So I am in quite the struggle here. Need some thoughts and opinions from everyone. I am contemplating tearing down the existing system and starting from scratch with the new tank. I originally wanted to plumb everything into my new 300 gallon sump for the next month or so and then move everything to the sump when the new tank gets here. However, I am having second thoughts and thinking of starting with a clean slate.
I used Vibrant twice in the past and for some reason, I just feel it is lingering in the tank and bound to the rocks. I also have Aiptasia and bubble algae. While they are controlled by fish and inverts, they are still there. I know that it is virtually impossible to stay clear of these forever but it would be nice to not introduce them from the start.
My dilemma is if I combine the systems now and use all of my existing rock with the new rock then I will jump start the diversity and not have to wait for the new system to cycle and establish bacteria, etc. On the other hand, starting from scratch will allow me to take my time with the new system and make sure everything is right and ready before adding what I want back into the system. I can add only the corals I really want in the system as well.
If I did start from scratch then when the time comes I am thinking of doing the following. Remove most corals from my rock work and place them in the sump or frag tank of my existing system. If corals are too big and have to remain on the rock then I will relocate the rock and coral to the 100 gallon sump on the existing system. There they will wait until the new system is ready for corals and then I will cut small to large frags of my existing corals to mount into the system. The remainder of the rock will be bleached and dried in the sun for future use down the road if needed.
What do you all think? Do I need to step away from the ledge and come back to reality?
I am beating the same dilemma around in my head, as I will be moving in a year or so. I do not have those types of pests, (done messed up saying that), but i do have caulerpa in my 180 DT. I do not consider it a pest, as I have it on the backside of the rocks and you cannot see it, except from above. The tangs keep it in check very well. What I consider pests are the millions of zoas all over the rocks and the many sponges.
My plan was to setup the tank in FL with KP rock and new dry rock. The KP rock would be in the sump and the dry rock would be made into some kind of structure with a ton of hidey holes/coral mounting locations. I would then ghost feed the tank when not there to keep bacteria stable. Having the KP rock in the sump for an extended period of time would also allow me to setup traps for critters that live through a hyper salinity and club soda bath.
I do plan to keep all of my old rock, but from a moving and pest perspective, new rock seems to be the way to go. Much easier to move colonies and such when not attached to rocks. It would also allow me to kill all the stuff I do not want on the other rocks, but not kill the diversity of bacteria, as most of my rocks are Marshall Islands and Fiji rocks from way back in the day that have never been dry. All of my "pest" are photosynthetic, so I can just stick it all in a tub, not provide light, and let them melt away. Only 50% or so of the rocks have crap I do not want, so that helps also.
My wife thinks I am nuts doing it this way, but to me it seems like I have control over what goes into the new tank. I know at some point, a zoa or paly will get on the main structure, but that will take time. And as you said, control of what goes in makes a huge difference.
My only worry with what you mention is adding old to the new system. Doing this will allow for "pests" to have a chance to get on the new stuff. My suggestion for that is to cut the rocks that colonies are too large to move.
For cycling, just order a small bit of real live rock (KP, TBLR, Etc.) and use that. You can then add some bottled bacteria and be on your way. It may not be as diverse as what you have now, but when you add the corals and all of that, it will help.
In conclusion, if it was me and I was wanting to get rid of pests, it would be all new or new plus rocks that had 0 pests on them. For the vibrant, I am not sure how much could be bound, if it is harmful when bound, etc. That is a tough one and I would just trash all due to the unknown. Or I would do a acid bath on the rocks a couple of times in fresh water. But that is just me lol.
