Oh Snap, its going to Crack

Justice4u2 · Mar 17, 2016

I messed up. I recently setup a new aquarium and without thinking I placed it to close to the wall. My fear is that if the aquarium moves the piping in the back will hit the wall and break the overflow, or worse.

It is a 45 gallon bow front with a 20 gallon sump.

My question is, after my cycle is complete can I do a 90% water change so that I can lighten my tank enough to move it an inch from the wall? Will this restart my cycle? Should I just empty the tank today instead of waiting?

I am half way through my cycle (I think). I just setup this tank on Sunday (3-13-16) I used 65 lbs. cured live rock that I bought a week earlier from a LFS and I kept them in a tote with a power head and heater.

Here are my test results,

Here is a picture of my concern,

PaReeferJ · Mar 17, 2016

Get 2 brute trash cans and empty the water into those, move the tank, and then put it back in

TUSI · Mar 17, 2016

If you are concerned then wait till the cycle is complete and empty and reuse the same water if you have to. Empty it in a big can and put back some with some new at your water change.

rayn · Mar 17, 2016

Drain, move, set back up.

Question, why do you think it will move? Bumping it or how?

dunc101 · Mar 17, 2016

The rock contains the bacteria, not the water. You can do a 90% water change like you proposed above or do like PaReeferJ above stated without disrupting anything. Now's the perfect timing without any fish or livestock =).

dbl · Mar 17, 2016

Just thought I'd throw this out there, but it probably weighs 600+ lbs with water, rock and equipment. It's not likely going anywhere. But I would highly recommend moving it since your already nervous about it. By doing so, it's one less thing to think about.

Do it now by reusing the water or post-cycle with large enough water change to allow you to do so.

hybridazn · Mar 17, 2016

If it were me I wouldn't worry about it moving on its own. I would move it out a bit just in case you need to get back there for maintenance.

But if you want to do it just do it now, I wouldn't worry about messing with the cycle. Just reuse the water in there

Justice4u2 · Mar 18, 2016

PaReeferJ, TUSI, hybridazn - I never considered reusing the water. Great idea, thank you so much!

Rayn - My concern is that one of my heavy footed kids will go running past it and shake the floor or some other earth shaking event. Either way it does weigh heavily on my mind.

I have not seen it move at all when someone walked passed it but I really don’t want to worry about it.

pondman · Mar 18, 2016

Yea I've drained a tank and moved it into another room.i just drained water down to the sand slid the tank to new position and refilled it never missed a beat.