Frag tank Upgrade Questions

kashman100 · Dec 1, 2016

I have a 35 gallon frag tank with hob skimmer, hob filter and some live rock. Lps, softies and zoas. I'm switching to larger frag tank with sump. Can I move everthing to the new tank and keep running the hob filter for a while. Basically keep everthing the same just add sump and more water without having issues? I bought more frags than I should have on cyber Monday sale and need more room. Thanks

a6walter1 · Dec 1, 2016

Yes, you can run the HOB filter on the new tank to ensure a minimal cycle. Also make sure to move all of the live rock over as well.

kashman100 · Dec 1, 2016

Ok cool. Would adding a decent size piece of live rock from my display tank be helpful?

a6walter1 · Dec 1, 2016

You said your current tank is a 35 gallon, how big is the new tank?

kashman100 · Dec 1, 2016

It's about 45 gallons with sump. Also how much of the existing water should i transfer?

a6walter1 · Dec 1, 2016

You can transfer all the water if you want, then add the extra 10 gallons as newly mixed water. I think you had the correct idea in the first place, this is simply taking your current tank contents and moving them to a new tank. So, if you literally move everything to the new tank there shouldn't be any issues. You can move stuff temporarily into a plastic tub while you swap out tanks, but it seems pretty straightforward to me. No need to add more live rock or dry rock unless you increase bio-load by adding more fish or coral.

ahiggins · Dec 1, 2016

I would be cautious of doing a quick switch.
I just upgraded from a 25 to a 40 and had a few zoas that died. Still trying to figure out why. The current theory is algae bloom or some fungus that they were susceptible to because it was a "new" tank.
Good luck

kashman100 · Dec 1, 2016

Ok. I'm actually planned on moving the 1 fish I have in there to another tank. Then adding another fish after quarantine

ahiggins · Dec 1, 2016

I had one flasher wrasse that I moved over.
I used 20 gallons old water, 20 new.
moved all rock over too and added about 5# rubble too.
We are thinking its because they were "fresh" frags...cut within the past 3 weeks. other than that-things are great. and the initial diatom bloom is still happening but thats expected.