Adopting a used SW tank

[Myka]

Personally, anytime I move a tank I replace the sandbed. Just keep a few cups of the old stuff to "seed" the new stuff - sprinkle it on top.

When I move a tank, I remove the inhabitants (bags or Rubbermaids). Then I remove the rocks into Rubbermaid containers with tank water wetted sheets draped over them, and the lids on. If possible, keep the rocks underwater (old tank water) the entire time, but often just not feasible. I try to keep as much old tank water as possible, up to 50%. If there are filters that have sponges or other biolgoical media keep those underwater (old tank water) the entire time.

When I get to the new place I give the tank a good scrubbing as well as the skimmer, powerheads, and pumps. Put the rock in the tank, and set it up as you would like it, then drape the wet sheets over it again. Try to keep the rock out of the water for as little time as possible. Put the old tank water in the tank. Add as much new saltwater as needed to cover the rocks, not higher, and not enough to go over the overflows. Remove the wet sheets. Put a heater temporarily in the tank.

Add the new sand as carefully as possible to try not to cloud the water excessively. If you use "live" bagged sand it is prewashed and not as dusty. Put the whole bag into the tank down at the bottom, then cut it open, and gently slide the sand out. If you use non-live sand you need to rinse it VERY well before putting it in the tank, and use a container to take the sand to the bottom before dumping it. Add a few cups of the old sand sprinkled over top. Let stand for an hour or so, then turn some powerheads on blasting them mainly at the rocks.

Hook up the sump and all the plumbing, get the skimmer ready. Fill the sump with fresh saltwater, and get the skimmer going. Fill the rest of the tank with saltwater, get your return going, and all the rest of the gear. If you have a calcium reactor, don't turn that on for a couple days. Hopefully the tank will clear up at least so you can see the back in a few hours. At that point you can start drip acclimating the livestock. Drip them for a couple hours, and add them in. Don't turn the lights on until the next day.

Do you have an RO/DI unit yet? If not, go buy one and start making water. Don't use tap water. The fresh saltwater you're going to need needs to be circulated for 24 hours before putting it in the tank.

[kwirky]

My tank moves are most successful when I prepare enough water ahead of time for a 100% change at the new house. Myself, I use a duplicate aquarium, but you can also use rubbermaid bins. Duplicate the water for salinity and alkalinity, have it aerating at least 24 hours before-hand.

The reason I don't move the water is that it's going to get real dirty when you pull all the rock out. VERY dirty. There's no point moving this nitrate ridden water, really. Plus I swish the rocks real well in the old water as I'm pulling them out, cleaning them as well as I can. It's a great opportunity you don't want to lose out on

The "live" sand's not worth the trouble of keeping. When you stir it up it's going to explode. Try not to stir up the sand when you're moving everything. When you move your rock, go bare bottom for a while until your rock's been re-cycled. Once it's cycled you can add sand back in if you want. But this way the die-off you'll get from moving the rock won't mix in with any sand and you can just siphon it out.

[jus68]

Thank you everyone for their comments! I got the tank yesterday and I'm lovin it!!!! I ended up buying sand and tossed out the old sand.

Now.. I have to figure out all the stuff in the sump... UV Sterilizer, Phosphan reactor, Refugium and protein skimmer....

[jus68]

I think I have too much live rock... could I get some opinions pls?

Also, when I change the water, can I syphon the sand and stir it up or not?

[rstar]

Tank looks good! I dont think you have too much live rock in there, and it all helps with filtration, one thing you might want is more flow depending on what you plan on keeping, 1 hydor pump i dont think is enough for a 75 gal, i generally dont stir up my sand bed, but i have a sand sifting goby who pretty much does that job for me, keep up the work on it, its looking good!

[Myka]

Originally Posted by jus68

I think I have too much live rock... could I get some opinions pls?

Also, when I change the water, can I syphon the sand and stir it up or not?

Here's your pic:


I think you have a bit too much rock. If I were you I would try to make the rock more spacious on the left side with more caves, and less rocks. I don't like the rocks come so close to the glass in the middle. I like to try to keep a good open swimming area for fish in the front by keeping the rocks towards the back. It looks great on the right side.

You can siphon off the detritus from the surface of the sand, but you don't gravel vac it. You can stir your sandbed up ONLY if you do it regularly, and don't do the whole thing all the time. I gently drag a piece of bamboo through 1/3 of my sand on each waterchange. I only do the front of the tank where the sand is viewable. I don't stir it up really, just enough to keep the surface nice and white, and I only stir up the top 1/2". If you don't do it regularly (at least once every couple weeks) then you will get anaerobic areas which are good, and you need them for denitration which is why you shouldn't do the entire sandbed. If these anaerobic areas are stirred they will release toxic compounds and gases into your tank which can lead to a tank crash.

So, to sum it up...if you do stir it up, do it regularly, only stir the surface, and don't stir the entire sandbed. OR don't do it at all.

[Marlin65]

There is not enough sand in the tank for it to become anaerobic. You need 3" minimum for it to work for your NO3 reduction any less keep it at 1/2"

[jus68]

Thanks for everybody's inputs... greatly appreciated..

Another dire question I have is, could someone please ID the brown stuff on the rock.. I don't think its hair algae but I'm uncertain whether if its good for my tank..

Thank you so much in advance..