianSausage · 04-05-2008, 08:09 PM

psyco, in that tread you were in about making our own live rock how did you make that stalks in the picture i want to put 3 or 4 of those on the tank they are pretty cool

psychographic · 04-05-2008, 08:10 PM

Don't let Larry fool you, he really uses modified Kerosene Lamps on his tank.

psychographic · 04-05-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianSausage

psyco, in that tread you were in about making our own live rock how did you make that stalks in the picture i want to put 3 or 4 of those on the tank they are pretty cool

When you mix the Portland, you keep it a little on the dry side. I just shaped it that way on a board covered with a garbage bag a handfull at a time. The cement wont stick to the bag. The other cool thing about doing it on a board is the flat bottom for stability when you put it in the tank.

mheaven · 04-05-2008, 09:49 PM

I think you should set up the 150 cycle it for at least 8 weeks , then you shouldnt have a problem. Thats how i did the move of my tank. The only diff is i let it cycle for 12 weeks. Corals & fish were all fine , no loss.I down graded from a 72 bow to a 33 cube.

psychographic · 04-05-2008, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mheaven

I think you should set up the 150 cycle it for at least 8 weeks , then you shouldnt have a problem. Thats how i did the move of my tank. The only diff is i let it cycle for 12 weeks. Corals & fish were all fine , no loss.I down graded from a 72 bow to a 33 cube.

If you had rock that was established in your 72 to put in the 33, why would you wait 12 weeks to add the fish and coral?

Casanova1016 · 04-05-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItalianSausage

my other question is, will i be able to add alot of live rock in the new tank without causing any problems. probably a couple hundred pounds.

as long as the live rock is cured you shouldnt have a problem...if it has any die off you will have trouble

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychographic

The only problem I would've seen is if you were going to try to keep your old sand. You would never be able to get all of the detritus out of it and it could cause a small cycle. Seeing as your going all new, you should be fine.

change the substrate just make sure its live sand dont risk a mini cycle

ItalianSausage · 04-06-2008, 12:57 AM

im sure the live rock will be some what cured but not fully. so i will diffently let it cycle for awhile. better safe then sorry. should i go with metal halides or t5's.

mheaven · 04-06-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychographic

If you had rock that was established in your 72 to put in the 33, why would you wait 12 weeks to add the fish and coral?

It was all new rock. it wouldnt have to cure at all if i was just moving rock.

ItalianSausage · 04-06-2008, 08:35 PM

i got the tank and the sucker is huge. huge to me at least. will start setting it up this week. im going to be adding a deep sand bed this time around.