first upgrade

[Bakedpwn]

i am upgrading to a 120 gallon soon fron a 40 gal breeder with probably 50 gallons with sump.
when i make the switch should i use all my 50 gals or just a little bit.
i know if i used all new water it would need to cycle.
my plan is to fill the new 120 gallon with rock and sand but only about half water and let it run for a little.
then when i make the actual transfer i can add the old water.

or maybe theres a better system or procedure i can use

 

[Coastie Reefer]

It's not the water, but the bacteria in the rock that's key. If you use the rock from your old system without letting it sit out very long you won't have a cycle, even if you add a lot more rock...

 

[bif24701]

i am upgrading to a 120 gallon soon fron a 40 gal breeder with probably 50 gallons with sump.
when i make the switch should i use all my 50 gals or just a little bit.
i know if i used all new water it would need to cycle.
my plan is to fill the new 120 gallon with rock and sand but only about half water and let it run for a little.
then when i make the actual transfer i can add the old water.

or maybe theres a better system or procedure i can use

Using all new water won't create a cycle. If you use all your old rock and filtration media it will be enough to process ammonia. To prevent a cycle prepaid a container large enough for all your rock and live stock with flow and heater. Don't need anything else for just a couple days. If you are reusing sand you need to keep it wet and move it quickly from old to new tank quickly as possible. Don't store it in a bucket that will prevent any O2 getting to the living things in the sand and create a die off and cycle. If you have a deep sand bed with anoxic area you need to use all new sand. Add the sand, then the fresh or left over old water just enough to barely cover the sand until you have your plumbing done. Then transfer most of the rock and quickly fill it with salt water and get the system running. Run it like that for 24 hours before adding fish and test your ammonia levels. If there is ammonia wait another 24 hours. If you did everything correctly and prevented die off by keeping everything oxygenated, heated and wet then you should have little to zero cycle because your mature Live Rock should be able to process nitrogen quickly enough.

I have moved, A LOT, so have some experience with this.

 

[Bakedpwn]

thanks guys

 

[bif24701]

You can partially fill the new tank before your plumbing is done with the sand and LR, just put a power head in there so there is Flow and O2. Just don't fill it some much the water might start going down the over flows.