Transfering Tanks

[mathew26]

I am going from a 90 to a 135 and i was wondering the best way to go about the transfer. Of course i would like to have as little cycle as possible because my intentions are to use my existing rock and sand as well as the rock and sand from the 135( still up and running going to get it Sat.). My issue is that the 135 is having a HA problem and i was wondering if i let the rock sit for a couple of weeks and then rinse real well would that be suffecient enough to get rid of th HA? Also can i transfer my water from the 90 over to the 135 and add about 45gals of new saltwater and be fine. I will aslo be moving over my fish and corals. I have never done a transfer before so i am looking for some advice. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[dougers31]

Lots of good questions... But I have one for you first. What kind of sand bed do ya have in the 90?

Oops, feel kinda stupid now. Your saying the 135 already has sand in it... How deep is that sand bed? If its more than 2 or 3 inches I'd be really careful about not distubing it.

 

[Alattner]

if i understand you correctly your are going to take the rock out of the tank and let it sit right? if so i am pretty sure that if you dry out that rock you are going to have to recycle the 135

 

[akabryanhall]

if i understand you correctly your are going to take the rock out of the tank and let it sit right? if so i am pretty sure that if you dry out that rock you are going to have to recycle the 135

Plus one to that, I think a better alternative is to scrub as much of it off as possible in the transfer, the start raising you mag after everything is in and settled down a bit.

 

[mathew26]

The sand bed in the 90 is about 2-3" deep. As far as scrubbing the rock should i just use a stiff bristle brush or what would you recommend?

 

[boehm742]

Looks like both you and me are doing the same thing, ill keep an eye on this thread and you keep an eye on mine. :)

 

[Jcr's Reef]

So your buying a 135 that already has liverock in it, and then combining your 90g livestock into the 135, right? I would just take all the liverock from the 135g and put it in a trash can and let the HA die off. You would be fine to set the 135g up (after the tank is cleaned) and just transfer your livestock over, rock and all. Add the other rock to it once the HA dies off and it cycles within the trashcan to make your life easier.

 

[mathew26]

That sounds like a plan. Should i keep flow and a heater in the can or just let it sit? I just dont want to have a huge cylce when the rock goes in.

 

[dougers31]

That sounds like a plan. Should i keep flow and a heater in the can or just let it sit? I just dont want to have a huge cylce when the rock goes in.

Yep, you want to keep everything the same if you can to prevent die off(minus the algae). also want to check on the salinity while its in there.

 

[Jcr's Reef]

I have done this many times. You don't really need a heater unless you want to save every little critter in the rock, but I would add flow. Even adding a hang on filter wouldnt hurt. Whenever I did a water change in the main tank, I saved the water to do a water change in the trash can.

 

[mathew26]

I think that is the route i am going to take then. I appreciate all the help. Now i just have to take the 135 down from the guys house and move everything over to my house an hour away.