Best way to upgrade tanks

[jimmypencil]

I currently have a evo 13.5 and im planning on upgrading to a lagoon 50 in december. Everything is doing great and i mostly have LPS and softies. I run a intank basket with floss, chemipure blue, and bio balls. i also run a fuge with chaeto and some pourous rock. The main problem i have with the tank right now there is an absolute PLAGUE of aiptasia. They are literally everywhere in the sand in a variety of sizes and they are all over my chaeto and alot of my equipment in the back chambers. I have had three peppermints in there (yes confirmed peppermints from algae barn) for a few weeks and i haven't really seen them make a dent at all. I have used F aiptasia but i would have to put way too much in the tank to make a dent overall. I HATE my sand already but because 90 percent of the aiptasia are in the sand i was thinking about ditching all of the sand when i upgrade tanks and getting new live sand. I also dont really want to re use this chaeto that is absolutely infested with aiptasia in the new tank but im not sure if any of this will help me all that much.

PLEASE let me know some helpful steps when upgrading tanks to avoid these issues.

 

[Dburr1014]

I currently have a evo 13.5 and im planning on upgrading to a lagoon 50 in december. Everything is doing great and i mostly have LPS and softies. I run a intank basket with floss, chemipure blue, and bio balls. i also run a fuge with chaeto and some pourous rock. The main problem i have with the tank right now there is an absolute PLAGUE of aiptasia. They are literally everywhere in the sand in a variety of sizes and they are all over my chaeto and alot of my equipment in the back chambers. I have had three peppermints in there (yes confirmed peppermints from algae barn) for a few weeks and i haven't really seen them make a dent at all. I have used F aiptasia but i would have to put way too much in the tank to make a dent overall. I HATE my sand already but because 90 percent of the aiptasia are in the sand i was thinking about ditching all of the sand when i upgrade tanks and getting new live sand. I also dont really want to re use this chaeto that is absolutely infested with aiptasia in the new tank but im not sure if any of this will help me all that much.

PLEASE let me know some helpful steps when upgrading tanks to avoid these issues.

I would say berghia nudibranch but the peppermint will eat them. Unless, you put the peppermint in the sump until the berghia eat all the aptaisia. I believe nothing is 100% against aptasia, so the peppermints will be added back.

 

[MelancholyBlenny]

I just finished upgrading a 15 year old 110g acrylic without a sump to a new reefer 750. The old tank had a lot of nuisance algae and other stuff we didn't want in the new tank. We setup the new tank with all new water sand and rock and let it cycle for a month. We then used a par meter to measure the current par of all the corals in the old tank. When we moved over all the corals we set up 3 bins 1 for coral dip, 1 for rinse and any extra removal and 1 for the corals to sit in with a heater and powerhead. After removing and cleaning all the corals we caught the fish and put them in the new tank, moved the lights over and par tested the new tank then slowly put all the corals in the new tank.

I would not reuse the sand but if you dont want to purchase new rock you could purchase a bunch of aptasia eating nudibranches and let them go to work, a couple weeks before you move tanks i would soak the rocks in citric acid and clean real good then rinse rinse rinse and then put them in a bin with tank water, heater and powerhead.

 

[jimmypencil]

I would say berghia nudibranch but the peppermint will eat them. Unless, you put the peppermint in the sump until the berghia eat all the aptaisia. I believe nothing is 100% against aptasia, so the peppermints will be added back.

I have a six line and a hog fish so i was hesitant to use the nudibranchs, do you think its worth a shot? i was planning on putting a few more peppermints in the new tank when its set up from a different vender (reefcleaners, heard their shrimp eat aiptasia from alot of people on here) and hope that that helps a bit. my live stock is two clowns, a yellow watchman, the two fish previously mentioned, and a fire shrimp.

 

[jimmypencil]

I just finished upgrading a 15 year old 110g acrylic without a sump to a new reefer 750. The old tank had a lot of nuisance algae and other stuff we didn't want in the new tank. We setup the new tank with all new water sand and rock and let it cycle for a month. We then used a par meter to measure the current par of all the corals in the old tank. When we moved over all the corals we set up 3 bins 1 for coral dip, 1 for rinse and any extra removal and 1 for the corals to sit in with a heater and powerhead. After removing and cleaning all the corals we caught the fish and put them in the new tank, moved the lights over and par tested the new tank then slowly put all the corals in the new tank.

