will this be a good idea??

[Pat]

well i may be receiving a 25g or 29g (not sure exactly just guessing on the size from when i saw)
nano
i want to turn it in to another basic dt/ fuge mainly fuge only plan on putting maybe just a mated pair of clowns in it the rest a nice dsb and lr and other stuff for pods to have a great area to live in

now hears how i was thinking about connecting it i wanna raise the new tank higher then my dt drill 2 holes for good size bulk heads for the over flow up top to flow directly in to the dt kinda like a hang on filter works and drill another hole at the bottom where the pump will be sucking the water in to the fuge

[Pat]

also how should i go about adding everything so i dont cause another cycle?
should i use water from water changes then slowly every few days add clean sand then slowly add rock ?

[CarmieJo]

Pat, I am bad with the plumbing stuff so I will let the others help you with that.

As far as the cycling goes I think I would try to cycle then nano before you connect the two tanks. Maybe you could put a valve between the two tanks and just not turn the return pump on until the nano has cycled. Most of the bacteria for your tank is in the rock and sand so using water from the DT doesn't make a lot of difference. But, it is a good way to save a little money on salt and certainly won't hurt.

[Phurst]

I'm not sure I exactly follow you, but the best way to acomplish what you want is to pump water from the DT into the new tank and let gravity drain it back into the DT via the bulkheads you're going to drill. maybe that's what your plan is, I was just confused about the placement of your pump. Be sure to leave adequate space in the level of the DT for whatever water will run out of the new tank when the pump is off as well.

[Pat]

yea first i was thinking about putting the pump in the fuge but that wouldnt work lol just realized that after you mentioned it lol

[PhotoJohn]

I was pretty confused too...I was wondering how water was getting back to the new tank.

I dont know that cycling the tank separately is the best idea. The water chemistry will be different and could shock your established tank. It would only matter if you have sensitive fish and corals. You could cycle the rock in a tote and make sure the sand is clean then bring it online all at once or you could cycle it separately and drip acclimate the DT to the new tank water. That may be the easiest and best option.

[rayme07]

This sounds like a good idea but I would follow what Pearson said about the pluming it makes more sense. Where are you going to have room for your skimmer not unless you have a HOB kind?

[Pat]

skimmer eventual is goin to be a hob unless i find another 30g tank that is pre drilled lol to make a sump haha
right now i have dicided that in the new tank i will only have a gold marron clown the rest heater rock dsb and anythin else to help the copod population

[Pat]

i have aquiered the nano tank! i belive its a 20 maaybe 25 g tank will have pics up tommrow