Tips on upgrading tanks

[GHOSTLY]

So a couple months back i bought a little 6g fluval (fishless) just for a couple sps. Since then Ive been wanting to upgrade more and more. Someone on fb got a 13.5 evo for only 30$ and I definitely wanna use this chance to upgrade. Issue is im not sure how to minimize the stress on my already encrusting acros. I'd be transferring current sand along with maybe 5-lb more and more LR. the big issue is corals. I'd be adding all my current stuff and moving it over to bring more bacteria.
Big issue im facing rn is what to do with the corals temporarily, if I should re-cycle the tank since it's almost double the volume, or if adding that much fresh salt water may cause a flux. Any advice on upgrading smoothly would be great

 

[X-37B]

So a couple months back i bought a little 6g fluval (fishless) just for a couple sps. Since then Ive been wanting to upgrade more and more. Someone on fb got a 13.5 evo for only 30$ and I definitely wanna use this chance to upgrade. Issue is im not sure how to minimize the stress on my already encrusting acros. I'd be transferring current sand along with maybe 5-lb more and more LR. the big issue is corals. I'd be adding all my current stuff and moving it over to bring more bacteria.
Big issue im facing rn is what to do with the corals temporarily, if I should re-cycle the tank since it's almost double the volume, or if adding that much fresh salt water may cause a flux. Any advice on upgrading smoothly would be great

I have done this a few time, lol.

What I do is get the new tank setup with the new sand and full of water to temp and your current parameters for alk from the old system. Let it clear.

You are not going to add any old sand.

Once its clear and at the same parameters you can drain water from your old system into a bucket or 2. Place all corals in the buckets.

Now tank some water out and add your rockwork.
Once the rockwork is in place add the coral and your done.

I would add 1 small bottle of Turbo start. Not really needed but it will add bacteria and prevent any ammonia issues.

 

[GHOSTLY]

I have done this a few time, lol.

What I do is get the new tank setup with the new sand and full of water to temp and your current parameters for alk from the old system. Let it clear.

You are not going to add any old sand.

Once its clear and at the same parameters you can drain water from your old system into a bucket or 2. Place all corals in the buckets.

Now tank some water out and add your rockwork.
Once the rockwork is in place add the coral and your done.

I would add 1 small bottle of Turbo start. Not really needed but it will add bacteria and prevent any ammonia issues.

Any reason not to add old sand? I was gonna mix it almost 50 50 with new

 

[BriDroid]

Any reason not to add old sand? I was gonna mix it almost 50 50 with new

Everybody always says not to add any sand from the old tank. I've always added a cup or two of the old sand without any issues. I don't think I would do 50/50. That is a lot of organics and other stuff your new system doesn't need.

 

[X-37B]

Any reason not to add old sand? I was gonna mix it almost 50 50 with new

If you mix it rinse it well. Disturbing a sandbed can release alot of detrius into the new system that I would not want.
Just not worth it and makes the transer simple with all new.
Your system is small so the cleaner the better to start.

My 15 is 6 months old running nothing but floss, carbon, and 2 part.
If I was to put all of this into a larger system like you the sand is not welcome.
Also start a build thread so we can follow.

 

[X-37B]

Everybody always says not to add any sand from the old tank. I've always added a cup or two of the old sand without any issues. I don't think I would do 50/50. That is a lot of organics and other stuff your new system doesn't need.

Yes a cup or 2 for the bacteria is a good idea if you think you need it.

 

[GHOSTLY]

Id be running a refugium, think I should just keep the old sand in the back

If you mix it rinse it well. Disturbing a sandbed can release alot of detrius into the new system that I would not want.
Just not worth it and makes the transer simple with all new.
Your system is small so the cleaner the better to start.

My 15 is 6 months old running nothing but floss, carbon, and 2 part.
If I was to put all of this into a larger system like you the sand is not welcome.
Also start a build thread so we can follow.

 

[Euphyllia098]

If you plan ahead you can start cleaning your existing sand bed a little at a time in anticipation of the move. Then you should be able to move it no problem.

For example in my system I'm not wanting to destroy all of the ecology in my existing sand bed. So I've been cleaning it weekly so that nothing crazy will happen when I move it to my new tank. I'm going to vacuum as much of it out of my existing tank, add it to the new tank an, let it settle for a few days before moving the livestock.

