Tank transfer tips and tricks

[IsThatMyShoe]

Hello, everyone! I have a 40 gallon that I’ve had running for about 9 months. I’m planning to upgrade to my 55 long that was previously my freshwater tank. I’ve already added my base rock, live sand, and fritz about 3 weeks ago now. My parameters are looking good and my cycle is stable. I’m super nervous about switching my tank over though. Hoping to get some advice on what all I need to watch for and have prepared for the transition. I am planning on getting a handful of chromies just to be safe and have them in the tank for about 2 weeks before I start moving my established livestock. In my current tank I only have 2 clowns, an emerald crab, a turbo snail and then some smaller snails and hermit crabs. As for coral, I have an LTA, RBTA, scoly, trumpets, cloves, leathers, favia, birdsnest, zoas, pipe organ, Kenya tree, and a monti cap. I currently have two AI prime 16 HD reefs, and am planning on getting a blade in the near future. Also I obviously have established live rock and bio media to bring over from my main tank on the transfer. Thanks for the long read, and I look forward to any knowledge and advice!


TLDR: switching tanks but scared to move livestock. Tips and advice for transfer?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

If you're switching your rocks to the new tank, then you don't need to cycle the new tank, the rocks will insta-cycle it. If you've never done it, then I'm sure your skeptical, but the science never fails, I've done it myself several times, I've never lost any livestock at all.

Lay down some towels between the 2 tanks, and start with the machines, move them all over, then the rocks and coral, and finally the fish.

Very simple and straightforward. Good luck

 

[kboogie]

Did you add an ammonia source after the Fritz? The bacteria needs food to establish itself.

 

[edsbeaker]

Listen to @Mr. Mojo Rising!

If starting this new tank with the live rock from your old tank, you do not need to cycle it. That rock will carry the same beneficial bacteria to the new tank as it had in the old! I have also done a few upgrades, and never had a problem!
The only hard part is the mess that it will make on your floors!

 

[Anna K]

When I moved my bubble tip over I had turned off all powerheads and was hoping he'd secure himself to a chosen rock kinda quickly. He did not. I edged him into a spot where I thought he'd be safe, left him alone for about 15/20 minutes, then turned on my powerheads. I turn back around within a few minutes and he's been sucked up into the powerhead (thank god I had the fish sleeve on it or Steve would have been mush and destroyed my whole tank). I turned off the power heads, and tossed him into a rock cave. Literally a cave. He hasn't moved since and has been flourishing in his 'you better stay here or don't fing move' type home.

My advice when moving the anemones is make sure they are permanently latched onto their rock before you start up your powerhead/wavemakers. I know you're suppose to move them with the rock their on, but he detached as I was trying to move him.

 

[reefpanda]

Instant ready tank if moving all your current live rocks over. Good opportunity to rescape as well.

 

[Featherweight]

From this

To this

In a day. Rinsed clean sand. Transferred rock after scrubbing it clean and rinsing detritus out. Livestock held separate in heated water w powerheads

About 1200 with of acro frags held for 16 hours in this.

Clean sand down. Clean rock in. Fill with old tank water. Fill w new water. Go!

So far zero losses after 48 hours.

Tank volume went from 55 to 100 so nearly doubled.