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In conclusion, if using the method I did - connecting an established reef to a new system with dry rock (clean), I recommend the following:
1. Dose your new tank prior to connecting to your old tank with NO3 and PO4 enough to raise to your established tank levels.
2. Take your skimmer and filter socks offline until your NO3 and PO4 are stable and consistently matches established tank prior to connecting, run it dirty!
2. Don’t freak out if you have a bacterial bloom in the beginning, it will clear up after a day or so.
3. Overfeed your tank (assuming new system is substantially larger) in the beginning as the additional water volume has diluted your system but watch NO3 and especially PO4 closely.
4. Don’t run lighting on the new tank during this process.
5. Obviously, monitor your alk, calcium, mag and adjust dosing as needed and be sure to dose the new tank up/down to established tank levels prior to connecting.
1. Dose your new tank prior to connecting to your old tank with NO3 and PO4 enough to raise to your established tank levels.
2. Take your skimmer and filter socks offline until your NO3 and PO4 are stable and consistently matches established tank prior to connecting, run it dirty!
2. Don’t freak out if you have a bacterial bloom in the beginning, it will clear up after a day or so.
3. Overfeed your tank (assuming new system is substantially larger) in the beginning as the additional water volume has diluted your system but watch NO3 and especially PO4 closely.
4. Don’t run lighting on the new tank during this process.
5. Obviously, monitor your alk, calcium, mag and adjust dosing as needed and be sure to dose the new tank up/down to established tank levels prior to connecting.
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