Old tank to new tank ??!

[LivingCorals Youtube]

Dumb question time

I currently have a 30 gallon tank (2yrs running). I get my upgraded 80 gallon tank in 1 week. Do I wait to sell my old tank until new tank and set up and cycled ? Or do I just transfer corals and fish into new tank once it’s set up with some new live rock and old with brand new sand? Someone told me to save a cup of my old sand to throw in ?

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

If you transfer everything from your old tank to your new tank you are bringing the cycle with you so you should be fine not cycling the 80g.

 

[LivingCorals Youtube]

If you transfer everything from your old tank to your new tank you are bringing the cycle with you so you should be fine not cycling the 80g.

How about the sand ? Should I buy new sand?

 

[UkiahTheTurtle]

How about the sand ? Should I buy new sand?

I'd personally transfer over my sand but I do know people have mixed opinions on reusing sand. But the sand does house a lot of beneficial bacteria.

 

[strich]

The reason I think a lot of people suggest tossing out the sand is because it pretty quickly builds up a ton of detritus that when disturbed is an explosive amount of nitrates, phos, etc.

Might be a good idea to only keep some percentage of it as a kick starter along with the old water I assume.

 

[kevgib67]

I upgraded a 32g to a 105 gallon at the beginning of the year. I bought all new TBS live sand and rock and just transferred over the livestock and rock over to the new tank and threw out the old sand, no cycle needed.

 

[exnisstech]

Similar to @kevgib67 I moved from a 65g to a 100g a few months ago. I'm bare bottom so no sand but if I did sand it would be live sand like he used or new sand rinsed first. I would probably add a cup of your old sand. It could provide some beneficial bacteria and won't hurt anything.
I started my new tank using 35lbs of Gulf live rock, ran it for a week then moved everything into the new tank. I was moving a lot of coral including acropora so I matched salinty, alk, nitrate and phosphate to the old tank to help prevent stress to the corals.
Leaving your old tank running makes things much easier if you can do that. That way your not rushed and live stock doesn't have to be moved twice.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I would get new sand if I were you. The rest would be fine to transfer over!

 

[BryanM]

How about the sand ? Should I buy new sand?

New sand, or thoroughly rinsing old sand.

Transferring old sand can kill everything in the new tank. There is all sorts of bad stuff usually down deeper in the sand bed, and you stir that up and basically send it throughout the tank.

Also, 30->80 gallons almost certainly means you're going to need more sand anyway, so just start with new (and rinse it before it goes in, tap water until it runs clear and then a final rinse what the heck RODI).

 

[MichaelReefer]

When I've transferred tank I always wait a bit before I add new livestock to let things balance out. You may get some nutrient spikes from disturbing stuff. Also I always wash my sand personally. Took me hours on my 150 gallon, so much crap in the sand.

 

[MC Blowfish]

How about the sand ? Should I buy new sand?

I bought new sand. I did take a cup of my old sand to add to the new tank.