advice to help prevent a cycle in a tank move
 

Im upgrading tanks from 75 gal to 180. Im planning on picking up the 180 which is stocked and 5 hours away then once home tearing down my 75 and transferring both systems into the 180. I will set up a temporary home for the livestock while waiting for me to do everything. If i keep the rock and sand in tank water and in the cab for the move so not too cold would i be able to re use everything and keep from having a cycle. theres also a refugium with sand so it would probably be left undisturbed and re used.

Do not reuse the sane, if you have to clean it thouroughly.

reuse as much as the old water as possible

Stability or start up (prodibio) would help keep the ammonia in check.

Safe Travel (Prodibio) would work, but don't think it is avalable to us.

Im no expert but from what ive read its the sand thats the problem,stirring up the sand will release nitrates and gasses and create a spike.most ppl start with new or cleaned and thorough rinsed sand.

Like BWA stated if you have to reuse the sand THOUROUGHLY clean the sand. I have done this a couple time's with about 30 lbs of sand, it takes a long time to do it properly. I used a large fish net and only did 2 cups at a time under very hot water.

+1 on the sand. Some good info here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/lrshippingfaqs.htm

Is the 180 going in the same place as the 75 was?

before you start tearing anything out or disturbing anything too much suck out as much water as possible and store it to use in the next tank.
And yes either start with fresh sand or super clean yours. You can sell a few handfuls of your sand to others as Live sand to help seed a system. You can also put a small amount back in your tank to help seed or re seed your sandbed. :)

+1 for WetWebMedia.com !!!!

Do a search of only the site for "moving live sand"

I personally feel moving an old sand bed is dangerous as there's always a lot of die off with corresponding cycle...

You could buy non-live sand (clean) and seed it from the old sand (take a few cups over)... but,

in the end it's all about patience........................

Bunny >:-)

Yep tank cycles even on a smaller scale seem to be inevitable.

thanks everyone, ill go the route of new sand and seed with a bit of mine,

yes the new tank is going in the same spot of the 75 so i got to do everything at once - itll be a busy weekend.

I hope my manderine dragonnet finds enough food off the rocks and im not taking what he eats away.