Transfer question

[Joshifer]

Now before I go all impulsive. I find it wise to ask my dear friends counsel.

I found a great deal on a larger tank. 65 gal to be exact. With lights and beautiful matching stand.
Would transferring everything from my 26 to the 65 including water cause a mini cycle? Of course I'd have to add more new water but all the old water sand and rock will be present. And again dr tims and possibly natures ocean live water. Maybe about 5 gallons of that.

Don't kill me. Lol I know you guys are gonna yell at me "you just finished one upgrade" but I really like that setup. If it does cause a mini cycle. How long do those usually last ? Another dumb question here. Can my fish and coral stay in the 26 without rock and sand while the larger tank goes thru it's cycle? I know they'll stress they don't like stuff being moved. I can leave them some rubble (even tho they never hide in the rocks they hang out behind the filter intake.)

[79chopperdr]

If you are setting up the tanks close to each other. Set up a closed loop between tanks. A friend used two rio 180 pumps to move water between the tanks. Obviously close supervision is required!! Let it run 8 hours or so and move everything.

 

When I upgraded from a 80 to my 210 this wasn't a option because of the distance between tanks. I filled the 210 with water, dry sand and some dry rock. I added a few rocks and a couple cups of sand from the 80. I let the 210 go for a couple weeks until the diatoms got going. On move day I made sure the water tested out the same from the 210 and the 80. I just moved the coral and rocks from one tank to the other. The fish got drip acclimated before being added to the 210.

 

I had zero losses, I have no idea if it was my crazy good science skills or dumb luck!!

 

 

Good luck!

[surf&turf]

If your system was a little older, I would say no problem. I would set the new tank up with some new sand and a few pieces of good live rock, add some of your tank water from a few water changes, then slowly transfer your livestock over.

[Coral Hind]

I doubt you will see much of a cycle at all unless you add new rock that is not cured and has some die off on it that could lead to ammonia being produced.

[lutz123]

You'll certainly get a mini cycle - how big depends on how you do the new tank.  Your best bet would be to find someone breaking down an established tank that you can get sand, rock, and even water from.  It would minimize your cycle and the fish can stay put for now.

 

 If you remove most of your rock/sand, they would be fine with staying in the old tank but you will have to be diligent with testing and water changes- just as if it was a quarantine tank.

 

Fortunately clownfish are very hardy and will likely weather the storm just fine.

 

Can't wait to see new pictures - that's a nice size!

[Origami]

I doubt you will see much of a cycle at all unless you add new rock that is not cured and has some die off on it that could lead to ammonia being produced.

+1. No cycle as you're not adding to the bioload or decreasing the biodiversity in the transfer. Technically, all you're doing is increasing the water volume. Now, if something dies or if something new is added to the tank, the tank will have to adjust. This tank is simply too new in my opinion for their to be much of an effect of disrupting things like the sand bed.

[Neto]

If you are not doing this right away, save your water from your WC and at the end, you will have more water.

[lnevo]

Water dies not have a lot of bacteria. Bacteria likes to stick to surfaces like sand and rock. You can transfer everything and add new water you will be fine. Definitely test often during the transition and for a while after.

 

The problem you will face is the current amount of sand / live rock is not enough for the new tank. You will need to add more down the line if you want to increase your bioload

 

My recommendation is to cycle and cure that live rock and sand separately before adding it to the 65. You can use a rubbermaid tote a heater and a powerhead for circulation.

 

Is this a reef ready tank? If not i would skip it. You will want a sump in your future tank. Keep reading tank threads and make sure this is what you want before you find yourself looking at the next big tank.

 

I have a 65 and am very happy with the size and footprint. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

[lnevo]

Oh one more thing...what kind of lights? They may be useless for coral if this was a fowlr or fw tank so i wouldn't necessarily consider them as part of any value in this setup.

 

Now if they are good T5 or MH or even a good LED setup then it may be worth something.

[Joshifer]

I have a little over 60lbs of rock. 40lbs of sand. Good question about the lighting. I have no idea lol. I think he said compact flourescent? Not positive but wouldn't I be able to just change all the bulbs? I think it had 6 or 8 bulbs. I thought it was a good deal. Tank stand and light $100.

