Lessons learned during tank swaps please

[GratefulAlpaca]

Here’s another post about a Gen 1 Red Sea tank failing. Well, two tanks actually! My neighbor’s Red Sea Reefer 350 blew the front seam and failed a couple weeks ago. That got me looking at new tanks, and a good thing too! Last night I noticed a brand new void in the seam of my Reeder XL 425 (It was NOT there 48 hours prior). You can even see water in it if you push on the glass. Luckily I had gotten quotes on new custom tanks last week. I know of Red Sea’s reputation with Gen 1 tank seam failures, but assumed it was just a statistic. I also told myself that because I dreaded thinking about what’s involved in doing a tank swap.

Now that I’m being forced into needing to fit a new tank in, I’m curious to hear the experiences of others who have replaced/upgraded their tank. My journey will be a bit interesting as I’ll move from a Herbie drain setup to a Bean-animal and have them drill dual returns on either end of the tank. I also do not have the sump under the stand. Instead I have piping through the wall to a fish room behind. So I’ll have to marry up the old plumbing with new additional lines. It also means I’ll need to add a second return pump as my old one was already running at 100% on the Red Sea. The new tank will be about 135 gallons, so a decent step up from 88.

If you have swapped tanks, please share! How did you manage sand? How much water did you transfer and reuse? Mini cycle and fish/corals? Tricks to moving the old tank with stuff still in it? Things to definitely not do?

 

[project1004]

That’s horrible…. So many of these redsea tanks seams busting is one thing I guess we can all expect…. I guess you can now sleep good knowing that will not be an issue.

Going from 88 to 135 is not a big upgrade and shouldn’t have too many hiccups. And it’s not being transferred to different location. Going from 30Gal to 180Gal would expect a problems…

I’ve done tons of upgrades and tank swaps in the past and it’s pretty straight forward. Make sure you have more than enough water made (both salt and rodi), level the tank properly, keep everything wet and make transition using everything from your old system. Removing the old tank and putting your new tank in the location will take the most time. You will likely need tons of buckets and plastic bins. Once the tank is in the location. I would put all the livestocks and rocks in the new tank and fill with water while I work on putting all the parts together. Instead of keeping them in the bucket until you are done setting up the tank which can be a while. Arrange the rocks and stuff after everything is up and running with filterations in operation.

 

[aquaworld75]

@GratefulAlpaca i have done this many times.. even across new home.. below are some of the lesson learned:

1. If possible have the new tank and stand in place empty and all the plumbing and equipment ready.. (I have also done same location swap which requires setting up quickly or establishing a 3rd system)
2. Water. I usually moved up in size so I would use almost all “old” water as possible. This is what your stability is based on. I would drain as much “clear” water as possible.. saving rest of water to dust off rocks and rinse sand.
3. Rocks/corals (non fish/inverts). I re use all and would rinse and put into holding/ transport tubs. Pull these all out as you are draining water.
3. Fish and inverts. I would capture once tank is only sand and limited water.
4. Sand would be last to go out. Rinsed in salt water. This is always the questionable part. IF you have a deep sand bed. This can cause spike in levels. May have to consider adding to new tank slowly. But this also provided major filtration in your old system so it’s needed.
5. Equipment. Sump’s, skimmers, pumps, heaters, etc. anything that willl be re used. Great time for a deep clean.
6. Lighting. Changing lights is troublesome as well. Your tank / coral are used to certain light spectrum / intensity and height. Ideally you use same lights. Or acclimate from low settings.
7. Transport or holding tanks. Keep flow and temp stable.
8. No matter what there will be some imbalance in ammonia / nitrate. So expect some level of cycle / break in period to settle back in.

Good luck!

 

[Saltienewb]

I just did this with…. A Red Sea tank!

I used new sand, but kept the rocks. No mini cycle. Fish are all good. I lost one coral but it was relatively new. I think the shock was more than it could take.

