Upgrade Questions

[wam67]

I have a 90 gallon tank and ran across a nice deal on a used 120 and I am thinking about upgrading. My questions are #1 Advice for moving everything from my 90 to the 120. The new tank would be going into exactly the same spot as the 90. #2 What is the best way to move everything over (including the sand). The 90 has only 1 overflow and the 120 has 2 so I would need advice on how to plumb the double overflow. #3 I am also wondering if the aggrevation is worth the addtional 30 gallons? Looking for advice from someone that done this before. My only move was from a 29 gallon nano cube to the 90 (and the guy from LFS in Chatt did most of it) Thanks Bill

 

[skriz]

I would start the 120 with new sand. Seed it with some of your old sand. This will keep you from introducing all the poop & crud that's currently in your sand into your new system.

Remove the rock & put it in a tub. Keep a couple for hiding places for the fish. Drain as much water as you can & still have enough for the fish. You can drain it into your rock tub. If you have corals, they can go in this tub too.

You should be able to move the 90 now (with help). Once out of the way, put the 120 in place & pour in new sand & mix in some old. Use a 50-50 blend of new sw & old sw to fill , make sure it is up to temp. Transfer the rock & let the tank settle. Move over the coral & fish. Done.

I skipped plumbing; obviously, you have to plumb it & add the filtration components.

Is it worth it? Bigger is always better imo.

 

[brianjfinn]

Skriz, does this method not run the risk of causing a cycle? I ask because I have no experience in this area either, and do see myself upgrading one day.

 

[cr500_af]

brianjfinn;443074 wrote: Skriz, does this method not run the risk of causing a cycle? I ask because I have no experience in this area either, and do see myself upgrading one day.

I followed this EXACT method when I changed tanks (new went in same footprint of old) and had zero issues. Start to finish took about twelve hours, but that included time for water to come up to temp and for the water to clear up from the sandstorm created from filling the tank.

 

[brianjfinn]

I would think the size of the new tank vs. the old would have some effect, though, wouldn't it? I'd be upgrading from a 20 gallon and would be doubling the volume, at the very least.

 

[cr500_af]

brianjfinn;443084 wrote: I would think the size of the new tank vs. the old would have some effect, though, wouldn't it? I'd be upgrading from a 20 gallon and would be doubling the volume, at the very least.

I see your point. But most all of the bacterial population is in the rock and sand, not the water column, right? I mean, you wouldn't cause a cycle by doing, say, a 75% water change if you really had to. You'd have to be really careful on all the parameters, but I think your beneficial bacteria would be just fine. I would, though, slowly add cured rock into the larger tank (talking about your hypothetical situation here) a little at a time, and then only after that start doing the same with livestock... you add 100 pounds of new rock during the changeover and then you may make a mess.
Look at it this way... if all you are doing is, in essence, putting the same rock/coral/fish into a new water box, along with most all of your old water, then it's paramount to hooking your 20g up to a big 'ol sump full of new water and turning it on.

 

[fish scales2]

And the system says, wow nice big water change.:yay:And so much more room to swim in, Oh... new hiding places.

brianjfinn;443084 wrote: I would think the size of the new tank vs. the old would have some effect, though, wouldn't it? I'd be upgrading from a 20 gallon and would be doubling the volume, at the very least.

 

[ralph atl]

Skriz;443071 wrote: I would start the 120 with new sand. Seed it with some of your old sand. This will keep you from introducing all the poop & crud that's currently in your sand into your new system.

Remove the rock & put it in a tub. Keep a couple for hiding places for the fish. Drain as much water as you can & still have enough for the fish. You can drain it into your rock tub. If you have corals, they can go in this tub too.

You should be able to move the 90 now (with help). Once out of the way, put the 120 in place & pour in new sand & mix in some old. Use a 50-50 blend of new sw & old sw to fill , make sure it is up to temp. Transfer the rock & let the tank settle. Move over the coral & fish. Done.

I skipped plumbing; obviously, you have to plumb it & add the filtration components.

Is it worth it? Bigger is always better imo.

this will work, but I would start with new live sand (50% live 50% fine, if you want which is what I did), and I seeded it with some old sand (not much). I added prime & stability, and dropped biogest once a week for 4 weeks.

no issue.

 

[brianjfinn]

Wow, thanks everyone! I know this isn't my thread, but I've learned a lot, and I do hope this helps you out, wam.