Upgrading to a larger tank....Suggestions

[HTang]

I'm moving on up from a 37g reef tank to a 95g reef. My plan is to move inhabitants and anemones and polyps and existing live rock into new setup.

My question is what is the best way to go about it?

Some questions I have are:

Do I get new sand for the bed?
Do I get all live sand or mix it up with regular sand?
Do I get some live rock and mix it would some base rock and later on move current live rock into larger tank?
I know I need to cycle tank anew, but is there any way to jump start the process using my existing water, rock, sand, etc?

You can see what kind of suggestions I am asking for so any advice at all regarding moving to a larger tank will be most helpful.

Thanks.

[bb0029]

Originally Posted by HTang

My question is what is the best way to go about it?

Some questions I have are:

Do I get new sand for the bed? I reuse my sand and the you will need to add some more. I rinse it out in clean RO/DI saltwater to get all the poo sediment out of it.

Do I get all live sand or mix it up with regular sand? I would use regular sand. After a bunch of research on the matter I don't think the sand is as live as it should be. I once was a big fan of it but now honestly you will have a good bacteria base if you use your old sand as well to help seed it.

Do I get some live rock and mix it would some base rock and later on move current live rock into larger tank? Personally I would setup your main tank with all your live rock that you currently have and the new base rock you plan to use. Let the large tank cycle and then add your live stock. Some of the pieces you will not be able to move because of your corals and such on it but anything that is bare I would move.

I know I need to cycle tank anew, but is there any way to jump start the process using my existing water, rock, sand, etc? You can do stuff to help it but honestly just take your time and deal with a empty tank for awhile. It will pay off in the long run. patience is the key to this hobby, believe me, I know, you want it now but let nature take its time. The dead shrimp to start the cycle works really well.

This is my opinion and you know everybody has one. Many people on these forums have alot more knowledge then me but this is the way I prefer to do it taking what I learned here on the forums.

Good luck and remember patience is the key to success in this hobby. It pays to wait!

I stole this method of responding from loverotties lol. Kudos.

[HTang]

SO what you are saying is that one I get the new tank up and running, move alot of sand and live rock to new tank and let current tank operate near empty?

Also, I do run a fuge on current tank and new tank will have sump/fuge setup..If that helps with anything.

[Jadinop]

BUY NEW SAND. Sandbeds absorb nutrients and should be replaced every few years. Why move the nutrient buildup from the old tank into the new tank. The easiest time to change your sandbed is when the tank is empty. Do it now or regret it later.

Save a handful or two of the old sand to seed your new tank.

[jenglish]

Originally Posted by Jadinop

BUY NEW SAND. Sandbeds absorb nutrients and should be replaced every few years. Why move the nutrient buildup from the old tank into the new tank. The easiest time to change your sandbed is when the tank is empty. Do it now or regret it later.

Save a handful or two of the old sand to seed your new tank.

x 10. Sand may not absorb nutrients very quickly if you are not letting them settle on the bed but you never know they have until it is full. This is as good a time as any to unload most of that sand IMO.

[Hop]

Some questions I have are:

Do I get new sand for the bed? Yup
Do I get all live sand or mix it up with regular sand? Dry sand is a better option. Live Sand is a gimmick. Just save a couple cups from your existing bed now to seed the new, dry sand.
Do I get some live rock and mix it would some base rock and later on move current live rock into larger tank? You could use all base rock and then just use your current rock to seed it. But I would still cook the base rock.
I know I need to cycle tank anew, but is there any way to jump start the process using my existing water, rock, sand, etc? By using the existing rock and not adding an additional bioload, the cycle should be relatively small. I've done this at least a dozen times and while I can't say I've never lost anything to a tank upgrade or downgrade, my success rate seemed pretty high.

[Elegance Coral]

I don't think you should have a cycle. I would put new sand in the new tank and fill it about 80% with new SW. Get the temp, salinity, and PH to match your existing tank. Then when the new tank is well mixed and oxygenated, I would move all the LR and critters into the new tank. Then top off the tank, crank up the filtration, and you're set. If you want to add more rock you have all the time in the world to cook it first. As long as you don't go crazy buying new critters that is.
Just a quick piece of advice. If you use buckets to move the critters from tank to tank, put the LR in buckets by themselves, and fish in their own bucket. I just lost an anthias over the weekend because a rock fell on it in the bucket.

[Fat Tony]

Well said advice everyone. I did the same not too long ago. Use new sand, and a cup or two of the old. Any new rock needs to be cured rock or cooked rock, it will make your tank easier to maintain for longer. Good luck with the move.

[HTang]

Great advice all...Thanks...Everything well explained.

[slant77]

If its not live sand what sand do you buy?

[Fat Tony]

dry Caribbsea OOlitic aragonite sand.. aka...Aragomax

[cichlidite]

New sandbed, keep your live rock, for sure....

[HTang]

Great advice and help, thanks all!