You can also follow @brandon429 and do a rip clean of your sand bed. That essentially involves washing it before adding it to the new tank. He's done a study of sorts on it.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/official-sand-rinse-and-tank-transfer-thread.230281/

 

[SandNRocks]

Personal opinion and experience: Whether or not you use the old sand depends how clean it is. If you give it all a good vaccuum beforehand it should be plenty clean. Assuming you dont have any fish i wouldnt worry about cycling at all. Or bacteria or really anything. The corals a lot tougher than you realize and would likely be unaffected by any ammonia spikes etc. What ive done for every upgrade 2g to 13 to 40 to 75. (All without fish) is like a few days before blow off all the rocks and vaccuum the sand to get as much detritus out as possible. Then id literally just take everything and put it into the new tank. Literally everything then add whatever new sand and rock you want. Dont worry about it getting all stirred up, the floss will handle that. Just change it a few extra times early on. And then add whatever extra water is needed. Just make sure the new rock and sand is super rinsed. Ive never lost anything doing it this way. When i went from 40g to 75 i didnt even have enough water made. Just threw it all in the display with a heater and powerhead and left it for a few days.
40g

75g after moving. Probably took 20 gallons of water from the 40 pretty much all sps and none ever seemed bothered by the move

After adding rock a few days later

 

[GHOSTLY]

I have done this a few time, lol.

What I do is get the new tank setup with the new sand and full of water to temp and your current parameters for alk from the old system. Let it clear.

You are not going to add any old sand.

Once its clear and at the same parameters you can drain water from your old system into a bucket or 2. Place all corals in the buckets.

Now tank some water out and add your rockwork.
Once the rockwork is in place add the coral and your done.

I would add 1 small bottle of Turbo start. Not really needed but it will add bacteria and prevent any ammonia issues.

Hey i just wanna ask a quick question. Ive got a buddy who has a deal on dry rock. Any repercussions from adding dry rock or should I just sub in with turbostart/microbacter. On the fence rn about sand or barebottom too

 

[TheNative192]

Hey i just wanna ask a quick question. Ive got a buddy who has a deal on dry rock. Any repercussions from adding dry rock or should I just sub in with turbostart/microbacter. On the fence rn about sand or barebottom too

The problem with adding old sand is when you start to pick it up all the old nutrients that were trapped below release and so if you add it to a new system your Nitrates and Phosphates will be very high. As for adding new Dry rock try to keep it at or around 10-20% to the current amount of Live rock in the system and dose some form of beneficial bacteria when adding it. I would wait a week at least after the tank transfer just so everything settling before adding the dry rock though.

If I were in your shoes I would buy all new sand. Put the sand in the tank. Add the new tank water less than what you have in your other tank. Move the Corals, live rock, to a bucket with just enough water to cover the corals & rock. Slowly add new tank water to the bucket till it is equal parts old tank water and new tank water. Then pour in all the old tank water and add the Live Rock/Corals to the display. Since there is a lot more water volume you can do it by adding a cup of the new water to the old water. Again you do not need to have all 5 gallons of old tank water in the bucket. Just enough to cover the corals & live rock.

Transferring sand is the most common way people kill corals & fish in tank transfers which is why most do not recommend it.

 

[BryanM]

So a couple months back i bought a little 6g fluval (fishless) just for a couple sps. Since then Ive been wanting to upgrade more and more. Someone on fb got a 13.5 evo for only 30$ and I definitely wanna use this chance to upgrade. Issue is im not sure how to minimize the stress on my already encrusting acros. I'd be transferring current sand along with maybe 5-lb more and more LR. the big issue is corals. I'd be adding all my current stuff and moving it over to bring more bacteria.
Big issue im facing rn is what to do with the corals temporarily, if I should re-cycle the tank since it's almost double the volume, or if adding that much fresh salt water may cause a flux. Any advice on upgrading smoothly would be great

You've got mature live rock in the current tank it sounds like.

That live rock, a couple cups of your current sand, and then supplement with new sand.

Transfer water or use new, the good bacteria is in the rock. Virtually instant cycle, good to go, should be pretty dang trouble free unless I'm missing something.

Even with my large tank transfer (70 DT to 170dt), used all new sand, all old live rock, about about 50% of old water.

no cycle with that transfer.

 

[Euphyllia098]

You've got mature live rock in the current tank it sounds like.

That live rock, a couple cups of your current sand, and then supplement with new sand.

Transfer water or use new, the good bacteria is in the rock. Virtually instant cycle, good to go, should be pretty dang trouble free unless I'm missing something.

Even with my large tank transfer (70 DT to 170dt), used all new sand, all old live rock, about about 50% of old water.

no cycle with that transfer.

Did you have to deal with the uglies again?

 

[BryanM]

Did you have to deal with the uglies again?

Nope. Things went very well.