How to move to a new tank?

[Aquattro]

I moved that 75 into a 150 in about 3 or 4 hours. I had a DSB, so I moved all the rock/corals into rubbermaids, then drained the water into these and a spare 75g (the sump) thenmoved the sand with a plastic scooper thingy. Then I put the rock back in, arranged it a bit, half filled the tank, then started adding corals. Once everything was back in, I added back the rest of the water, then added enough new water to top up the tank. Having somewhere to hold all the water is key (and lots of towels). I think I tested the new tank for leaks with tap water, easy to fill and then drained it into my front yard. Once you have the new tank filled with the right temp water, move the equipment over. Shouldn't be a big deal. First get the sump/return running, then the heater, then flow, then lighting. Easy!

[Borderjumper]

I moved mine last summer. I set up the new tank with new sand and as much of my old rock that I could remove without messing the corals up.( about 1/2)

I bought some new (fully cured) rock and let the new tank run for a month. While it was cycling I was just running the return pump and had a Korelia 4 in there for flow, a skimmer, 2 chromis and I used an old PC light fixture I have stored. After the tank ran for a month or so I spent one afternoon moving over the tunze's, the light, rest of the rock and the corals. Nothing even knew it had been moved. I did have to keep an eye on nitrates for the first 2 weeks loading it up so fast, but all in all it was painless.

[Chaloupa]

we just did our 120g...we have a stock tank(horses normally drink out of these) for water change water that we emptied, transferred all live rock, fish and corals into, which then allowed us to keep a good portion of water (100g tank), put in a heater, powerheads and a lid and started work on getting the new 120 into position to plumb and hook up the new pump, and water test it. All in all it was a 24 hour adventure that went off without a hitch. Once we had water tested it after plumbing the new pump, we cleaned it out again and started to wash the sand. I had many concerns over the sandbed as it was 1.5 years old and I had read too many horror stories about moving established sand beds and wanted to start with a "fresh" sandbed seaded with a portion of the old sandbed. We got the sand in with some of the "old" water, and started to put in rock and fresh SW to top it up. It was easy...the only thing I have had is a small algae bloom...other than that you wouldn't even have known...except the new tank has no scratches and a black background!

[Todd]

So a logical progression would be:

1. Tap water test tanks and pumps.
2. Drain and refill with RO
3. Heat and salt water to taste (About 50g)
4. Move over eqipment and lighting leaving a powerhead and heater running in Old tank
5. Move over about 25g of water
6. Move over Liverock
7. Move over 25g of water
8. Move over rest of livestock
9. Move over rest of water
10. Top up water so tank is full
11. Move over rest of equipment
12. Enjoy a beer

Sound about right? Am I missing anything?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Todd

Sound about right? Am I missing anything?

Yes, and probably You won't be able to plan for everything, but I would certainly make sure I had more water than I thought I needed. If you don't use it, it's your next water change. Which I'd do within the first week.