Tips on upgrading tanks

Jake_the_reefer

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At some point I would like to move my 20g tank and all that it contains into a 30-35g tank and I have a few questions.
1) will the cycle transfer with the tank if I trash the sand but keep all the rocks and bio media.
2) will a mini cycle happen and hurt my inhabitants
3) anyone have any good reads on upgrading tanks?
4) if I wanted to trash the live rock I'm currently using would cycling new rock in a big plastic tub ensure a cycle wouldn't happen?
 
I have transferred tanks probably 10 times over the last few years between moving, setting up the tanks, changing spots in the house because the wife bought new furniture, and upgrading. It's not very complicated.

1) Get the new tank in place first. This may seem obvious, but the only reason this shouldnt be done is if it is going in the same spot.

2) have extra bins and water made up and ready to go. You'll need it, and you can use the new water as a "water change"

3) You can keep the sand if you want, but most people would start fresh. I have done both keeping and ditching the sand. Rinse the sand with a garden hose if you can to get as much detritus out as possible.

4) you may get a mini cycle if ditching the sand (only because you'd be getting rid of bacteria with the sand). I would get a bottle of Dr Tims/Microbacter7/Biospira to have on hand and add it once you're done transferring over. It's cheap and will give you peace of mind

5) You can keep the live rock and biomedia. As long as there is enough bacteria in those to process the bioload of the tank you should be fine. Again, get a bottle of bacteria if you're worried about it

6) Rinse the live rock in old tank water. You'd be surprised how much comes off of it, and that is less waste going into the new system.

7) Take your time. It can take a couple of hours to complete. Grab a hang on filter to run on whatever your livestock is in. This will give you as much time as possible to get the rockwork and equipment in place.

8) use two nets and be ready for fish to try and jump away from you. My hippo tang was the last one moved in the last transfer, he was hiding under a rock and when I moved it he darted 5ft across the tank and there was an audible "thunk" when he ran into the glass.

It took me 10hrs to transfer my 190 to my new 180 peninsula. All livestock lived. I actually pumped the water from one tank to the other and used a filter sock to catch anything.
 
I have transferred tanks probably 10 times over the last few years between moving, setting up the tanks, changing spots in the house because the wife bought new furniture, and upgrading. It's not very complicated.

1) Get the new tank in place first. This may seem obvious, but the only reason this shouldnt be done is if it is going in the same spot.

2) have extra bins and water made up and ready to go. You'll need it, and you can use the new water as a "water change"

3) You can keep the sand if you want, but most people would start fresh. I have done both keeping and ditching the sand. Rinse the sand with a garden hose if you can to get as much detritus out as possible.

4) you may get a mini cycle if ditching the sand (only because you'd be getting rid of bacteria with the sand). I would get a bottle of Dr Tims/Microbacter7/Biospira to have on hand and add it once you're done transferring over. It's cheap and will give you peace of mind

5) You can keep the live rock and biomedia. As long as there is enough bacteria in those to process the bioload of the tank you should be fine. Again, get a bottle of bacteria if you're worried about it

6) Rinse the live rock in old tank water. You'd be surprised how much comes off of it, and that is less waste going into the new system.

7) Take your time. It can take a couple of hours to complete. Grab a hang on filter to run on whatever your livestock is in. This will give you as much time as possible to get the rockwork and equipment in place.

8) use two nets and be ready for fish to try and jump away from you. My hippo tang was the last one moved in the last transfer, he was hiding under a rock and when I moved it he darted 5ft across the tank and there was an audible "thunk" when he ran into the glass.

It took me 10hrs to transfer my 190 to my new 180 peninsula. All livestock lived. I actually pumped the water from one tank to the other and used a filter sock to catch anything.
Great tips!!! I do have a 5 micron sock I can use to clean and keep my water.

I am using an ai prime light, would an ai prime be still be good on a tank 30-35g?
 
Like Pntbll stated stated the easiest way is to the new tank in a new location, get that one up and running add new sand then start bringing over the rock and once there is no other rock in the old tank you can now catch the fish. Keep your old sand and wash it out to the water runs clear and use it on the next upgrade.
 
Like Pntbll stated stated the easiest way is to the new tank in a new location, get that one up and running add new sand then start bringing over the rock and once there is no other rock in the old tank you can now catch the fish. Keep your old sand and wash it out to the water runs clear and use it on the next upgrade.
Sounds good! I'll probably ditch my old sand I'm not a fan of the grain size and it's only about $19 of sand so I'm not worried about cleaning it.
I'm thinking about buying a prebuilt kit like a redsea or water box. What other companies out there sell fully plumbed kits?
 
Also check out IM tanks they have a line and there tanks are really nice.https://premiumaquatics.com/products/tropic-eden-reefflakes-aragonite-sand-30lb.html also get this sand, they have different sizes too. Amazon sells it as well. It usually sells out so if it is available you may want to ob on it.

https://premiumaquatics.com/products/tropic-eden-reeflakes-grand-select-30lbs.html
I have a fusion 10g I love it. I'll have to see what else they have. I'm also considering finding a biocube 32 without the hood and trying that. My only issue is I'd like a sump because in my biocube 14 I have an awful time trying to figure how to have my equipment/filtration. I could always mod it to have a sump.
 
Check out the IM Lagoon 25 with the rear chamber.
 

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