[Twoface14]

Okay let me start off with I have a 20 gallon reef tank that I've had for almost 3 months. The tank was established when I bought it so there was no cycle when I got it up and running. All the Sand and rock stayed in the original water.

Now to my Q. I quickly learned I want a bigger tank but I can't go too big right now. Cause I'm in an awpartment. I found a 33 gallon long I really like. It's the same depth as my current tank just a little longer. How can I switch everything over? I have 2 fish, 5 corals, 1 pep shrimp, 1 serpent star, and several snails. Is it possible to transfer it all over without having to set it up for months

 

[Twoface14]

So run it bare bottom, have the new tank salinity the same, switch the fish and coral over, then in a few days take the sand and rock out of the old tank and put it in the new. All doing this while leaving the rock and sand in the water with circulation

 

[Twoface14]

I think I just realized what you meant. You took water and pretty much acclimated the small tank first with the bigger tanks water. Then moved everything at once. Will this give you a cycle? If so, will this hurt anything?

 

[Twoface14]

Ah got it. Did you transfer sand? Or did you even have any. If so how did you do it without exposing it to air

 

[Twoface14]

Well I was hoping to use all the stuff from the 20 to the 33. I have a 3" sand bed and was gonna thin it down to about 2 so not adding any sand to the 33. Then I have about 25 or 30 pounds of live rock and was just gonna keep it at that. I'm more wanting to do the move for the wider tank and more water. That being said, since all the rock and sand that I'm gonna use in the 33 is going to be directly from the 20, will I still need to do the 3 week cycle?

 

[Twoface14]

Nice. That's what I wanted to hear lol. The only thing I'm really doing is adding 13 more gallons of water. Idk when I'm gonna buy this new tank yet. Hopefully soon

 

[Twoface14]

Thank you both. I was very reluctant to even attempt this till I did my 210 build next year (well hopefully next year). But you both have made me feel better about it

 

[Twoface14]

Good points on both sides. But my appt is tiny and upstairs. Idk if the floor would hold a 1000 pound tank lol

 

[Twoface14]

Haha yeah. It's hard for my wife and I to find a house that meets all our needs and wants lol. We want something close to town and with a garage(for me) that's not a 150k and needs work. Thank goodness the housing market in eastern ky is cheaper than most. And when I say eastern kentucky forget everything you see on tv. It's nothing like it. I obviously have internet lol

 

[Twoface14]

Haha no. No relation at all. Not even distant