Looking at a new tank.

[BigMoe]

I am new to Saltwater tanks but am also using a HOB with a 10gallon sump on my 55 gallon tank. Works great. Already thinking of upgrading to 90 or 120. Mainly because I dont like my tank stand and fear of flooding is a real risk. Just not sure how hard it will be to move the contents of this tank to another one. next setup I will get a drilled tank with a 29 gallon or bigger sump. Space contraints will only fit a 10g in this stand.

Couple of questions.
How hard is to move contents of my 55g full of live rock etc to a new tank?

If the foot print is the same should i get the 90 or the 120 gallon? Both are 48" long with custom cabinet but debating on not having the hood as I think it looks bulky that way.
Next tank will be drilled also so wont have the HOB setup.
Below is my current setup

Honestly I like the 55g tank I have, but hate the stand that it is on. I got it for very little cost for the whole setup. However the next tank will be in a more seeable space and have a cabinet built to my liking. More open underneath.
I may keep the 55 setup as a QT tank or something.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Personally, keeping the 55 as a qt tank is not a bad option.
Are you looking at customs for your new tank or something else?

 

[Ron Reefman]

It's not hard to move things from one tank to another. It helps A LOT if you have a couple of big bins that you can move things into while you work your way down to the rocks. After you have the rackscape you want, then you can move things for the bins back into the new tank. Trust me, over the past 25 years, I've move things from tank to tank more times than I can count.

Keeping the 55g is worth doing. I even went out and got very cheap, used 10g tanks to use as holding tanks for then I was moving stuff from one tank to another. At one point I had 4 tanks and 2 sumps holding over 600g of salt water in the house. Now I have just a 40g aio and a 20g aio.

 

[allof fish]

Personally I would go 120 or larger. Everyone wants to go as big as possibly lol. But a standard 90 is just taller and not as wide. Where as a 120 you still get the width. I have a 150 which is 4ft but 30in wide. You’ll really appreciate the extra depth. If you went really big you could reuse the 55 as a sump or like you said a qt. Transferring things isn’t that hard can be done in a few hours if the other tank is in a different area. If your removing 1 tank and replacing it it gets a bit more complicated

 

[BigMoe]

Personally, keeping the 55 as a qt tank is not a bad option.
Are you looking at customs for your new tank or something else?

Not really custom but Stand is made to order and tank will be standard drilled with corner weirs. My thought was to just get the new tank setup and mostly cycled then move stuff over. Start with most of the rock. with new sand in the new tank. Since I already have 50 lbs of rock hate to waste it. Sand I can buy new as that would be a pain to move over. Currently I buy my water at LFS which is like 3 miles from my house. But also looking into a rodi setup. I also thought I might could save some time by moving my water from the 55 to the 120 as I do water changes to help with cycling? Not sure if that is a good idea or not?

 

[BigMoe]

New tank will be in a different area of same room.

 

[kevgib67]

I moved a 32g into a 105g at the beginning of the year, it was a piece of cake.

 

[BryanM]

I always vote for Go Bigger.

Moving contents is easy, especially with both tanks being in the same room.

Moving water is fine, but not necessary.

Rinsing sand before putting it in the new tank is highly recommended.