I would not reuse the sand but if you dont want to purchase new rock you could purchase a bunch of aptasia eating nudibranches and let them go to work, a couple weeks before you move tanks i would soak the rocks in citric acid and clean real good then rinse rinse rinse and then put them in a bin with tank water, heater and powerhead.

Good advice, thanks for the reply! i have a six line and a hog fish so i have been avoiding the nudibranchs unfortunately. i was planning on filling the new tank up with new live sand and like 3/4 with new water and after the temp is 78 i was gonna move the rocks/coral, water, live stock, and filter media from my current tank into the new tank and let it do a mini cycle along the way i guess. i was gonna get new rock either way because i only have about 8/10 lb currently and need alot more for a bigger tank but i was planning on keeping all the rock i currently have.

Would you re use the chaeto? i know that the aiptasia will come back anyway unless they are removed by something, but i am just wondering if that would help reduce the population. I am gonna try to get a few more peppermints that are confirmed to eat aiptasia for the new tank and hopefully they can keep the problem at bay.

Last question haha, when i transfer everything over are there any products you recommend to assist the "mini cycle" like dr tims or bacteria or something?

 

[Dburr1014]

I have a six line and a hog fish so i was hesitant to use the nudibranchs, do you think its worth a shot? i was planning on putting a few more peppermints in the new tank when its set up from a different vender (reefcleaners, heard their shrimp eat aiptasia from alot of people on here) and hope that that helps a bit. my live stock is two clowns, a yellow watchman, the two fish previously mentioned, and a fire shrimp.

I used berghia with a leopard wrasse.
Introduced at lights out near (not on) aptasia. Wrasse sleep at night(most fish) nudies sleep during the day. Still will work.

 

[MelancholyBlenny]

The sixline will eat the nudis for every meal lol. You can always try to catch the 2 and put them in the sump or a acclimation box for a while

 

[jimmypencil]

I used berghia with a leopard wrasse.
Introduced at lights out near (not on) aptasia. Wrasse sleep at night(most fish) nudies sleep during the day. Still will work.

well im glad to hear that. I will order some and try it out. any vendor you recommend ? how many nudis do you recommend?

 

[Dburr1014]

Salty underground or reeftown if you can't find locally. Check prices of both first.
They hunt in packs. You may need minimum of 5. They do have recommendations on the site.

 

[MelancholyBlenny]

Good advice, thanks for the reply! i have a six line and a hog fish so i have been avoiding the nudibranchs unfortunately. i was planning on filling the new tank up with new live sand and like 3/4 with new water and after the temp is 78 i was gonna move the rocks/coral, water, live stock, and filter media from my current tank into the new tank and let it do a mini cycle along the way i guess. i was gonna get new rock either way because i only have about 8/10 lb currently and need alot more for a bigger tank but i was planning on keeping all the rock i currently have.

Would you re use the chaeto? i know that the aiptasia will come back anyway unless they are removed by something, but i am just wondering if that would help reduce the population. I am gonna try to get a few more peppermints that are confirmed to eat aiptasia for the new tank and hopefully they can keep the problem at bay.

Last question haha, when i transfer everything over are there any products you recommend to assist the "mini cycle" like dr tims or bacteria or something?

If you want only a "mini cycle" you will definitely need to reuse the rock, only issue in doing so is you won't be able to dip the rock in any cleaning solution. This will kill the beneficial bacteria and prevent the mini cycle. Using the old water will help a little but all the bacteria is in the rock. Your best bet if you want to do it this way is the Nudis, shrimp and manual killing of the aptasia but some will probably slip through the cracks.

I would not reuse the chaeto if it is full of aptasia, you can buy some on reef cleaners for cheap (not worth the risk)

Any of the bacteria such as dr. tims or fluval cycle will help speed up the cycle whether you reuse the rock or not. I have used both of those and have had no issues with either.

 

[davidcalgary29]

You will export your aiptasia problem to your new tank if you transfer anything live from the Evo. The visible polyps really aren't the main problem with aiptasia.

