I have a 29 gallon biocube. It has been running for 1 year. I am thinking of upgrading to a 120 starphire tank. How do I do the switch over from the old tank to the new one. So that there is a smooth transition for the fish and corals. The new tank is a complete system ( lights, sump, heater,skimmer,sand). It will have 50lbs of live rock from a tank already set up. Any advice would be great.
Last edited by moab44; 07-02-2008 at 03:44 PM.
Reason: spelling
I would set the new tank up and let it cycle first, then introduce your livestock and rock via the drip method. You could probably just move some water out of the 29 into the larger tank and some from the larger tank to the 29...do that several times over a few hours and you would probably be okay. You may also want to use some of your sand to seed the new sand, same with the rock
so if I put in 110 to 120 of live rock from another tank and put in 2 cups of sand from the biocube to seed the new sand. Plus 20 gallons of water from the biocube. Will the tank still have to cycle or can the corals and fish go right in?
Last edited by moab44; 07-03-2008 at 02:19 PM.
Reason: spelling
I know of cases where people have moved all the sand and rock from one tank to another and not seen a cycle but you will have mostly dead sand. The sand from your current tank will certainly seed the new sand but I don't know that there is enough biological activity to support the whole tank.
hey bud, welcome anyways as i dont think ive seen you before.
Your faced with the 2 choices already presented.
You have an existing, & your thinking upgrading...so
keep your cube going till your new tank with a factored allowance for transfering rock/sand/livestock is ready.
or transfer everything now, & be aware that you have 1/10 the filtration capabilities to the volume ratio & water changes will need to happen every few days tops based on toxic buildups you can test & monitor.
Now this can be done, but not really advisable in the interest of your livestock that you've cared for over the past year - looking at it logicly, you have same biological load just in a larger ratio environment, so any die back from the transfer aside for a min & your tanks requirements will be the same.
Only problem is that its not just the fact your upping the water real estate, your starting another tank fresh which has its own equilibrium to reach with or without your contributions. Your contributions will just decrease the time needed to reach this equalibrium. So basicly yeah, i agree with what the other guys have written. lol
so what every one is saying is that it can be done but there are some risks involved. I really don't have much of an option, the new tank is going where the old tank is. So I have to break down the old one first. All the live rock will be coming from established tanks. I think that should help.
well I bought the new tank. 120 gallon starphire with a 30 gallon sump. Before I put in the live rock I have to fill the tank and sump. What is the best way to put the water in. Should I buy it premaid at the LFS or make it in buckets at home? If I put it 100lbs of live rock ( to start) how much water do you think I will need?
I went from a 28G JBJ Nano HQI, but I did not have to take down my cube. I am actually going to be using it as a frag tank. When I setup my 125G tank I purchased all live rock locally and setup a 55G refugium. My cycle time was around 2.5 weeks. I also had a DSB and a fug.
i'll leave measurements to your fellow country men & woman.
adding a sand bed first yeah?
these guys can link you to some good posting on how to cut down on the snow storm factor.
You have a master test kit or something simular bud, keep an eye on your parameters, if you notice major die back from your new rock & the cycle thing happening, dont let it get past toxic levels, just for your animals well being if you know what im saying, so i dont know if your thinking you'll make water yourself long term, or purchase it pre made, but expect to go through a bit, so take it all on board & find whats going to be easier to make simple water change outs.
You've been running a tank for some time, i dont expect you to have the 6th sence yet when it comes to running tanks, but im assuming you have all the tid bits needed that keep you informed enough to run it successfully yeah? .
moab44
It is possible as long as your cube was in good shape. I just moved my 29 gal into a 120 and everything looks stable at the moment. Oh I moved from ca to az in the process. I had water made up ahead of time. I filled the tank and added the contents of my 29 gal into it. The first day through the 10 day things were not the way I would like them. But from day 10 through 15 which is today things are becoming stable. You will need to get you prams in order ph, alk,ca,temp, sg. That what I have been working on. I do have a little hair starting to grow on the sand. But I'm not to worried about it because I know it will be short lived. Heavy skimming and a phosreactor should be in place. I also move my hang on the back fuge. It will help with the export. Just take your time. I do not plan on adding anything for quit some time. The contents of my 29 almost filled the 120 believe it or not. I will be adding more LR but in time. And I also will cure and cycle it in a bucket before I add it to my new tank. I think I have plenty of LR to make it stable.
Looking forward to hear how is goes.
Victoria
That sounds like a sweet tank! Could you just temporarily move the nano somewhere else until the new tank cycles? If not then (presuming the nano is healthy) I would move all of the sand, rocks, and water into the new tank.
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