Upgrading

[Jimmerz]

I’ve had a 35 gallon cube going for about 5 months and an fluval 13.5 about 8 months old. I’m upgrading to a 60 cube and combining them, should I start over or can I use my old sand and water since it’s not that old? I will be using my rock even though it has some hair algae. I will clean it in a tub before transferring. Just not rich enough to buy all new rock (will have to buy a little as I only have about 50 lbs) and I can take the good with the bad.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Of course you can and should use your rock, absolutely. Transferring the rock will insta-cycle the tank, so you can transfer your livestock at the same time and they will be fine.

Sand is a bit more tricky, now you've months worth of fish poop and uneaten food, so stirring that up and transferring it to the new tank will create ammonia spike, so its important to clean the sand before transferring it. Put it in a bucket and run tap water into it, swish is around and empty out the dirty water, and just keep going until the water starts to run clear. It takes several hours but its important or you will start your new tank in a bad note. So rinse it or buy new sand.

Some use the old water, I guess its fine, personally I like to just use new water.

its really that easy, build the tank, get the sand in, fill it with water, and then transfer the rocks over, then the livestock, and your done. Match the temp and salinity very carefully, thats very important since its like a 100% water change.

 

[Jimmerz]

Thank you I’m just gonna get new sand I cleaned my rock with a tooth brush and put it in a tote with a wave maker and heater going to leave it completely dark for a week. ‍ left some in the tank cause it has coral on it I will give it a quick brushing before I put it in the new tank. Just hard juggling all this crap.

 

[Jimmerz]

This is where I’m at. Trying to combine these 2 tanks into one. Sorry they look worse then they ever have with all the moving stuff and building the new tank(taking all my spare time).

 

[Jimmerz]

The fluval 13.5 I bought new (started this whole thing) and the 20x20 cube I bought used and added the HOB refuge and AI Prime. It had a canister filter when I got it that’s what I’m trying to get away from. Heck who knows maybe I’m just not good at keeping salt water tanks. Imma have one last go at it.

 

[Jimmerz]

What I’m trying to do. I have a decent size closet that I am going to try and use for my sump. I’m getting over whelmed as I pretty much made everything from drilling the tank to the stands (yeah I had to build one in the closet cause the place I wanted it couldn’t be put in cause the fit. Might be just losing my mind who knows. All the time and money I spent I could have just got an all in one.

 

[phillyb614]

I have done the exact thing with rock, putting it in the dark, but keeping the water circulating to keep the bacteria alive. One piece of advice I received, was to change out the water every few days, in order to keep removing the dying off algae.

Other than that, sounds like you have been given/have a solid plan. Good luck and enjoy the upgrade!

 

[Jimmerz]

So I got it going. What do you think? Just waiting on my hms mounting system should be here tomorrow. I have a hydra 26. You think that is enough? I also have some reef brights that attach to the hydra but it’s bulky and I don’t want to use em if I don’t have to plus I don’t have the controller and it’s a couple hundred. I could put it on a timer? I was looking at cheap timer/dimmers on eBay but not sure if that would work. Any advice or suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.