Advice for tank transfer?

[lastlight]

So I'm adding salt in a few hours to the new tank and I'll be getting those params all balanced out in the next day or so. I was wondering if my plan of attack is sound for the livestock transfer?

1) Don't plan to move any old water over. Bacteria are not in the water column but on the rocks. My thinking is that If I move my four rocks over into the new tank submerged in buckets there will be no die-off and everyone should be fine.

2) I have some new sand still I can toss in the new tank but not enough. I'd like to transfer my sandbed over too as only now is it starting to really develop a more diverse collection of critters in there. After my rock, fish and corals are out I was planning on just netting a bit of sand at a time, swishing it about in the water to remove detritus and putting it into the new tank. The sand is no more than 1" deep anywhere in the tank. I figure swishing it gently will preserve all the worms and pods in the sandbed.

3) Let the new tank run like this for a couple weeks and then add a new rock to the tank every week or so for maybe a month. I plan to add maybe 4 new rocks to the tank.

What's everyone's thought on this plan?

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by lastlight

So I'm adding salt in a few hours to the new tank and I'll be getting those params all balanced out in the next day or so. I was wondering if my plan of attack is sound for the livestock transfer?

1) Don't plan to move any old water over. Bacteria are not in the water column but on the rocks. My thinking is that If I move my four rocks over into the new tank submerged in buckets there will be no die-off and everyone should be fine.

2) I have some new sand still I can toss in the new tank but not enough. I'd like to transfer my sandbed over too as only now is it starting to really develop a more diverse collection of critters in there. After my rock, fish and corals are out I was planning on just netting a bit of sand at a time, swishing it about in the water to remove detritus and putting it into the new tank. The sand is no more than 1" deep anywhere in the tank. I figure swishing it gently will preserve all the worms and pods in the sandbed.

3) Let the new tank run like this for a couple weeks and then add a new rock to the tank every week or so for maybe a month. I plan to add maybe 4 new rocks to the tank.

What's everyone's thought on this plan?

Plan looks sound to me. Have you thought about just "cooking" the new rock in a rubbermaid on its own (if its uncured) to make it easier on the tank when you add it? If its cured, its no bother really, I've added cured rock before without any problems (except for the zillion crab hitchhikers that appeared in the coming months ).

I'd still move some of the old water over, but thats just me. I always took that water out first and didn't put anything in with it.

[PoonTang]

You could also add your new rock to your old tank and let it run there for a little bit to help it cure. Have you thought about perhaps slowly transfering everthing from 1 tank to another over a period of several week's if possible? Say something like moving 1 rock and 2 fish per week to the new system?

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by PoonTang

You could also add your new rock to your old tank and let it run there for a little bit to help it cure. Have you thought about perhaps slowly transfering everthing from 1 tank to another over a period of several week's if possible? Say something like moving 1 rock and 2 fish per week to the new system?

But if he's increasing the tank volume it wouldn't matter if he just moved everything over at once, IMO. Much easier than piecemealing it out over time (unless Brett, your plan is to keep both tanks running indefinitely).

[Lance]

I agree with Christy. I'd transfer some of the old water over.
Good luck with the move.

[lastlight]

Thanks guys.

The new rock (if it's like the rock I started this tank with) hopefully won't cycle. As odd as it was my rock from Red Coral didn't cycle...at least not according to Elos.

The old tank will be shut down so I'd prefer to move it all over at once. What's everyone's motive for using some of the old water? I'll ensure the basic 3 match in both tanks. Is the concern ph? Shock from things we don't measure being different in the new water? Or does old water hold magical powers?

[lorenz0]

here is my way, get wasted the night before. Why? cause your so hung over the next day that your mind works on a routine and worrying does not comply in your head. Than after the move drink again. By the time everything is settled the next day and your cured of your hang over at dinner time everything will be fine and nothing to worry about.

Sounds like you have everything under control. best of luck dude

[christyf5]

Originally Posted by lastlight

Thanks guys.


The old tank will be shut down so I'd prefer to move it all over at once. What's everyone's motive for using some of the old water? I'll ensure the basic 3 match in both tanks. Is the concern ph? Shock from things we don't measure being different in the new water? Or does old water hold magical powers?

My vote is shock and magical powers. The real magic though is that huge batch of new water mixed in with it. Nothing will ever look quite as awesome as with that first massive "water change" IMO. I always saw my LPS inflate, SPS with super extended PE, it was pretty wild (also that whole new tank look is pretty neat-o). I usually aimed for 40% old water but sometimes it was much less (like 20%) depending on how many extra tubs I had handy.