Advice for tank transfer?

[Lance]

Originally Posted by lastlight

To test the new system and be able to bring the sump etc all online I had to of course mix up saltwater to fill the entire thing. So waste isn't really a concern I guess as I had to fill the thing anyhow. Question is do I bring the system params inline and add my livestock or do that THEN siphon 30 gallons out (new fresh water) and add 30 from the old tank (which has now gone 2 weeks without a waterchange because I've been busy with all this).

I'm also considering buying however much rock I want to add, adding it and letting it cycle in the new setup for however long that may take. Could be really fast or your standard few weeks. Then add the livestock...

If you're going to add new live rock, I'd let it cycle first before livestock.
If not, fill the new tank to aprox 30 gals less than full. Siphon most of the water out of the old tank into the new before you move your livestock. This will make catching the fish easier. Harder for them to elude you and hide with little water and rock in the tank. After the livestock is in top up the new tank with the leftover old water. Good Luck!

[lastlight]

So Lance you're suggesting tossing out 30 gallons or so of my new water? System is 100% full and circulating right now.

What I could do is do waterchanges for a few weeks using water from the new tank lol. Dump the old water into the new tank.

And yeah think I'll grab all my new rock and let it cycle. I never had a cycle last time and maybe I'll get lucky again.

[Lance]

Originally Posted by lastlight

So Lance you're suggesting tossing out 30 gallons or so of my new water? System is 100% full and circulating right now.

What I could do is do waterchanges for a few weeks using water from the new tank lol. Dump the old water into the new tank.

And yeah think I'll grab all my new rock and let it cycle. I never had a cycle last time and maybe I'll get lucky again.

Oh, I didn't know you had already filled the new tank with new SW. If you're adding some new live rock it's a good idea to let it cycle. You may not get much of one though.
I just don't like to add livestock to brand new water. Even a large water change can sometimes shock the animals. Don't know where I read it but it was recommended to never change more than 50% of the water unless of course it's an emergency. Too hard on the critters.

[lastlight]

At that point I guess it is like your old tank is the LFS...new tank is well...your new tank. Animals feel that shock all over again.

I think I'll cycle all my new rock and then swap water between the 2 tanks in 5g batches over the course of a few weeks to let all the water mix and become very close to the same.