Didn't bother going any further with the test...

[spit.fire]

Originally Posted by PFoster

Sounds like a pretty decent plan then.

I would "cook" the rock, and no i do not mean put it in the oven at 350 lol
Do a quick google search for the method but it should help you shed algae and reduce the phosphates for when the new tank is set up.
The whole process takes about 6 weeks and if a bit of a PITA but well worth it IMO.

I've got a 55g barrel in my garage full of cooked rock

Tbh I have almost no algae growth in that tank

I clean my glass once a month, I'm hoping to do the tank swap in 2 weeks which gives me time to drill and plumb a new tank but no time for cooking

Unfortunately in order to avoid cycleing ill have to reuse the po4 filled water and the rock if I'm gonna do the swap in a weekend (new tank is going in the same spot as the old one)

Hardest part is gonna be moving the 650lb 8' tank out of the way on my own

Some of the more expensive fish will be moved into my frag tank while the move is going on in order to avoid expensive losses that can happen with any new tank swap

Either that or they'll all live in a 300g stock tank until I know the tank is ready