The great thing about the Evo is that it's too small to provide much of a maintenance challenge and big enough that you can stick your (gloved) hands in it to clean. While there are many methods of dealing with aiptasia, @Tamberav's "boiling water in a syringe" method is as effective as any, and cheaper than them all.

 

[jimmypencil]

You will export your aiptasia problem to your new tank if you transfer anything live from the Evo. The visible polyps really aren't the main problem with aiptasia.

The great thing about the Evo is that it's too small to provide much of a maintenance challenge and big enough that you can stick your (gloved) hands in it to clean. While there are many methods of dealing with aiptasia, @Tamberav's "boiling water in a syringe" method is as effective as any, and cheaper than them all.

Im assuming it has to be boiling RODI water? lol. Everything is doing great and the aiptasia aren't actively causing big problems for any corals they are just EVERYWHERE and it drives me crazy. i also hope that a ton of dying aiptasia in there wont cause another issue but its worth a try.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Im assuming it has to be boiling RODI water? lol.

Er, no. Tap water is just fine for this. :)

 

[HKAVR45]

I've tried Berghia with wrasses (Checkerboard, Melanarus, Christmas, Neon, Yellow Coris) and had mixed results. I too put them into the tank late at night, lights out, near but not on aiptasia, and close to the rock structure. As most report, you literally see nothing for the first 2 months, then slowly they start to disappear. I never got rid of them 100%, it was more like managing the outbreak and I assume the wrasses slowly picked them off. Again, I think they can be viewed as maintenance, so maybe an order of berghia once a year to keep things from getting out of control.

I am in the process of a tank upgrade and will be taking corals out to a hold tank for a period of time so I can get the new tank up an running without a rush. My plan is to purchase berghia and drop them in the holding tank which will have coral and rocks infested with aiptasia. No fish will be in this tank to prey on the aiptasia. Would it be possible to move the fish to their new tank first and then let the aiptasia do their thing in peace?

 

[Dburr1014]

If you want only a "mini cycle" you will definitely need to reuse the rock, only issue in doing so is you won't be able to dip the rock in any cleaning solution. This will kill the beneficial bacteria and prevent the mini cycle. Using the old water will help a little but all the bacteria is in the rock. Your best bet if you want to do it this way is the Nudis, shrimp and manual killing of the aptasia but some will probably slip through the cracks.

I would not reuse the chaeto if it is full of aptasia, you can buy some on reef cleaners for cheap (not worth the risk)

Any of the bacteria such as dr. tims or fluval cycle will help speed up the cycle whether you reuse the rock or not. I have used both of those and have had no issues with either.

100% don't mix shrimp with the nudies. They are both out at night and if the shrimp eat aptaisia they will eat the nudies.

I've tried Berghia with wrasses (Checkerboard, Melanarus, Christmas, Neon, Yellow Coris) and had mixed results. I too put them into the tank late at night, lights out, near but not on aiptasia, and close to the rock structure. As most report, you literally see nothing for the first 2 months, then slowly they start to disappear. I never got rid of them 100%, it was more like managing the outbreak and I assume the wrasses slowly picked them off. Again, I think they can be viewed as maintenance, so maybe an order of berghia once a year to keep things from getting out of control.

I am in the process of a tank upgrade and will be taking corals out to a hold tank for a period of time so I can get the new tank up an running without a rush. My plan is to purchase berghia and drop them in the holding tank which will have coral and rocks infested with aiptasia. No fish will be in this tank to prey on the aiptasia. Would it be possible to move the fish to their new tank first and then let the aiptasia do their thing in peace?

Correct.
The problem is I don't think the nudies get 100%. But you have to have a lot to use them. They will get 99% in a infestation.

I bought a dozen one year and maybe 18 months later I had to buy another dozen.
That was about 3 years ago I bought the last dozen. Currently I saw about 5 or 6 aptaisia and instead of using Kalk paste and f-aptaisia that only spread it everywhere, I used lemon juice in a syringe. I shut off all water moving pumps and injected juice into the mouth. Then injected juice on there foot. With a turkey baster I sucked up anything that came off. Did this until the foot let go. Tweezers helped it not to float away. To do this, you need patience of a Saint. I did two large aptaisia this way. One was on my clam. They have not been back. I have one more large one and a couple baby ones left to do. This is all I've seen in the past few months since doing the two large ones.