 

Thinking it over. I could set it next to the one I have running and slowly transfer everything. I don't have anything big enough to mix water so I'd have to mix water in the new tank.

 

Or...have someone fish sit and transfer everything over and wait for that to stabilize.

[smallreef]

Cfl bulbs are okay for fowlr and softies, but LPS and definitely sps require much stronger lighting, like T5's or MH or good LEDs....

[Joshifer]

+1. No cycle as you're not adding to the bioload or decreasing the biodiversity in the transfer. Technically, all you're doing is increasing the water volume. Now, if something dies or if something new is added to the tank, the tank will have to adjust. This tank is simply too new in my opinion for their to be much of an effect of disrupting things like the sand bed.

I'm not gonna have any die off. Ill literally move it all over. I'm curious about the sand tho. Won't I be releasing all kinds of toxics by scooping it up and putting it in the larger ? Then again it's only been 25 days can't be that much going on in my sand.

 

Plus it gives me an excuse to attack that one last remaining aptasia I can't get to lol.

[Joshifer]

Cfl bulbs are okay for fowlr and softies, but LPS and definitely sps require much stronger lighting, like T5's or MH or good LEDs....

What if I was to change them all to 10.000k daylight and some actinics?

 

The only coral I ever wanna keep is GSP Xenia and Kenya's. will they be ok with those lights?

[smallreef]

It'll be fine...it take a while, year or so, to accumulate detritus and such that could cause a cycle by moving...I'm currently stirring my sand , then doing a water change on my 50g to get the sand prepped to move to the 150g in a few weeks...

[Joshifer]

It'll be fine...it take a while, year or so, to accumulate detritus and such that could cause a cycle by moving...I'm currently stirring my sand , then doing a water change on my 50g to get the sand prepped to move to the 150g in a few weeks...

I think I'm gonna go for it if everyone thinks its okay. I really loved the tank and stand. So much more room to work with in the 65.

[smallreef]

Definetely, and when your ready for harder corals you can buy a new light ...

[surf&turf]

CF are ok for lps and sps as well as long as you keep the sps at the top of the tank. This tank was under 4 65watt CF before I moved everything to my 90

 

[Joshifer]

CF are ok for lps and sps as well as long as you keep the sps at the top of the tank. This tank was under 4 65watt CF before I moved everything to my 90

 

Awesome pic thanks. Yeah I'm gonna do it. Just need some extra cash. Paid a few bills.

[paul b]

Just transfer it and don't worry about a mini cycle.  Don't test for it and you won't have one.

[Joshifer]

Just transfer it and don't worry about a mini cycle.  Don't test for it and you won't have one.

Lol. And keep prime handy

[lnevo]

Josh...is the tank reef ready? Does it have a sump...if not stop right now.

 

The lighting is already out...don't try to make something work that won't.

 

You will need a new skimmer. More flow. Etc. please think about all thats involved not just the transfer.

 

Mini cycle is not the issue...one big hurdle as you said is mixing salt. Get some brutes. Setup a mixing station. Filling it is one thing. Water changes, top off and emergencies are another.

 

Go into this slowly please. I'm in NY but we can all help with the planning. I'm begging you to do this one the right way

 

It may be the right tank but you haven't answered the question about a sump and / or reef ready status. This is a bigger tank than a 30 where you gonna put the skimmer? HOB? Ugh. Not for this size... If its not reef ready is the glass tempered so you can drill it?

 

I think you are looking at the beauty of the stand (tanks are tanks)...thats just $30 of molding at the hardware store....think long term to have the tank you want not the one you see...

 

Also used for your tank is not what i would recommend. Too many issues...was copper used? How old is the silicone? What condition is the trim in? Cross brace?? Do you want a cross brace? I have one...i don't want one...it blocks 10% of my light fixture.

 

I think you don't even know half the questions you should be asking at this point and I'm not trying to insult. I really want to see you be successful...

[Kevnjeep]

IMO do not re use sand it is never worth it. Just remember old sand is filled with phosphate and nitrate which would cause a larger cycle

[sachabballi reef]

IMO do not re use sand it is never worth it. Just remember old sand is filled with phosphate and nitrate which would cause a larger cycle

Lol this thread is from October and he lives in California now 

[Kevnjeep]

Hahaha ooops