Preparing for Transfer

[Squishie89]

So I am a few weeks or so away from transferring my 7 fish and inverts from my display into a temporary system I have set up in the basement. I finally got live rock and sand into the temp tank this past Friday (76lbs of rock, 80lbs of sand). I am monitoring things with a Seneye, pH and ammonia are looking really good. I plan on adding bacteria and pods this week (I have a mandarin and a pipefish that both eat pods and nothing else). I will also be feeding a mixture of phytoplan (powdered phyto) and some type of marine snow, this combo seems to be doing well in my display to keep the pods happy. What else should I be doing to get the tank ready?

 

A few days before the transfer I was going to start feeding the fish very heavily as this aquascape is A LOT different from the display and I know they will be very confused. One of my fish, a gumdrop coral croucher really likes to hide and sometimes when he moves it can take 1-2 days before I find him, I can only imagine how it will be in a tank I don't know like the back of my hand. Is there anything else I should be doing for the fish to prepare them/make this as easy on them as possible?

 

Thanks so much for the help, here are some photos for your enjoyment

 

 

This is A2, the gigantic RBTA, easily the size of a dinner plate.

 

And this is A1, the anemone I rehabbed. She went from 100% purple and now has a lot of green coming back in, and is super bubbly (bubbles can be seen in the pic of A2). We are very optimistic that she will survive all this turmoil.

[Jason Rhoads]

It sounds like you have a great plan in place.  The only thing I can offer is to keep the lights dim in the temp tank for a few hours post-transfer. 

 

How long will the livestock be in the temporary system?

[Squishie89]

It sounds like you have a great plan in place. The only thing I can offer is to keep the lights dim in the temp tank for a few hours post-transfer.

 

How long will the livestock be in the temporary system?

~2-4 months. I am re-doing the display completely with dry rock so that will take time to cycle and then time for all the pods to accumalate. I am not sticking to any time frame because who knows how long some of this will take. I just want the best for my critters =)

[YHSublime]

So long as you use the same live rock, or switch to a live tank, you should be fine. I just moved 150 gallons into a rubbermaid tub, and then into a 180 over the process of 2 weeks without adequate lighting for about almost 2 months. Included were all my zoas, 4 anemones, a few chunks of SPS, and tons of montis. Keep your temp and salinity good, don't add to much of a bio load at one time, and bobs your uncle. 

[Squishie89]

So long as you use the same live rock, or switch to a live tank, you should be fine. I just moved 150 gallons into a rubbermaid tub, and then into a 180 over the process of 2 weeks without adequate lighting for about almost 2 months. Included were all my zoas, 4 anemones, a few chunks of SPS, and tons of montis. Keep your temp and salinity good, don't add to much of a bio load at one time, and bobs your uncle.

Not using the same rock for the display. I wanted to use dry rock as I am going to be as diligent and careful as possible to not introduce any pests. I have 75lbs of Tonga branch sitting in my kitchen just waiting to be used.

 

But the temp tank has 76lbs of live rock. Everything is looking good in there.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Squishie89

[YHSublime]

Right. So your holding tank has live rock in it, so you can keep that going until you establish your new DT. I say go for it. 

[John Ford]

The whole reason your moving everything over from one system to the next is to get rid of the hydroids right?

 

Move slow. Very slow... No need to rush it in my opinion. Slowly move fish over the course of a couple weeks so the new batch of live rock develops the needed bio filter. Make absolulty 100% sure no water from your old tank hits the temp tank or your hydroids will make the trip too.

 

Then start to clean your old tank and steralize it. How ever long that takes to clean your rock and equipment. Monitor your temp tank in the mean time and make sure no hydroids made that trip. I personally would take several months to make sure that your temp tank has none. Duringbthat time id do extensive vinager baths and bleach baths to make sure the hydroids are gone with your old tank.

 

Start up your old tank and let it cycle for a long time and make sure the hydroids are gone. *you have to be patient with this*. Nothing happens fast in this hobby besides a crash

Edited December 2, 2014 by John Ford

[Squishie89]

The whole reason your moving everything over from one system to the next is to get rid of the hydroids right?

 

Move slow. Very slow... No need to rush it in my opinion. Slowly move fish over the course of a couple weeks so the new batch of live rock develops the needed bio filter. Make absolulty 100% sure no water from your old tank hits the temp tank or your hydroids will make the trip too.

 

Then start to clean your old tank and steralize it. How ever long that takes to clean your rock and equipment. Monitor your temp tank in the mean time and make sure no hydroids made that trip. I personally would take several months to make sure that your temp tank has none. Duringbthat time id do extensive vinager baths and bleach baths to make sure the hydroids are gone with your old tank.

 

Start up your old tank and let it cycle for a long time and make sure the hydroids are gone. *you have to be patient with this*. Nothing happens fast in this hobby besides a crash

Yes the hydroids. Luckily I don't care too much about the temp tank stuff. I am not purposely going to infest it but I don't plan on reusing any of the sand or rock in there, the display is what I care about.

 

I was planning on adding all the fish and inverts at the same time. I am going to be feeding the temp tank relatively heavily with pod food and maybe even some ghost feeding with pellets to get the tank ready. Tonight I am going to add liquid bacteria just to make sure it is all good to go for the pods arriving Thursday. Could I do anything else to prepare for all the fish to be added at once?

[YHSublime]

You don't have enough stock to worry about, IMO, as long as you make sure to do it right. John is right, go slow and don't have to do any repeats, don't buy into my live fast die young mentality!

[BowieReefer84]

fwiw my friend has a bubble algae, aptasia, hydroid infested tank.  Peppermints ate the hydroids in addition to the aptasia.  Your plan sounds good but adding a few to the new tank could be an additional measure you could take.

[s2nhle]

I am in the process of transferred the stock from my old tank to the new tank. I am taking it slowly. even my wife and friend keep asking me how is your new tank or is it done by Thanksgiving and now is it ready by New Year. lol.

[TrueTricia]

Well, I don't think you'll run into my problem with stirring up the sand bed and having a mini cycle since you're not reusing the sand. Good luck!!!!!