Hi, I was wondering the best steps to transfer from a 29 to a 46 gallon?
I have a 29 filled to the brim with live rock, coral, fish & a shallow sand bed.

I was thinking of setting up the new 46 gallon a week before with live sand and filling it with new saltwater. Heating the water to same as my other tank & running powerheads. Then, the next week transfering all of my old water, livestock, liverock, and adding old sand.

Will this be too much of a shock?
I know there will be a diatom bloom.

I would suggest letting the tank cycle a bit longer with the "live" sand, because you're bound to have some sort of cycle with it. Test your water parameters continuously and err on the side of caution.

Also...whenever you take a set-up down and move it, you will have a cycle - some longer or shorter than others. So, expect even with your liverock and the old sand that you'll be adding back, to have a cycle.

what i did when i transferd my 30 to 75 was:
1: transfer all livestock to a 30 gal bucket with the tank water with a skimmer and powerheads
2: moved old sand over and added some new sand.
3. added liverock and water
4. hook up all equipment
5. cycle for week or 2
6. slowly slowly add livestock back

oh and i changed the water in my 30g bucket every 2 days to keep livestock healthy

i would suggest moving some old sand a day or two before you begin to move any specimens. and don't forget you must rely on your test kits being making any commitment.

i would suggest moving some old sand a day or two before you begin to move any specimens.

why is it that you would do this Fat?

to give the old sand a headstart to settle down and establish itself. in the old days, it was refered to as lag-time.

there will probably also be a mini-cycle as well...

the best thing i have found is to split the contents of the source tank between the new and old.
then give the new tank time to establish its cycle, then slowly transfer over to the new tank..

:)