tearing down the 55...what to do?

[thefatman]

ok, i'm right on schedule. the new tank is coming in the house tommorrow!!!!

i'm on my way to lowes to pick up a few parts for the skimmer, and a rubbermaid trash can.

the plan is as follows:

drain the water from the 55 into the trashcan. move the rocks, and inhabitants into the trash can. put the powerheads in the trash can.

tear remove the stand and tank.

bring the new one in. fill with sand and water. then add the water from the trashcan and the rocks and inhabitants.

i'm sure its gonna be more than a tonight/tommorrow job.. i wont add the stuff from the can until probably monday after the milkshake goes away. if i get one.

my question is: what about my cc bed in the 55?

i'm going with southdown in the new tank, and dont really want to put any of the cc in there, because it's god awful ugly and green ..icky....

but, i've got LOTS AND LOTS of pods in the cc bed, that i really dont want to lose.

so, what if i scrape off the top few layers, and get to some clean stuff in the bottom, and grab a few pounds of it, and put it into the refugium along with the southdown that will be in there?

i know it will gravitate to the top anyway, but it'll be in the fuge, and that will have a ton of caleurpa and whatever else in it anyway.

i wont put it all in there, but enough that i should get a good seed from my pods and bacteria..

any thoughts?

[Buzz_Hog]

I would transfer the CC in the 55 into the 75... That way you get all the bacteria with it... Make sure to do a good gravel vacuuming first to get rid of the ditritus..

Either mix the CC in with the SD, or put the SD in and then layer the CC on top...

Personally, I would skip the SD and just use the CC... Use the SD in the refugium...

[Doug1]

Jay siphon out bout half into the trashcan, put rock and stuff in, then try siphoning over the surface of the CC letting it pour thru some tule or filter that will catch pods but allow the micro crap to pass thru. If you get any toss em in the fuge, and ya you could seed the fuge with the top layer of CC

[Geoff]

go to the drug store get yourself a pair of hose. or find a female friend who has some with a run in them that will not use them anymore. cut about from the knee down. fill this with the top layers of the CC. then tie off the cut end. place this in the tank and/or refugium. the critters will be able to pass throught the hose, yet the CC will not.

G~

[Junkzoo]

Ditto Doug n Geoff's post,,,,
patience this time,,,

[thefatman]

patience... i've been working on this tank and stand since BEFORE mothers day. .trust me i've built up my patience.

transfer the cc to the 75. no way.. maybe some of it. but not all of it. this crap sucks. its ugly. it holds too much crap. and did i mention it's ugly.

i'll put SOME of the cc in the fuge, and also try the hose trick with some more of it.

[StellaMN]

Ditto with what Geoff said. I did the pantyhose thing when I transferred my 30 into my 40. Left the hose in the back behind the rocks for a month or so to let the bacteria transfer/multiply.

One thing about having to wear business suits to work, I have lots of run pantyhose.

J.

[thefatman]

i may still have a pair left over from my drag day in montreal

if not i'll have my sister bring some over, or i'll jsut go pick some up.

[StellaMN]

I use my run knee highs for carbon/media bags......they're 3 pair for a buck at Wal-Mart......

If you're going to buy some, I'd go the knee high route...

J.

[CAT]

Originally posted by thefatman

drain the water from the 55 into the trashcan. move the rocks, and inhabitants into the trash can. put the powerheads in the trash can.

Don't forget to use a heater - that way you can take your time setting up the new tank. Overnight even.

my question is: what about my cc bed in the 55?

I would put the top layer of CC in the fuge and slowly replace sections with sand over time. That way, the pods will move over and inhabit the sand as you go along. I thing CC in the fuge would trap too much dirt after a while, you wouldn't believe how quickly the caulerpa will root in it making it impossible to syphon.

Nylons might work but I'd try some bridal veil. It has bigger holes in it to let the larger critters migrate through, and still keep the CC contained.

Have fun...

[thefatman]

yeah i'm gonna use the heater. also putting a noflo strip light over it. dont wanna rush getting everything into the tank. and its gonna be a big job jsut getting it in the house and getting the lights moved over to the new canopy. so the fish are gonna live in the garbage cans for a day or two. but i'm assuming they'll be fine with a heater, two powerheads, and a light.

[thefatman]

why is everyone saying move over the TOP layer of the cc? that's the worst part.. the ugliest, and covered in green algae. i would have thought that just under that surface would be best?

[Buzz_Hog]

How would you like to live in a garbage can with a heater, and light???

[thefatman]

oscar the grouch has been doing it for over 30 years he's not complaining... oh wait yes he is

[CAT]

Jay, the top layer may be the dirtiest but most of the critters don't dig too deep into the substrate. Besides, are you planning on keeping the cc permanently?