Expert advice needed.

[jasontatro]

Okay folks, here is my situation. I am upgrading from my 10g Nano to a 30 gallon. I will be adding about 45 lbs of new cured live rock, and ditching my sandbed. My questions are these:

1. Is it possible to make this transfer without going through another cycle?

2. How can I ensure that my livestock will survive the transfer, or how can I minimize the impact on them.

3. Any advice from those who have done this before?

Much thanks,

Jason

 

[mojoreef]

Yep sure you can Jason. the concept would be to save as much water from the exsisting water as you can. Set up a holding tub with heat and water movement. this should hold you critters well, make sure thier is a little rock in each holding tub for filtration. When it comes time to set up the new one use half new water and half old. do the same thing with the holding tank (as in a waterchange but save the old water). with the old water and the Lr your bacterial population should be maintained.


Mike

 

[jasontatro]

Thanks Mike. Let me ask you this... what if I wanted to make the switch all on the same day? Is this feasible? A good idea?

 

[big t]

This is a good question that I have been contemplating myself as I am nearing transfer time to my bigger tank. I will be looking forward to all the opinions.

 

[Montanarocknreefer]

We did a one day transfer of my wife's 20 gallon long reef tank to a 20+ gallon hex tank in one day. She used about 2/3 of her old water and a 1/3 of new RO/DI water. She put in about a 1" or less of new fine aragonite sand and her LR and critters back in the new tank.

She did not lose a thing in the transfer and it's been over three weeks with hardly a trace of any algae of any kind. Everything looks healthy and happy.

 

[jasontatro]

Sounds good Johnny.

My big concern is that I am adding new live rock and basically tripling my water volume.

 

[reeffan]

I did that couple couple years ago also, using the existing water from my old 90 gallon to a new 120 gallon and works just fine. Didn't have any algea bloom in the new tank or lost any lives stock. You should be fine....

reeffan

 

[cdeakle]

1. Is it possible to make this transfer without going through another cycle?

With an upgrade and transfer liek yours you will go through another cycle. It will more than likely be a small cycle with not alot of impact if done right but there will be a cycle nonetheless....

 

[Macbeth417]

Jason,

Where are you getting the rock? Is it local that has been sitting in a tub for while or is it online "Cured" rock. If you are ording it online I would still let it have its own tub for a bit before transfer. However if you are getting it locally and it is truely cured then you should be just fine if you follow the step others have already outlined.

I have transfered a few tanks and moved with tanks two times, just think ahead and you'll be fine... I think the worst disaster I ever had was when I forgot to plug the heater that was heating up the new water sitting in the new tank and I nuked the fish with cold water.

-Erik

 

[Ray Pollett]

Thanks Mike. Let me ask you this... what if I wanted to make the switch all on the same day? Is this feasible? A good idea?

I have to do it all the time. It is not a problem. I move the animals water and LR in to containers. Setup new tank. Move everything to new tank using as much as possible from the old tank. Wait one to two weeks if possible on adding the new LR unless you are absolutely sure it is cured.

Ray

 

[mojoreef]

yea the new LR might be the stumbling block. If you could cure the LR prior you would save yourself alot of pain, and use the final water from the LR as new tank water.

Mike

 

[jasontatro]

Yes... the rock will be coming from Marine Depot. Any tips on curing it?

 

[mojoreef]

Just put it in a couple of plastic garbage cans with heat and a powerhead, it may take a couple of weeks or so, but it would do that in your tank to. Keep the garbage cans dark, and do weekly water changes,


good luck


Mike

 

[Montanarocknreefer]

I am "cooking" LR at this time in a rubbermaid tub with a couple of PH's and a heater. I change about 20 percent of the water every other week. It is in the dark with very little to no light at all.

 

[jasontatro]

So.... how do you know when the rock is officially "cured"?

 

[big t]

You can tell that the rock is 'cured' by testing the water and having these readings
ammonia=0.0
nitrite=0.0
and low nitrates. like Mike said, change the water 1 time a week, with a pretty big water change.

Then your rock will be cured and ready for in tank use

 

[jasontatro]

Hey Tom..... is it important to skim while the rock is curing?

 

[mattseattle]

i think water changes are more important while curing rock. skimming also helps but not sure if it's essential or not......can't hurt though.

 

[big t]

Jason, It definately would not be a bad idea to skim while cycling. I have personally never cycled rock, but always heard that a skimmer makes the process happen faster as it helps take out the nasties.

 

[jasontatro]

Okay. Well, considering I dont have an extra skimmer to use while this rock cures, I guess I wont skim.