New to the site and need some advise :)

[NYR33FER]

Hello fellow reefers!I'm new to this site but I have been a reefer for years.I was hoping I could get some helpful advise from some fellow reefers.
I currently have a 90 gallon reef tank with a 30 gallon sump that has been up n running for 4 years now.As years went by and my livestock has grown I finally decided to upgrade. I ordered 180 gallon"custom made" tank and it has been cycling for 2 months now.I'm at the end of the nitrogen cycle,my levels have "leveled out" and my diatoms are starting to leave.My goal is to transfer all my livestock from my 90 gallon to the 180 gallon without losing any livestock.I've heard many ways and theory's on how to go about doing this without the loss of life.I really want to do this right.I don't have many fish,mostly corals and shrimp.I understand that this is a delicate situation and will stress "everyone" out no matter how I do it.So my question is,should I; transfer all the water that in the sump and display from my 90 gallon to the new 180 gallon tank..(I'm concerned that this might create a problem with the water chemistry in the newly cycled tank) or should I wait another month and during that time introduce the corals little by little (3 or 4 corals a week)with adding only a fraction of the old water to the tank little by little?I know that beneficial bateria is in the old water and will only help stabilize my new tank..I'm just worried it might "mini cycle" and kill everybody.Any advise would be highly appreciated and thanks for listening.

 

[fishman1069]

Welcome to MR!
I just recently upgraded from a 20 gal to a 125. I had the rock cycling for a couple of months I'm a brute garbage pail. I set up the 125 with that rock and waited a week. In one day, I took all the rock and coral and transfered them over. I didn't use any water from the 20. I made sure my SG, temp and alk in the 125 where as close as possible to the 20. Everything survived and is thriving with all the extra room. I hope this helps. Good luck and post some pics when you're done :beer:

 

[NYR33FER]

Thanks for the warm welcome.Wow that's a big jump 20gallon to 125gallon and no loss of life.That's great!Well I'm going to wait another 2 weeks to gain some more beneficial bacteria to the new tank,as well as make sure all my diatoms are gone.But you have given me hope to make this transfer quick and easy.I really need to make this transfer soon.Running 2 tanks..my electric bill is reminding me how expensive this hobby could be...lol.But thanks for the advise and as soon as I transfer them I'll be sure to put some pictures up.Thanks again.

 

[edd]

welcome to mr.
you should be feeding bacteria in 180, or better to add a couple of fish.
bacteria needs food to multiply.

 

[prezzi]

welcome

 

[NYR33FER]

Thanks for the warm welcome prezzi

 

[BaaMNYC]

Welcome!!

Are you transferring all the lr in your 90 to the 180? If you are then you will be fine with the beneficial bacteria IME.I personally would transfer 90% of the water. That way it would be like a 50% water change as opposed to going into a whole new environment.

I did a transfer from a 55 to 110 but that 55 was a fowler tank. Everything survived.

Only based on my experience.

 

[NYR33FER]

thanks for the warm welcome...I do have 140lbs of live rock in the 180.I plan on having the 160 lbs of live rock from my 90 in the 180 as well.I cured the new live rock for 2 months in a plastic bin..once the ammonia read 0,I then added it to the 180.So the 180 tank has been cycling for a total 2 months with the fully cured live rock.I did a the cycle without fish.I did drop .5 lbs of raw shrimp to start the nitrogen cycle though.Like i said in my previous post,all my levels are leveling out..my ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 ph 8.4 and my nitrate is now reading 10ppm and my diatoms are starting to leave.Thanks for the advise..

 

[BaaMNYC]

Well the reason why I asked about the lr from the 90 because that rock has the beneficial bacteria established to handle the bio load.

 

[NYR33FER]

Yeah a few people outside M.R told me to do this..I'm just worried that it will mess up my water chemistry and possibly result in a mini cycle.I would be adding beneficial bacteria "yes" but I would also be adding nitrate as well..and with a newly established tank I'm worried.I wouldn't be so worried if I was upgrading from my 90 to a 125..but I'm doubling the volume of water and the concern of not having enough beneficial bacteria present in the new tank while piling on the bio load could result in a mini cycle.Thanks though..more food for thought...

 

[piranhapat]

Welcome, I agree with BaaMNYC. By putting in your 90 gallon water to your new set up. Would of been a more stable environment for your fish. Since that water is where your fish been living. The other half of fresh mix will only help the mature water put back the elements that are missing. It would save you time and less cycling. Especially you have 160 pounds of LR from your 90. I would of slowly add the other LR to the new tank. All you are doing is making your tank bigger with your establish tank. Which has plenty of bacteria. Now you are more likely to go through break in cycle of a new tank.

 

[NYR33FER]

Thanks for the advise guys...

 

[lnevo]

The water isnt going to contain that much bacteria. Most of it will be in the LR and sand. Make sure you continue to provide a food source for the bacteria in the new tank or you'll go through another cycle. Ghost feed it or start adding your fish.

 

[Spsnut]

WAter is such a small part of the transfer stress. I understand your cycling concerns, but changes in flow and lighting will also play a huge role. What animals will be transferred? Some may enjoy the move and others may not. I wouldn't transfer any old water, but if I were I would start transferring water now hoping to gradually equaliberate both tanks by moving water back and forth 10-20 gallons a day or so. I think your concerns about doing a 50% wc with old water are spot on. Cycle aside why would one want to dilute a tank with optimal trace elements with new water with old used water? If you've maintained optimal water quality in the old tank the concern would be far less. If you can afford the time transfer things slowly. You will be disturbing your old tank, so keep your finger on the trigger and be ready to move things at once if the old tank looks like it may go south. Stirring up stored nutrients could cause big problems.

 

[prattreef]

I think you will be fine. As long as the new system is fully cycled --and it sounds like it is--you really should not have any problems. My biggest concerns would be making sure the salinity and temp. are very close between the 2 systems. I tend to use a significant portion of the old tank water since everything is used to it, but again, I think you will be fine either way. I would recommend a big bucket filled with old tank water to vigorously rinse off the old rocks you are going to move. You'll be amazed how much detritus will come off. I'd also carve out twice as much time in the day to do this than you think it is going to take. Acclimate the system to the new lights slowly and keep checking your parameters. Good luck and welcome to MR!

 

[NYR33FER]

Thanks guys for all the advice..I'm doing the move next weekend"next day off"..crossing my fingers. Thanks again for all the advice and the warm welcomes..

 

[piranhapat]

I saw your video and your present tank looks nice and clean. I can't tell you your water parameter. But if everything is where your levels should be. And your new tank has cycle. You will be fine. Like stated from Prattreef. Temp, salinity are most important. One of the reason I like using your present tank water. Either way is fine. Don't worry too much. If your worrying about Acclimating corals. You don't have to worry about quarantine and dipping them. I see you have soft corals. Which prefer slightly lower water quality than most. Which once again as mention by taking some of your present tank water might keeping a more balance from being to clean. Salinity to low cauess Xenia to melt and fall apart. Zoas will not open. So watch for some signs. Good luck.. Kept us posted.

 

[NYR33FER]

I would like to thank everyone again for their advice...Transfer successful...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eec7qejbiZM

 

[fishman1069]

Looks good man! Congrats on the upgrade :beer: The wall frogspawn should be fine. Just try not to mess with it too much