I have a JBJ 45 that is 3 years old, and while I thought I would never again start a larger tank (mostly because of downsizing our home), well you know how that story goes...
It turns out my wife would like me to spend more time in the basement so she suggested a larger tank! So I have just finished setting up a Red Sea Reefer 425XL. That is about the max wall space I have. Turns out even though it is on a cement slab, leveling was the biggest problem (wish RS had adjustable feet on all models).
The new tank is running and only has sand, some wet some dry, so far. All parameters on both tanks are the same: SpG, Ca++, Mg++, DKh, and temp are almost identical. Obviously PO4 is zero in the new system.
I don't have enough rock in the JBJ to scape the new tank. Is it best to use dry rock for my base and avoid any breakdown products from LFS "cured" wet rock, and then add my JBJ rock. Can I move the corals over all at once now? (Have brought leather tree and gorgonian over already as they were getting burned by neighbor corals due to growth. They are doing fine.) I guess in theory if I bring all my rock and corals over to the new tank there should be enough bacterial filtration to support that biomass, as nothing has changed other than water volume. Would the new tank in effect not be cycled?
I have about 12 inches of fish and can keep them in the JBJ indefinitely although they will have to downsize to PVC homes, to be sure all is stable in the Reefer. They are all three years in the tank but for the Mandarin who has been around for one year. I plan to use the JBJ for subsequent QT.
What's the best way to make the move?
It turns out my wife would like me to spend more time in the basement so she suggested a larger tank! So I have just finished setting up a Red Sea Reefer 425XL. That is about the max wall space I have. Turns out even though it is on a cement slab, leveling was the biggest problem (wish RS had adjustable feet on all models).
The new tank is running and only has sand, some wet some dry, so far. All parameters on both tanks are the same: SpG, Ca++, Mg++, DKh, and temp are almost identical. Obviously PO4 is zero in the new system.
I don't have enough rock in the JBJ to scape the new tank. Is it best to use dry rock for my base and avoid any breakdown products from LFS "cured" wet rock, and then add my JBJ rock. Can I move the corals over all at once now? (Have brought leather tree and gorgonian over already as they were getting burned by neighbor corals due to growth. They are doing fine.) I guess in theory if I bring all my rock and corals over to the new tank there should be enough bacterial filtration to support that biomass, as nothing has changed other than water volume. Would the new tank in effect not be cycled?
I have about 12 inches of fish and can keep them in the JBJ indefinitely although they will have to downsize to PVC homes, to be sure all is stable in the Reefer. They are all three years in the tank but for the Mandarin who has been around for one year. I plan to use the JBJ for subsequent QT.
What's the best way to make the move?
