Upgrading Tank

[ShellyTheReefer]

Hi, I'm still a newbie but well and truly have the reef bug so looking to upgrade my tank.
I currently have the Fluval Evo 52L/13.5Gal and want to upgrade to the Fluval Flex 123/32.5Gal.
Ideally wanting to do this tomorrow, but got the jitters!

My plan is, all new sand (CaribSea Arag Alive), fill and heat, move live rock over (5-8kg), move over filter media, dose bacteria (Colony Marine Rapid Cycle), add a whole bunch of copepods & phyto, move livestock & corals and top tank with water from Evo.

Does this sound like a good plan? Is there anything I'm missing?

Current Livestock:
2x Clowns
1x Chalk Goby
1x Clown Goby
1x Spotted Mandarin
1x Peppermint Shrimp
9x Mixed Snails (Turbos, mainly)
3x Hermits
1x Feather Duster (This is an invert, right?!)

Corals:
Multiple Zoas (Bambams, Strat, Pink Zipper,)
BTA
1x Palythoa
1x Monti
1x Firework Clove Polyp
1x Hammer
1x Toadstool Leather

I have more arriving tomorrow at around 11am, so hoping to get this set up early tomorrow and ready to go.
I know not to use the old sand, and while I have the live rock out I'm going to treat some vermetid snails I have with glue.

Please help a newbie out!

 

[BetterJake]

One tip. If you plan to do this all in one day, you are going to want to rinse the new sand very very well. Otherwise you are going to have an extremely cloudy tank and that may inhibit your ability to move things over at the speed you want.

As far as method, I'm sure there are posts here on the best way to rinse new sand.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Do you have the possibility to keep running your old tank at the same time? If you do, I would set up the new tank, introduce like 2 kg of your old rock in the new system. Treat your vermetids in the old tank and let everything stabilize again for 1 week before moving everything to the 32 :)

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

One tip. If you plan to do this all in one day, you are going to want to rinse the new sand very very well. Otherwise you are going to have an extremely cloudy tank and that may inhibit your ability to move things over at the speed you want.

As far as method, I'm sure there are posts here on the best way to rinse new sand.

Rinsing live sand? It says not to rinse on this. We'd be starting at 6-7am in the morning so we'd have lots of time :)

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

Do you have the possibility to keep running your old tank at the same time? If you do, I would set up the new tank, introduce like 2 kg of your old rock in the new system. Treat your vermetids in the old tank and let everything stabilize again for 1 week before moving everything to the 32 :)

I don't currently, or else I would. I'm in an apartment so I'm very space limited :'(

 

[BetterJake]

Rinsing live sand? It says not to rinse on this. We'd be starting at 6-7am in the morning so we'd have lots of time :)

Good point. It will clear eventually, I would be prepared for a cloudy tank.

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

Good point. It will clear eventually, I would be prepared for a cloudy tank.

I'll try and be as gentle as I can adding the water too (I have a little pump) to hopefully minimise disturbing it, fingers crossed!

 

[Euphyllia97]

I don't currently, or else I would. I'm in an apartment so I'm very

It’s less ideal, but I think your plan is a good one and can definitely be done :) To limit cloudy water, use a cup to pour your water on instead of directly on the tank.

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

It’s less ideal, but I think your plan is a good one and can definitely be done :) To limit cloudy water, use a cup to pour your water on instead of directly on the tank.

It’s less ideal, but I think your plan is a good one and can definitely be done :) To limit cloudy water, use a cup to pour your water on instead of directly on the tank.

I was going to use my tiny little pump that I use for water changes and pour it onto a plate; that's how I filled the evo, and the cloudiness was gone within an hour of switching the pumps on!

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

I have enough spare heaters to warm all my water jugs, do we think its an idea to get the water preheating overnight to minimise the wait time between filling and adding stock?

 

[Euphyllia97]

I have enough spare heaters to warm all my water jugs, do we think its an idea to get the water preheating overnight to minimise the wait time between filling and adding stock?

It is if you can provide flow :) If you don’t have any flow around the heater I wouldn’t do it, it can get damaged and the glass could even break releasing a current in the water

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

It is if you can provide flow :) If you don’t have any flow around the heater I wouldn’t do it, it can get damaged and the glass could even break releasing a current in the water

Hmmm, dang, I don't have any way to add flow into them - they're only jerry cans. I have to buy my water so don't really have a waterbutt or anything.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Hmmm, dang, I don't have any way to add flow into them - they're only jerry cans. I have to buy my water so don't really have a waterbutt or anything.

You can maybe stir the water with something in the jerry can to move the water once in a while?

 

[UncommonSense]

Use a plastic container like a 20-32g trash can, stick your little water change pump in there to mix water, then you can heat all the new water in one pass!

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

Use a plastic container like a 20-32g trash can, stick your little water change pump in there to mix water, then you can heat all the new water in one pass!

I might nip out first thing and see if I can buy a trash can! Thats a good idea!

Worst comes to worse I think I have a large tub actually...

I think I have a plan!

 

[UncommonSense]

I might nip out first thing and see if I can buy a trash can! Thats a good idea!

Worst comes to worse I think I have a large tub actually...

I think I have a plan!

If you’re willing to splurge a bit more; get a small furniture moving dolly while at the store that fits nicely under the base of the large trash can! — then you can just push around 150-250lbs of water easily!

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

If you’re willing to splurge a bit more; get a small furniture moving dolly while at the store that fits nicely under the base of the large trash can! — then you can just push around 150-250lbs of water easily!

That'd be handy but they're not as common here, I'm in the UK so I'd have to order one specially.

I have just ordered a 100L storage tub, which can be used for heating the water, that should be here around 7 am!

 

[ShellyTheReefer]

We did it!

It is a teeeensy bit cloudy, but everything is in (I even went through the old sand for the bloody bristle worms lol), corals are open, fish are eating, its all looking good here!