Tips:
I got a Rubbermaid tote. Put all the display water, a heater and a wave maker in. Drained down the display, put the rocks and coral in the bin, made it easier to catch the fish. Once I had the new tank up- new sand, started filling from stock tank and moved rocks over. Stopped at about 2/3s full and added fresh saltwater for a de facto water change. Caught fish then dropped them in. Discarded remaining stock tank water

One thing I would redo is getting a different net. I left a few scale damage spots on my Gramma and Tomini. They have healed now, but don’t like injuring them.

It is all day affair so take your time.

Last tip: if you can’t wait on the member suction cups, buy a 50 dollar set on amazon. Made moving both tanks much easier. Good luck!

 

[chuck]

I was a big fan of the redsea tanks. But I think they need to close their doors and shut down. It's really sad you or anyone have to go through this. It's just devastating. Im now a waterbox and planted aquarium guy. I know theres others out there that are amazing as well. So sad to hear

 

[childers]

I just did this with…. A Red Sea tank!

I used new sand, but kept the rocks. No mini cycle. Fish are all good. I lost one coral but it was relatively new. I think the shock was more than it could take.

Tips:
I got a Rubbermaid tote. Put all the display water, a heater and a wave maker in. Drained down the display, put the rocks and coral in the bin, made it easier to catch the fish. Once I had the new tank up- new sand, started filling from stock tank and moved rocks over. Stopped at about 2/3s full and added fresh saltwater for a de facto water change. Caught fish then dropped them in. Discarded remaining stock tank water

One thing I would redo is getting a different net. I left a few scale damage spots on my Gramma and Tomini. They have healed now, but don’t like injuring them.

It is all day affair so take your time.

Last tip: if you can’t wait on the member suction cups, buy a 50 dollar set on amazon. Made moving both tanks much easier. Good luck!

A large plastic container works much better. Next time you are at a decent fish store and pay attention to how they catch them. The nets are not good for them. It took me a long time to learn that.

I was a big fan of the redsea tanks. But I think they need to close their doors and shut down. It's really sad you or anyone have to go through this. It's just devastating. Im now a waterbos and planted aquarium guy. I know theres others out there that are amazing as well. So sad to hear

I just bought and sold a red sea 750. Excellent condition but I didnt trust it. I pick up a Pro Clear 230. Its got a fair amount of scratches but its a much better built tank and stand.

 

[GratefulAlpaca]

These are great! Thank you all for the tips. Especially the suction cups. A saw a mention of them from where I’m getting the new tank and now I’m absolutely adding them to the order.

Lights will be interesting as I’m going to keep the hydras, but add some blades now to help with the larger footprint. I’m assuming the tank will need acclimation time no matter what I do.

Sand is going to be the big question. I’ve got a 1 to 1.5” deep bed. I’m thinking I’ll end up using a decent amount to kind of seed the new sand bed. No matter what, I have to add some amount of new sand since then dimensions will be larger.

Thanks again for all the info! I’ll keep ya updated as progress continues. My neighbor gave up on the hobby as a result of his Red Sea failing. I’m trying to focus on the new opportunities to learn so I don’t get discouraged by this as well.

 

[GratefulAlpaca]

I just did this with…. A Red Sea tank!

I used new sand, but kept the rocks. No mini cycle. Fish are all good. I lost one coral but it was relatively new. I think the shock was more than it could take.

Tips:
I got a Rubbermaid tote. Put all the display water, a heater and a wave maker in. Drained down the display, put the rocks and coral in the bin, made it easier to catch the fish. Once I had the new tank up- new sand, started filling from stock tank and moved rocks over. Stopped at about 2/3s full and added fresh saltwater for a de facto water change. Caught fish then dropped them in. Discarded remaining stock tank water

One thing I would redo is getting a different net. I left a few scale damage spots on my Gramma and Tomini. They have healed now, but don’t like injuring them.

It is all day affair so take your time.

Last tip: if you can’t wait on the member suction cups, buy a 50 dollar set on amazon. Made moving both tanks much easier. Good luck!

What net would you have gotten? I have some fish that I expect will not want to be captured. No matter how much I try telling them that their new home will be better.

 

[childers]

What net would you have gotten? I have some fish that I expect will not want to be captured. No matter how much I try telling them that their new home will be better.

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