How much live rock to seed new tank

[ilikefish69]

I am moving a 90 gallon to a 125 gallon. Everything is alive in the 90, and I am hoping to move everything over pretty close to each other. I have a significant amount of rock that is live, my 90 has been growing coralline on the rocks for almost 2 months and it is just hitting it's stride.

Of course this is the point of equilibrium and stability we all know means to upgrade and move everything over. I have probably 10 pounds of rock from the 90 in the 125. I understand the value of data and testing, but I am looking more for a 'old reefer's rules' or something along those lines.

What is recommendation on the amount of rock that I should move from one to the other? There is GHA in the display, it is slowly receding, but it is on some of the rocks. I would like to use the rocks I have in the refugium , where no light or algae is, and there is probably 50 pounds in the refugium. Of course removing it and putting in the 125 throws off the water chemistry of the 90, so I am hoping to avoid a "move rocks, wait 3 weeks, move livestock" situation. The 125 has been wet for probably 10 days so far. I used about 80 gallons of old tank water, fwiw, and threw the live rocks in after water settled for a night.

I also have a significant amount of sand in the DT 90 and new , clean, dried out sand in the 125. I could use sand + rock to seed the 125 with bacteria. Any and all help is appreciated. I understand the process of testing for each of the three levels and then you know when a tank is cycled, but I am starting with a seed of good bacteria plus all the surface area provided for new bacterial growth. I hope to 'hit the ground running' if you will.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

I am moving a 90 gallon to a 125 gallon. Everything is alive in the 90, and I am hoping to move everything over pretty close to each other. I have a significant amount of rock that is live, my 90 has been growing coralline on the rocks for almost 2 months and it is just hitting it's stride.

Of course this is the point of equilibrium and stability we all know means to upgrade and move everything over. I have probably 10 pounds of rock from the 90 in the 125. I understand the value of data and testing, but I am looking more for a 'old reefer's rules' or something along those lines.

What is recommendation on the amount of rock that I should move from one to the other? There is GHA in the display, it is slowly receding, but it is on some of the rocks. I would like to use the rocks I have in the refugium , where no light or algae is, and there is probably 50 pounds in the refugium. Of course removing it and putting in the 125 throws off the water chemistry of the 90, so I am hoping to avoid a "move rocks, wait 3 weeks, move livestock" situation. The 125 has been wet for probably 10 days so far. I used about 80 gallons of old tank water, fwiw, and threw the live rocks in after water settled for a night.

I also have a significant amount of sand in the DT 90 and new , clean, dried out sand in the 125. I could use sand + rock to seed the 125 with bacteria. Any and all help is appreciated. I understand the process of testing for each of the three levels and then you know when a tank is cycled, but I am starting with a seed of good bacteria plus all the surface area provided for new bacterial growth. I hope to 'hit the ground running' if you will.

Applaud all you are doing, but always practice patience. "Hit the ground running" doesn't mean you can go full on because there are differences. Patience is the magic in this hobby, but from above I feel like you know that already.

We will want to see new build thread to OOOHHHH AAAHHHH when you are ready - we love photos!

 

[ilikefish69]

Applaud all you are doing, but always practice patience. "Hit the ground running" doesn't mean you can go full on because there are differences. Patience is the magic in this hobby, but from above I feel like you know that already.

We will want to see new build thread to OOOHHHH AAAHHHH when you are ready - we love photos!

Patience, I am so bad at ughhhhhhhhh but I know the answer is literally "time" and nothing else. I am gonna move some rocks over, test, move some rocks over, until I just can't stand looking at both of the tanks.

I have given myself a due date of the end of the month. I think that gives enough time for bacteria to reproduce and a bit of "life" to grow on the surface of the rocks and other parts of the tank.

On a side note, there has been a lot of protein-bubbles in the refugium, and I have noticed the protein bubbles going away. I think that means the bacteria population is growing. Something similar happened in one of my overflow boxes, it was getting protein-bubbles similar to what you'd see in a skimmer. Threw a couple of rubble rocks in that chamber and the bubbles were gone the next day. Good things are happening in my tank full of frozen food !

Please, please ignore the mess. You know how things go in a basement. Lol.

 

[fish farmer]

Do you have livestock in the 90 now?

What is the concern if no livestock?

I would just move all your rock or whatever you want into the bigger tank. I would do the same if it was an established tank as well, but would monitor water quality after moving stuff over.

 

[ReeferBill]

I agree. If you don’t have livestock then move it and let it settle in.

 

[ilikefish69]

Oh I have a ton of coral, a couple anemone, and 10 fish in the 90 gallon. My initial thinking and understanding that it would be a BAD idea to move all rocks & livestock at the same time. What is the group think on that idea ?

 

[TokenReefer]

I really like the viewing panels for the sump. IMO the sump is something to show off as well; it impresses people a little more when they see the full setup

 

[ilikefish69]

I really like the viewing panels for the sump. IMO the sump is something to show off as well; it impresses people a little more when they see the full setup

Thank you!! It wasn't my creation, the gentleman I purchased off of had included it in the deal. Also doors on the left & right side, so it's accessible from all 4 sides!! The glass pane on the first is 1/2" thick. Glass is freakin expensive !! But I have a 1 year old, so I wanted to make sure she wouldn't bust through when she taps on it.

The left side might get covered though, not sure yet. We all need a spot in our sump where we can throw things and let it get messy, am i rite !

 

[TokenReefer]

That's gonna make maintenance sooo much easier I imagine.

We all need a spot in our sump where we can throw things and let it get messy, am i rite !

OMG i'm not even that far into this hobby and I've got so much crap already lol

 

[ilikefish69]

Everyone is happy and healthy. Only lost one RFA, got buried in the sand and never did find it.

unfortunately, truly and utmost unfortunately, I have already found an aiptasia growing in the sump. Those little boogers really are a pain. Thought I would be able to keep them from hitchhiking, but nope

Pretty happy with the set up. Now to sand, paint, and make it look pretty

 

[ilikefish69]

Filter socks, skimmer (not running but tuned), dual reactor stuffed full of polyester

o ya and all our Disney pins from Disney world as decorations