Planning a tank swap

[W1ngz]

At some point in the next couple of months I'll have enough of my new build ready and will have to plan a weekend of transplanting. The new tank is going exactly where the old tank is, so neither can be used to store water, rocks or fish since they both have to be moved around.
Anyone care to share horror stories, or maybe their checklist for a tank swap?

Here's what I've got so far:

Preliminaries - a month or two before
-Cycle a holding tank for fish that may be re-homed, or in case of a colossal emergency.
-have the electrician in to install a proper GFCI outlet
-Start curing new rock in a bucket since I'm replacing a few pieces that are particularly dense and also have palythoas on them that I don't want.
-add some bio-media in my existing sump to help the new tank's bio-filter to stabilize
-a bucket for the old sand I don't want to keep.
-enough buckets or rubbermaids for most of the old tank water and rocks
-more buckets for new water to have on hand
-more buckets (so many buckets!) just in case you need to put some rock or fish or whoever else aside.
-new shims ready to level things out as the new tank fills
-Get a good level.
-towels - almost as many towels as buckets.
-paper mask and safety goggles to protect against splashes or coral squirts and aquarium gloves because palytoxin is a thing
-inventory all the livestock to make sure I get everyone out.
-plan where the old tank is going, so its out of the way of the new tank, as well as the occupying force of buckets that have multiplied, and now threaten to overrun and displace you from your home.
-charge the drill so that acrylic rods can be used to stabilize rock
-pick up some aquascaping putty or cement
-new sand

tank shutdown
-get the dog out of the house because palytoxin is still a thing
-open the windows, turn on exhaust fans
-shut down the sump, drain and clear out under the stand.
-move rocks into buckets and cover them with water.
-double-bag rocks I don't want
-allow time for the water to settle a bit. Drain as much as possible to make catching fish easier
-start netting fish and put them in the buckets with the rocks
-inventory all the livestock to make sure you got everyone
-drain the tank, and scoop out the sand
-move the old tank out of the way

new tank setup
-tape out the new footprint
-plan an offensive strategy against the bucket army to retentive the tape measure from the drawer that is now behind enemy lines
-use plumb-lines to make sure light hanging kits are or will be in the right place without the tank in place, so the step-ladder is easier to move around
-position the tank
-level the tank
-set up the sump
-cover the electrical with plastic in case of splashes
-aquascaping
-new sand
-start filling
-check level with just the sand covered in water
-check level again at ~25%, 50%
-get the seneye in the water to watch for ammonia
-finish filling, and bring the sump online

 

[Flippers4pups]

Sounds like a well thought out plan!

 

[Huff747]

Following along because I may be doing similar. I am hopeful I can move my current tank out of the way, only needs to go 10 feet, so I can have more time but not sure yet.

 

[W1ngz]

Following along because I may be doing similar. I am hopeful I can move my current tank out of the way, only needs to go 10 feet, so I can have more time but not sure yet.

Hope it helps! As you plan things for your own, if you come across any details I forgot to consider, let me know.

 

[michael giordano]

Disable the sump, plumbing, electrical and clean all first before draining tank. That will allow everything the least amount of time out of their element. Livestock, rock, water all are moved out of the old tank last. You can remove all electrical pieces the night before, to break it up and livestock the next morning to make the move less exhausting. I have moved 5 times while running full blown sps tanks and it can be done well. I always replace the new tank with new sand that seems not to spike levels, sand is nasty business. Also try to move as much of your current water in the new tank, it will help with eliminate some of the first year clycles ( not all of them).

 

[Mical]

Following also. In near future I'm moving 2 tanks

 

[showmebutterfly]

I'm swapping out tanks in less than 2 weeks. I may just print out your list. And go buy a few more buckets.

 

[W1ngz]

I'm swapping out tanks in less than 2 weeks. I may just print out your list. And go buy a few more buckets.

Awesome! Glad my neurotic over-thinking is going to benefit someone.
I still haven't swapped yet, but used smaller rubbermaid style bins from Walmart when I moved a few years ago. They have the benefit of being nested in a stack when empty for easy storage, and can be used later to store other things in the garage, laundry room, fish room or anywhere else.

