balajeek15
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I am in the process of searching for little bigger house (family is grown) and in coming months if all works out well then I will make the move. It won't be far and will be in and around 15 miles from current house. I want to be prepared.
I have RedSea Reefer 350, 71gal (93gal whole) tank with mixed (50+) corals and 8 fishes, 2 sherman anemone, all are running for about 5 years. I like what i have and would like to keep and continue. Thinking of the move first thing comes to mind is how complicated would be to make this happen. So I like to hear your thoughts and experiences from people who had done the move, if you haven't you are still welcome to give your opinions/ideas.
Main Question: Is it all possible to move and continue running the same system with as little change as possible or we have to do a fresh start ?
I do have some plan in my mind described in below steps with the help of my family, honestly not sure how this will all workout.
When it's time to move, I will have few storage containers (17gal size each) and couple of barrels.
Steps: (just day before movers arrive)
1. Use existing water and fill the storage containers.
2. Move all the corals, inverts and fishes and some small rocks (for fish to hide) into the 1st container
3. Move all the live rocks into the 2nd container, include space for spare return pump and existing skimmer
4. Move live sand into 3rd container
5. Fill barrels with existing water (plan to use 50% of existing water into the new setup)
6. Put all the containers and barrels in to the minivan (2nd and 3rd row folded, with painters cloth on top of tarp spread all area just in case to protect from water damage) will have a person to watch and take care.
7. Drive slowly and safely to the new location, unload.
8. Move 1st container live stock to a 20 gal QT (which i already have) with overflow setup to 2nd container and get it running.
9. Return to old house, clean lightly the DT and Sump and dry, leave all the neptune system setup and tubes inside the cabinet (its hell lot of wires, I don't even have this much on my home theater setup), Just take the glass sump out of the cabinet, secure all the system with bubble wraps so i don't have to re-do everything, it could be more like unplug and plug in back in place. I do have all the gears on a piece of wooden board so all it can stay wrapped.
10. At this point the DT, Cabinet, Sump is ready for the movers to move the next day.
Next day, after the movers moved the stuff:
1. Setup the Cabinet, DT, Sump, plumbing, lighting and systems
2. Start filling the DT with newly made saltwater up to 40%
3. Move the live sand in to DT, and fill the tank with 30% existing water from moved barrels, at this point the water will be cloudy, setup return pump and let it run and settle for few hours, this will enable to check for leaks and any damage may have happen in the move.
4. Move live rocks, corals, fishes into DT (more like just dump it because aquascaping for me takes a lot of time, and its for another day when i finished settling move)
So, ultimately i moved live stock with 50% of existing water. I wonder if i can blow and rinse each live rocks i take out form old setup for free of debris, also lightly rinse the live sand because it will have more debris in it, not sure if its a good idea, but like to hear opinions.
One more option while i make the move is to upgrade the tank (not that i have $$$$ to spend) by buying a new/used 100gal setup. It surely add some extra work for me in setting up the new tank and plumbing's.
Reefers who have done the move please share your thoughts and opinions or advice:
a) Was this move too complicated?
b) Does the system run stable after that without any cycles or outbreaks?
c) Anything you regretted or think you might have done differently?
d) Any loss or damages?
e) Any other concerns?
Thank you all.
Hope i find the house we are looking for and reef hobby is even better
I have RedSea Reefer 350, 71gal (93gal whole) tank with mixed (50+) corals and 8 fishes, 2 sherman anemone, all are running for about 5 years. I like what i have and would like to keep and continue. Thinking of the move first thing comes to mind is how complicated would be to make this happen. So I like to hear your thoughts and experiences from people who had done the move, if you haven't you are still welcome to give your opinions/ideas.
Main Question: Is it all possible to move and continue running the same system with as little change as possible or we have to do a fresh start ?
I do have some plan in my mind described in below steps with the help of my family, honestly not sure how this will all workout.
When it's time to move, I will have few storage containers (17gal size each) and couple of barrels.
Steps: (just day before movers arrive)
1. Use existing water and fill the storage containers.
2. Move all the corals, inverts and fishes and some small rocks (for fish to hide) into the 1st container
3. Move all the live rocks into the 2nd container, include space for spare return pump and existing skimmer
4. Move live sand into 3rd container
5. Fill barrels with existing water (plan to use 50% of existing water into the new setup)
6. Put all the containers and barrels in to the minivan (2nd and 3rd row folded, with painters cloth on top of tarp spread all area just in case to protect from water damage) will have a person to watch and take care.
7. Drive slowly and safely to the new location, unload.
8. Move 1st container live stock to a 20 gal QT (which i already have) with overflow setup to 2nd container and get it running.
9. Return to old house, clean lightly the DT and Sump and dry, leave all the neptune system setup and tubes inside the cabinet (its hell lot of wires, I don't even have this much on my home theater setup), Just take the glass sump out of the cabinet, secure all the system with bubble wraps so i don't have to re-do everything, it could be more like unplug and plug in back in place. I do have all the gears on a piece of wooden board so all it can stay wrapped.
10. At this point the DT, Cabinet, Sump is ready for the movers to move the next day.
Next day, after the movers moved the stuff:
1. Setup the Cabinet, DT, Sump, plumbing, lighting and systems
2. Start filling the DT with newly made saltwater up to 40%
3. Move the live sand in to DT, and fill the tank with 30% existing water from moved barrels, at this point the water will be cloudy, setup return pump and let it run and settle for few hours, this will enable to check for leaks and any damage may have happen in the move.
4. Move live rocks, corals, fishes into DT (more like just dump it because aquascaping for me takes a lot of time, and its for another day when i finished settling move)
So, ultimately i moved live stock with 50% of existing water. I wonder if i can blow and rinse each live rocks i take out form old setup for free of debris, also lightly rinse the live sand because it will have more debris in it, not sure if its a good idea, but like to hear opinions.
One more option while i make the move is to upgrade the tank (not that i have $$$$ to spend) by buying a new/used 100gal setup. It surely add some extra work for me in setting up the new tank and plumbing's.
Reefers who have done the move please share your thoughts and opinions or advice:
a) Was this move too complicated?
b) Does the system run stable after that without any cycles or outbreaks?
c) Anything you regretted or think you might have done differently?
d) Any loss or damages?
e) Any other concerns?
Thank you all.
Hope i find the house we are looking for and reef hobby is even better
