Planning a tank upgrade with move

[ReeferReefer]

Hey guys. I currently have a 90g AIO reef tank that has been running just over 3 years.

I am currently renting and will either be moving into a new house in the summer or getting some new roommates, it's up in the air right now.

I have been wanting to upgrade my 90 to a proper 120 with a sump. I figured the move was a good excuse to upgrade. I am planning on piecing the tank together over the next few months. I figure I have a few options.

1. Cure dead rock in a bin and keep the 120 in the garage empty (would hopefully result in no cycle needed?). When we get a new house, set up the 120 in it and transfer the livestock of the 90 over, tearing down the 90 after. (would make the transfer easier).

2. Tear down the 90 and replace it with the 120. Cure the dead rock first before the transfer. When we move just set up a 40b as temp holding for the livestock. Move livestock after the 120 is set up in the new house.

What do you think would be easier? Ideally I would not be running both systems at the same time for very long. What complicates the whole thing is that I would give it a 50% chance we stay in the rental for another year. What would you do? I realize that this is highly personal and I probably should just decide myself.

 

[davocean]

It does depend on you.

You could easily transfer everything from the 90 to 120 w/out cycle issues using existing LR provided you have a decent amount.

I'd use new dry sand if a sand bed is being used.

I'm really in to scaping, and I'd want to make nice structures, so I would want to build them using both the existing rock and new.

Guess it may depend on what you want as that goes.

I personally rent here as well, and I've moved a couple times, so I make my pillars or structures on acrylic rods so I can lift an island pretty much in one piece.

This allows me to submerge a complete structure into a brute for easy transfer.

 

[ReeferReefer]

It does depend on you.

You could easily transfer everything from the 90 to 120 w/out cycle issues using existing LR provided you have a decent amount.

I'd use new dry sand if a sand bed is being used.

I'm really in to scaping, and I'd want to make nice structures, so I would want to build them using both the existing rock and new.

Guess it may depend on what you want as that goes.

I personally rent here as well, and I've moved a couple times, so I make my pillars or structures on acrylic rods so I can lift an island pretty much in one piece.

This allows me to submerge a complete structure into a brute for easy transfer.

Well the tank set up I am buying includes dead rock, (pukani) and much of the rock I used in my current tank is not the best, so I would like to replace the majority of it.

I want to do the fiber glass rod method for scaping as well, as I am trying to get away from the "wall of rock" look that my current 90g has.

So I should probably drill and scape the rock first, then cure it? I want the rock to be live when I set up the new system to add the stability of the system.

How was your experience moving your tank?

Did you set up a temp holding tank for the livestock? I am just worried that if I set up the 120 now, it will take too long to tear down the 120, move it, re-set up and then transfer livestock for the animals to survive without heat and airation.

 

[davocean]

If it were me, I'd drill and scape the new rock and drop it into brutes in SW, and if you have a piece of established LR that is relatively pest free maybe add that to seed life after a few days/week of new rock being submerged.

I love brute trash cans, I keep 4 on hand, and they make great holding/transfer vessels, just add a pump, heater if fish or coral are in, or if a cold location like snow areas maybe.

I've done many many transfers over the years w/ minimal loss, but I have had an anemone get into a pump that fouled that vessel, so I keep fish separate from nem now, and cage pump w/ eggcrate to keep animals from getting sucked in.

I have kept animals in brutes for weeks like this w/out issues.

Corals would need a light of some kind, and measures to keep hot lamps from touching brutes directly.

 

[ReeferReefer]

If it were me, I'd drill and scape the new rock and drop it into brutes in SW, and if you have a piece of established LR that is relatively pest free maybe add that to seed life after a few days/week of new rock being submerged.

I love brute trash cans, I keep 4 on hand, and they make great holding/transfer vessels, just add a pump, heater if fish or coral are in, or if a cold location like snow areas maybe.

I've done many many transfers over the years w/ minimal loss, but I have had an anemone get into a pump that fouled that vessel, so I keep fish separate from nem now, and cage pump w/ eggcrate to keep animals from getting sucked in.

I have kept animals in brutes for weeks like this w/out issues.

Corals would need a light of some kind, and measures to keep hot lamps from touching brutes directly.

Well I've got to say you have been incredibly helpful!
I use brute cans for water changes but never thought to use them to hold fish and corals temporarily.

Much of the anxiety was around the moving of the tank and not wanting to set something up just to have to tear it down in a year and a half. Knowing I can just set up temp holding cans for them makes the whole decision easier.

I am going to take my time with the build and get the rock cured/cycled. If we don't end up moving, I will set up the tank for sure.

 

[cwalton00]

The Rubbermaid tubs make good holding tanks to. I think the 50 gallon one is only 60 bucks or so.