Moving to larger aquarium

[AquaSixAquaticsReef]

Hi all. I have a 32 gallon biocube. I have spent the last month working on and setting up a 90 gallon tank with sump to move everything to. I’ve got it filled now, with 35ppt saltwater and nothing else. What is the best process to add sand and rock then eventually move the fish and soft corals? I read about special grade sand to help the tank cycle. Would moving all the media from the biocube to the new tank after setting up rock and sand allow me to add the fish sooner? Thanks for your help!

 

[Seregus]

I’m not an expert, but since you had your 32g biocube for a while (you did not say, but I guess) - its cycled a long time ago?

This means you do not need to cycle your bigger tank as long as you move all media and rock - it will have plenty of bacteria, just do not add too much _new_ live stock too quickly after you finish your move.

If it was me doing move, i would not take sand but used new Caribsea Live Special Grade (personal preference) and moved everything else: all rocks and filtration sponges or media to maximise bacteria population. Since water increases 3x it means you diluted phosphates and nitrates 3x, so you have time before running into any issue same day, so I would finish move and start checking ammonia/nitrates/po4 the next few days to see the trend and act accordingly.

Hope it helps

 

[1ocean]

Did you use any water from the old tank?
Moving the rocks from the smaller tank will help and you can seed the new sand with like a cup of old sand.
If you use the old sand, rinse it with old tank water or new salt water and place in new tank this will help.
Just do not over clean the old sand to prevent washing away all the good bacteria.
SInce the new tank has a sump, placing any filter items such as sponges or carbon bags in the new sump for a fw weeks or so will greatly help them remove them.
Yes once you do the things mentioned, I have always moved the fish into the new tank same day..
Key factor here is you have alot more water volume per fish.

 

[exnisstech]

I recently moved an established tank with a lot of coral. I went from about 65g to 100g. I filled the tank with new saltwater and added 35lbs of gulf live rock. The rock shipped wet but not submerged so I put it in a container of saltwater with flow dor a about a week the rinsed the rock in salt water and added it to new tank. Once I saw nitrate I moved a few tester corals in and after a couple of weeks. I then went to work matching nitrate, phosphate and alkalinity. Fortunately I needed to raise those so I dosed them up over the course of a few days. I then moved everything over saving the fish for last. They're very easy to catch with no rock and only a few inches of water. I broke some coral but that was expected. I didn't have any that died. I probably over did it but I moved a lot of acro so I wanted to match parameters as close as could.

Old

New after running a month. Still have coral to mount.

 

[BryanM]

Hi all. I have a 32 gallon biocube. I have spent the last month working on and setting up a 90 gallon tank with sump to move everything to. I’ve got it filled now, with 35ppt saltwater and nothing else. What is the best process to add sand and rock then eventually move the fish and soft corals? I read about special grade sand to help the tank cycle. Would moving all the media from the biocube to the new tank after setting up rock and sand allow me to add the fish sooner? Thanks for your help!

I strongly suggest you rinse the sand before adding it. I would rinse it outside with tap water until it runs clear, and a final rinse with RODI... I'm probably overly paranoid :)

 

[Seregus]

Old sand - maybe rinse or better not to add. New live sand must not be rinsed, well depends i guess, follow manufacturer instructions on new sand.

 

[kevgib67]

I upgraded from a Biocube 32g to a Waterbox 150.4 at the beginning of the year. I I used all TBS live sand and my existing rock and their live rock and moved everything over the same day with no casualties.