Finished switching tanks!

[jcarson999]

Transferred from a 125g to a 210g yesterday. 10-1/2 hours and everyone seems to have come through it fine (I'm probably the worst off ...). For those interested, here's a few pics after I finished (w/o the canopy) and with just the middle light on ....

-jim

[robz]

Man that is deep. you running 400 watters?

[jcarson999]

Nope. Tanks' 29" and I went with 3 150W HQI MH with actinics and monlight. Light needs to be a little higher over the tank, but until I put the canopy on tomorrow I just set it on top of the tank. I know it's not the wattage everyone recommends, but they do a pretty good job when they're all on, even with the depth. I'm happy with 'em without getting into the really high temperature lighting.

-jim

[ballvice]

So..I am moving from a 55 to roughly a 150-180. Tell me how you did it and any recommendations you have.

BTW..I will for SURE be using the 55G as a refugium and will re-use the water...unfortunately, the larger tank is going to be in EXACTLY the same place as the original 55G.

This is going to be fun...NOT!

Frank

[btang]

Looks great, I have tank envy now. Love the rock placement. So you stayed with the DSB.

[tims]

looks great!!

[Doug1]

Looks good

[rwdandald]

Nice aquascaping!

[jcarson999]

Thanks for the comments. I had planned on staying with the DSB, but wanted to go to sand from the larger grained aragonite. For my jawfish's sake I compromised and went to a finer grade of gravel, but not to sand. So far he seems ok with it - hard to tell 'cause his face always looks like he's scowling. Just not a happy looking fellow, but we love him anyway.

Here's my process (although there's gotta be a better way). For those who don't want to be bored further, stop reading here ....

I got the refugium running and cycling a couple weeks ahead of time, but couldn't hook it up to the old tank because the old tank isn't drilled. But I got the lines onto the new tank, and ran the plumbing up through the floor from the sump to be ready (the sump's in the basement). Did a large water change on the display, and then did a water change in the sump adding the water from the display - the goal was to try and get the water chemistry close in both tanks in preparation of 'turning the system on'.

The night before Game Day I did another big water change and saved the water - put a heater in to maintain temp. I also made up another fresh 40g - figured that's be no worse than a normal water change. And also washed the new gravel.

On Game Day then, basicall I filled one tub and transferred corals - kept a heater and circulating pump in it for them. Did the same for the fish.

Used a number of containers for the LR - loaded up and plastered everything with wet newspaper figuring that'd be no worse than when I buy local.

Emptied the old tank, saving the water. Had to scrape the gravel out - that extra 125# made it a little too heavy to work with. Then moved it out.

Moved the 210g into the same place, and hooked up the plumbing. I was pretty proud that the lines actually met as they were supposed to. Put the new gravel in, and added rock. I was nervous about the rock drying out, but this tank size and placement will be prohibitive to major re-landscaping, so I wanted to be sure I got it in a way I liked. Then began pumping water into the display (carefully so as to keep cloudiness to a minimum).

When filled, I put the fish and corals back in- the whole premise was that they'd pretty much be going from and to the same water, so as long as the temp was good, I'd just transfer. Wasn't real comfortable with this approach, but had lots of discussions and thought it would work. I felt it was better than adding a lot of time and having to keep them in tubs for a couple days. Was told salt water breaks down pretty fast in those circumstances.

Anyway, then turned the valves on and listened to the water began to drain. Next, I fixed the two fittings that broke, and cleaned up the mess in my tank room. I hadn't put hangers on the pipes yet, and the weight of the water must have broke the fitting.

Repeated the process, and then turned on the pump, checked for leaks, made sure the sump level was where it should be and was maintaining, put the lights on, and kicked back. 10-1/2 hours of stress - unfortuantely I don't drink anymore. Had to settle for a diet Mountain Dew.

Except for using hangers with the plumbing, I don't know how I could have done it different. Needing to take fish/coral out and put them right back is a challenge. Cost quite a bit of change just getting materials to facilitate teh process (like brute garbage cans, etc.). I think I had it right, for the most part, except that things took a lot longer than I'd thought they would. I've set up a lot of tanks in my day, but never swapping delicate livestock out and right back in.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Hope it's useful and not just boring.

For those who made it this far, thx for listening.
-jim

[tims]

well jim i read it all!
sounds like the planning was a really good thing to do..tank is really looking good..have any problems with anyone ?

[jcarson999]

So far everyone looks like they're doing ok. Sinularia is looking a little droopy, but he goes through cycles ;ike that so I'm not worried yet.

Almost lost a yellow coris during the move - after the water was emptied from the old tank and I was scraping the last of the gravel out, suddenly here's a fish! He was buried in the gravel in about 1" of water. It was close - I'd have always wondered what the heck happened to him - but he seems to be doing great.

One good thing about my timing - I don't have the huge collection of corals as a lot of people here have. I had a manageable number, and of managebale sizes.

-jim

[btang]

Well Mountian Dew is good for a shot of caffeine. Great job. I just love these big tanks.