Order of operations - transferring coral and fish to new tank

[aciak]

I have a 20 gal that’s loaded with softies and LPS plus 5 fish (firefish, 2 cardinals, yasha goby and yellow goby). The tank has been running for 2.5 years. I also just setup a waterbox 100.3 that’s finished cycling with Dr Tim’s One and Only. The scape is setup with new CaribSea life rock and special grade sand.

The 20 gal has some pests (vermitids, aptasia) that I would like to minimize the chance of making over to the new 100.3. Consequently, I’d rather not move the rock in the 20 gal over to the new tank. I’d rather pull the rock, remove to coral and transfer it to the new tank.

So my question is… once I’m ready to move over the coral and fish, what should the order of operations be? I’m thinking 1. Start pulling the rock, remove the coral and dip it and place in the new tank then 2. Once all the rock is out of the tank to then catch the fish and transfer to the new tank?

I was thinking about moving the coral over slowly over the course of a month then once that’s done to do the fish in one fell swoop.

EDIT: About the slow transfer of coral- maybe this isn’t a good idea because this would change the parameters of the tank since there will be less and less coral uptake out of the water. Example, alk would increase? I dose AFR. Would I be better off just doing all the coral basically all at once?

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Adding all the fish at once could be problematic if the "cycle" isn't up to the bioload...

IMO/IME, you're not going to avoid vermetids and other pests since you're transferring the coral...

 

[PR_nano]

Your plan would work. I did a similar transfer this year and while I tried to reduce the the vermit they still made it over I believe some were on hammer. I now almost daily add the diy snow and transfer bumblebee snails over to try to slow their propagation.

 

[Uncle99]

I just moved all my corals over in one day.
With the rock (and it’s bacteria missing) your back at the start so fish are added slowly, corals also back to start, water may no longer be stable.

The rock is the backbone.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Also, if you do follow the timeline you mentioned, don't remove the rock from the tank until you're ready to catch the fish... the rocks contain the bacteria that handle the current bioload.

 

[Bpones]

I’d be more inclined to transfer the fish over slowly once you’re certain you’re good and cycled. Let the tank adjust to the bio load from the fish then start moving coral after.

 

[aciak]

Also, if you do follow the timeline you mentioned, don't remove the rock from the tank until you're ready to catch the fish... the rocks contain the bacteria that handle the current bioload.

Ah yes. Good call. So I’d transfer over the coral, place the live rock back in the 20 gal and keep that rock in there till I’m ready to transfer the fish. And I could do one fish over the course of time rather than adding all 5 at once incase the new tank isn’t ready for the bioload of 5 fish added all at once.

One thing I’m concerned about is stirring the sand bed when removing rock in the 20 gal. Would hate to kill fish in the process

 

[aciak]

I’d be more inclined to transfer the fish over slowly once you’re certain you’re good and cycled. Let the tank adjust to the bio load from the fish then start moving coral after.

I considered that too but trying to catch the fish with all the coral and rock in it seems… nearly impossible. They love their hiding spots in the rock work.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Ah yes. Good call. So I’d transfer over the coral, place the live rock back in the 20 gal and keep that rock in there till I’m ready to transfer the fish. And I could do one fish over the course of time rather than adding all 5 at once incase the new tank isn’t ready for the bioload of 5 fish added all at once.

One thing I’m concerned about is stirring the sand bed when removing rock in the 20 gal. Would hate to kill fish in the process

If it were me, I'd put all the rock and coral into the new tank, catch all the fish and move to the new tank, and let the current biofilter continue to manage the bioload. As I said, it's doubtful you'll be free of vermetids regardless.

 

[aciak]

If it were me, I'd put all the rock and coral into the new tank, catch all the fish and move to the new tank, and let the current biofilter continue to manage the bioload. As I said, it's doubtful you'll be free of vermetids regardless.

This option, I think, is sort of where I’m landing with this. It makes so much sense. The slow transfer notion seems to present more risks. And I’d rather go with the option that has the potential to mitigate the most important risks, vermatids be danged.

You’re right, I’ll have to deal with them eventually anyways. I’ll just have to be more on top of managing them in the future.

 

[phillyb614]

I’d be more inclined to transfer the fish over slowly once you’re certain you’re good and cycled. Let the tank adjust to the bio load from the fish then start moving coral after.

This would be my recommendation as well. Patience is constantly the key in this hobby.

 

[Joeschie7]

Your plan would work. I did a similar transfer this year and while I tried to reduce the the vermit they still made it over I believe some were on hammer. I now almost daily add the diy snow and transfer bumblebee snails over to try to slow their propagation.

Hi PR_nano, how's it going with your diy snow and bumblebee snails battling vermetids? Have you seen any success? Once the organism dies or gets consumed by bumble bees, do the pointy tubes they create get left behind?