 

[showmebutterfly]

Awesome! Glad my neurotic over-thinking is going to benefit someone.
I still haven't swapped yet, but used smaller rubbermaid style bins from Walmart when I moved a few years ago. They have the benefit of being nested in a stack when empty for easy storage, and can be used later to store other things in the garage, laundry room, fish room or anywhere else.

I'm all about the neurotic over-thinking. I make lists for my lists. lol

 

[Wildblue4]

Disable the sump, plumbing, electrical and clean all first before draining tank. That will allow everything the least amount of time out of their element. Livestock, rock, water all are moved out of the old tank last. You can remove all electrical pieces the night before, to break it up and livestock the next morning to make the move less exhausting. I have moved 5 times while running full blown sps tanks and it can be done well. I always replace the new tank with new sand that seems not to spike levels, sand is nasty business. Also try to move as much of your current water in the new tank, it will help with eliminate some of the first year clycles ( not all of them).

So don’t use the crushed coral/sand substrate from the old tank at all? Can you not rinse it in tank water and replace it in the new tank?
Getting ready to swap tanks myself. Going from 125 to 250.

 

[Peace River]

A couple of other things to think about - get sleep (most people don't make optimal decision on the fly when they are tired and there will alway be on the fly decisions when you are moving the tank no matter how much you plan); be intentional but don't rush (most people don't make optimal decision on the fly when they are in too much of a hurry); do a walk through before moving heavy things (it is amazing how you don't notice door handles, closed doors, tight turns, etc. until you are holding a very large, very heavy tank). Good luck!

 

[Jon Fishman]

What size tank are you moving out of?

 

[DesertReefT4r]

Have fun! Keep in mind while in the heat of tank transfer battle that this is a hobby and we enjoy it and that you wanted a larger tank to enjoy. You have a solid plan of attack, you can never have too many buckets, old towels and mixed saltwater durning this process. I have moved my personal tanks a few times and upgraded tanks size as well as did aquarium maintenance service installing, moving and cleaning tanks. I know how unexpected things can come up and how important planning is.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Great plan. Instead of an army of buckets how about a few Rubbermaids and a couple brute garbage cans (I may or may not have returned the brute cans to the hardware store after my swap)... Definately make sure all livestock is accounted for! I had a clownfish bury itself in the sand and a sailfin blenny hiding in my live rock bin

 

[W1ngz]

Great plan. Instead of an army of buckets how about a few Rubbermaids and a couple brute garbage cans (I may or may not have returned the brute cans to the hardware store after my swap)... Definately make sure all livestock is accounted for! I had a clownfish bury itself in the sand and a sailfin blenny hiding in my live rock bin

When I moved last, I wanted a single rock and a single fish per small bucket, so I knew exactly what was in each. Even if you're just moving across the room or swapping a tank, knowing what is in each makes it easier to keep track, and if you take a picture of your tank you can number each rock so as you rebuild or re-do the rockwork you know where each piece is without water all over, or risking crushing livestock.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I hear you, that is just what worked best for me. I kept all of my rock in Rubbermaids and all of my livestock in a large brute can with a small hob filter and a heater

 

[W1ngz]

I've just done this with my checklist above and would add the following changes:

A week before
-Double check that your cycled holding/QT is still processing ammonia. Depeding how long it's beet set up, if it sits too long the bacteria may have died back and need a 'boost' before there's fish in it.
-Go through your storage bins so you know where all of your gear is in case you need something you haven't used in a while. When you're surrounded by tanks, buckets, water and stuff all over the place, it saves you from dealing with a 'where did I put that thing?!?'

The day before
-Shut down whatever isn't critical to life support. Most dosers, controllers, electrical, skimmer can be taken out and put aside a day or two early. (suggested in a post a few up in the thread)
-Have a few bowls or containers ready for vinegar/water baths to clean pumps.
-Make sure you have an air pump and stone on hand.
-Round up all the snails that are out on the glass. Snails are more active at night, it saves hunting through the old substrate.