Moving to a bigger tank, need advice!!!

[Acronuts1]

Well guys I want to make a move to a bigger tank. From a 125g to a 180g. Probably and most likely the biggest and final one for this lifetime! Actually, with the space I have in the room and a great opportunity at a lfs, ITS TIME!

I will be using some of the equipment from the old system like:



3- 250 mh radiums running galaxy ballasts

Plenty of super bright LED’s

6 Korallia power heads





The new tank will be 72x24x24, It will have 2 built-in over flows with a return from each.



The new sump is 4 feet in length with enough space for media and a possible sand bed. A Gen X pcx-100 will run the show.

I need some advice as to the following:



1. As far as the corals what do I need to watch out for when making the transfer?

a. How long can the corals be without lights?

b. How long can they remain in a vat with just water circulation?

c. While in the vat should I continue to run the ca reactor?



2. Water wise how much of the old water should I keep?

a. Do I need to add any additives like “good bacteria” ones when you cycle a tank for the 1st time?



2. I will be adding some more cured live rock,

a. How many lbs can I add without having to throw off water quality?

b. How soon will the next water change need to take place?



3. Do you guys feel that I should add the fish, live rock and then corals in that order?

Or will it not matter since I will be using enough water from the old system?



4. Is there a way to place the power heads to run in a certain pattern or should it run randomly?

Well this should be it for now. You guys can guide me on anything else I may have forgotten.

Thank you for your advice.

 

[Anonymous]

To make it easy on me I just bolded and colored my comments...

I need some advice as to the following:

1. As far as the corals what do I need to watch out for when making the transfer?
don't let anything get stung by another coral by letting them touch each other. I lost my duncans when I set up my latest tank. When I had the corals in a bucket while I transferred the sand and rock to the new tank it got stung by a torch coral that I had put next to it. The $10 torch fell over and stung the crap out of my prize duncans!

a. How long can the corals be without lights?
several days if you have lots of water, the water quality is kept up with changes and activated carbon

b. How long can they remain in a vat with just water circulation?
again, depends on the water volume (more being better) and if you run say a canister filter with AC you could go at least 24 hours

c. While in the vat should I continue to run the ca reactor?
I wouldn't think so


2. Water wise how much of the old water should I keep?
As much as you can-the more the better

a. Do I need to add any additives like “good bacteria” ones when you cycle a tank for the 1st time?
I wouldn't think so, that stuff is pretty much snake oil IME/IMhhhO


2. I will be adding some more cured live rock,

a. How many lbs can I add without having to throw off water quality?
Depends on the quality of the live rock and how long it's out of the water before you put it into the new tank. Handled right and using good stuff to begin with you can add as much as you want. If you try and use uncured or crappy rock in the new tank...well bad things will happen.

b. How soon will the next water change need to take place?
I'd check the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate every day and let that guide me.


3. Do you guys feel that I should add the fish, live rock and then corals in that order?

Gawd no! When I change tanks I transfer everything in one day-this isn't like a new tank setup where you wait for it to cycle. If you are quick, use most of the old water (sand too if your current tank has it) and live rock it won't spike. Put the fish in last when you transition the tanks. Otherwise you risk squashing them as you stack rock-they will freak in the new tank and try and hide in the rock.

To move a tank:
1. have containers ready, figure how many gallons they hold, how much original tank water you plan on using.
2. make new saltwater in excess of what you think you'll need!
3. PLAN PLAN PLAN! look on the board here , there are plenty of tank moving threads for good tips and advice.

On the day of:
Empty as much of the water from the new tank as you can into various containers, thinking ahead which ones for the fish, which ones for the corals, etc. I use large clean tupperware type food storage containers to put snails, hermits, shrimp, etc. into when I break a tank down as I find them. The large 24 gallon rubbermaid storage containers work well for rock. If you have sand, take it out and put it into the new tank.

My suggestions for moving to the new tank are :
1. sand (if you use it)with a little saltwater to keep it damp
2. aquascape rock
3. add old saltwater
4. coral-just place it temporarily for now, you may decide to change things. I usually just put the corals on the sand for the first few days until all the silt settles.
5. fish and inverts
6. drink beer and relax :wink:

4. Is there a way to place the power heads to run in a certain pattern or should it run randomly?

There are powerheads that can be hooked up to a wavemaker, look around. But, they are expensive! Otherwise just try and avoid laminar (one0way) flow. Turbulence is better for most corals.

Well this should be it for now. You guys can guide me on anything else I may have forgotten.

Thank you for your advice.
8) Anytime!

 

[sweet ride]

That is some good advice I will follow those advice accordingly as am moving my tank this week also.