Tank transfer help

[Ronk1109]

Hi. So I have an up and running 54 gallon reef tank. I am in the process of building a 180 gallon. At what point should I transfer my water and live rock and corals to my new tank. Should I completely cycle the 180? Or can I add my existing rock and water to help or eliminate the cycle process?

 

[anthonygf]

Hello, I transferred all from my 46 bowfront to 75 gallon. Started with proper amount of salt, new live sand, when the water clears I moved rocks first with corals attached, all other corals and then fish, inverts. It's been six weeks now and everything is doing fine, also my clam. Use as much water from the old system to the new, I think the nutrients in the old water helps. In your situation I am not sure because of the water volume, but if you do it this way make sure to keep an eye on ammonia, adding extra live rock will help also.

 

[anthonygf]

Hello, I transferred all from my 46 bowfront to 75 gallon. Started with proper amount of salt, new live sand, when the water clears I moved rocks first with corals attached, all other corals and then fish, inverts. It's been six weeks now and everything is doing fine, also my clam. Use as much water from the old system to the new, I think the nutrients in the old water helps. In your situation I am not sure because of the water volume, but if you do it this way make sure to keep an eye on ammonia, adding extra live rock will help also.

Also my system remained stable and did not cycle again. I test water daily and hand dose when needed.

 

[Ronk1109]

Also my system remained stable and did not cycle again. I test water daily and hand dose when needed.

Thank you. I was just concerned because of the amount of new water that would be in the system. 54 gallons of old water I would still need over 100 gallons of new. Not sure if this is enough

 

[anthonygf]

Thank you. I was just concerned because of the amount of new water that would be in the system. 54 gallons of old water I would still need over 100 gallons of new. Not sure if this is enough

I think you will be fine, just keep an eye on parameters and dose as needed. Check daily until stable. When transferring, just make sure ph, temp and salinity is the same as old water.

 

[Mike Kearns]

I went from a 46 to a 100 gallon and didn't lose anything. I did the same thing as above. Moved bottom layer of rock. Then new sand, then new water. As soon as it cleared fish went in. Waited a week then moved corals.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Acclimate fish to new tank as if you just bought them and assure parameters in both tanks are similar
Run carbon the first 3-4 weeks as some corals will release toxins at first during adjustment period

 

[brandon429]

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

I am fairly worried about moving my freshwater setup as it is fairly overstocked (reduces aggression as no one fish gets singled out). I did fail to think about the toxicity of nitrite on top of ammonia toxicity... Here is my plan for the cichlid tank. I have gradually reduced my pH from 8.2 to...

www.reef2reef.com

theres our collection of moves. We used all new water every time, but I like the above idea of adding some old for nutrients


drop the lighting in the new tank re ramp
not full production levels work up.