New home, new project

[BCT182]

Well guys, I'm back. After getting some things related to work figured out and the offer we just made on our first house, its time to do a big tank. The right way the first time. I am going to take it slow this time and my be asking for some advice along the way if possible. My goal is a tank that doesn't crash.

 

[Elmo18]

BRETT!!! AWESOME!! Hey I knew you'd be back.

Let me know what I can do to help. Which location did you guys pick on your house?

Good to see you back bud.

Best,
Ilham

 

[BCT182]

Thanks Ilham. We picked Puyallup, you get alot more for your $ out there. I'll also be closer to Indoor reef! =)

 

[mattseattle]

welcome back dude.....glad to see you.

we just bought a house in Seattle.....where you don't get a lot for your $.

 

[Tangee]

That's very cool. We've been in Puyallup for 8 years now and wouldn't live anywhere else!

Congratulations!

Susie

 

[BCT182]

Hey guys, thanks for the kind words. Well I bought Lizardarm's tank and am moving it next Sunday. Anyone have tips for moving? Also, I will eventually be converting to bare bottom as I think I'd like to get back to some easier Sps like slimmers, tri color and stags. Should I wait a period of time before converting to bare bottom? Should I do it all at once or remove a small amount of sand at a time during water changes. People have been saying that if we use all the same water and being the tanks been established over three years that it shouldn't experience die off or need to cycle, but all the same I am not going to jeopardize the animals well being. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tangee]

I think when you move the tank you should just take the sand out and never look back! You can always set up a refugium with a nice deep sand bed. I run mine that way and have no problems at all with nuisance algae in the main tank or sump/fuge.

Susie

 

[BCT182]

There is a sump with an in-sump skimmer, but I don't think Ill have room to a refugium too.

 

[BCT182]

anybody????

 

[mattseattle]

i'd remove the sandbed..... i removed mine a while back and so glad i did.

 

[BCT182]

You dont think removing the sand bed at the same time as moving the tank will be to stressful?

 

[mattseattle]

nope because that is exactly the way i did it on my tank. i had a small cycle but nothing major. all my SPS made it.

also with the sand bed it's going to be almost impossible to keep the top layer and bottom layers seperated during transport.

i would probably just do some frequent water changes the first week or two after you've moved it.

 

[BCT182]

hmmmm. Good point, all the sand would get all mixed up and ruin the filtration of a sand bed anyways??

 

[mattseattle]

most likely....unless you were super careful and took off the top 1" or so and kept it seperate from the rest of the sand. also, no telling what you are going to find in the sand bed especially if it has not been kept up with sand stirring creatures. when i removed mine there were a lot of black sulfide areas that were absolutely disgusting. i would have needed to rinse the sand out and start over.

also it was easier to toss the 200 lbs of sand than to move it. it also gave me a ton of realstate back in the tank. it's also a cleaner tank now.

now if i can only finish the upgrade to my new tank we'll be in business.

 

[NaH2O]

Brett - congrats on the home and set-up! What size tank is it? Equipment?

I agree to ditch the old sandbed with the move. Give the live rock a good blasting with a powerhead prior to putting back into the tank. Also make sure to have some pre-mixed water ready at the new home for when you set up the new system.

 

[BCT182]

Thanks Nikki
Its a 72g bow front with a 20g sump, skimmer, calcium reactor, phosban reactor, chiller, 250w halides, ph monitor and 155lbs live rock with some softies and a few fish. Blue tang, yellow tang and some clowns and an angel.

 

[Elmo18]

I would also not place the old sandbed back in. Save about a cupful of the top layer or a couple cupfuls.

I'm a proponent of DSB, so I would rinse the rest with freshwater and rerinse as if it now is new sand. Dump the new sand back in with the live cupfuls of live sand. It will reseed itself.

I'm not going to mention anything else...lol....

I think its me, against about 102030240240240240 other BB tanks.

- Ilham

 

[Elmo18]

Brett, sorry for not getting back to you on MSN. I'll be on it later tonight from UW.

If you are going BB, let me know if you will not use the sand. I will take your sand assuming it is Southdown, or the sugarsized aragonite.

Best,
Ilham

 

[reedman]

DSB or BB is a personal taste issue. I went BB when I moved and love the effect on the tank. I see any detritus that gathers and I syphon it out. On the other hand I miss the look of the sand.

Another factor to keep in mind is the fish you want to keep. If you want any that dwell in sand you want to keep the sand. Also anemones....some like sand.

Good luck with the move and be sure to post some pics.

 

[BCT182]

Thanks so much guys n gals. Good looking out on the sand sifting fish. They need it to survive. When I had a nano 20g long with some sps I noticed a massive improvement when I went to bare bottom and thats why I was thinking of going that route this time too. I just wasn't sure if removing it all at once would take away to much of my filtration / beneficial bacteria but it sounds to me like you all think with a couple water changes the first week I should be okay and I trust your guys advice. The only anemone's I like are bubble tips and I think there more of a rock anemone anyways. As for the sand Ilham, your more than welcome to as much as you like as long as its the kind you need, I think it may be a little larger particle size. You can come check out the tank too, or anybody else for that matter. The more the merrier. Reedman, I'll post some pics too and update you all on the progress. Thanks very much everyone