Living Reefs > Technical Discussion > Fish Tanks > Upgrading to a larger tank

Reply
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes

Upgrading to a larger tank

 
NEPA Reefer
Hiker4twenty's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Thornhurst, PA (The Poconos)
Posts: 1,630
Thanked: 239
iTrader: 0
 
      November 23rd, 2009
I currently have a 14g BC, but it's quite small and I'd like a bit more room. My brother has a spare 29g that he used to keep lizards in. I would like to set that up until I get enough money together for a lager tank.

Anyway, my question is can I just transfer everything over from my 14g and just add more live rock/sand? My current setup has been going for about 5months. Will this cause a new cycle to start?

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75g reef, 100+lbs LR, 8x54W T5's, 29g refugium
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1 year and counting
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
 
Living Reefs Supporter
project5k's Avatar
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Seguin Tx
Posts: 4,444
Thanked: 152
iTrader: 0
Images: 1
 
      November 23rd, 2009
probably so, just cause you'll be stirring up the substrate, but yea, you can move it over,

if you wanna do it really right, you could start the new tank up,(just like if it was just a normal new tank), put in the "additional new rock" that your gonna buy anyway(i'd suggest base rock cause its cheaper), and then just take a cup of sand and a rock or 2 from the BC and "seed" the new tank..., let the new one cycle, and then transfer the remaining stuff over, and then you have the option to tear down the BC if you wanna...

the other thing that i would do, is each time you do a water change, take the "old" water from the bc and put it in the new tank, that'll help seed it as well...

just a thought...

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 20gal Fresh, 75gal reef moved in on 3/7/09 and a new 210gal inwall reef with dedicated "pump room"
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: since 3/7/09

Last edited by project5k; November 23rd, 2009 at 08:20 PM..
 
Reply With Quote
 
Living Reefs Supporter
dcantucson's Avatar
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Posts: 17,069
Thanked: 1408
iTrader: 0
Images: 1
 
      November 23rd, 2009
+1 project5k

Current Aquarium(s) Description: Zero Edge 150gal; Red Sea Max 34gal, Nano Cube DX 12gal
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 4+ years
 
Reply With Quote
 
NEPA Reefer
Hiker4twenty's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Thornhurst, PA (The Poconos)
Posts: 1,630
Thanked: 239
iTrader: 0
 
      November 23rd, 2009
If I "seed" the tank as you say, will the cycle time be shorter or the usual 4-6 weeks? Since there will be no livestock in the new tank during the cycling process do I need to run lights? Also, I've read about people adding an uncooked shrimp to the tank to help it cycle faster. What's that all about?

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75g reef, 100+lbs LR, 8x54W T5's, 29g refugium
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1 year and counting

Last edited by Hiker4twenty; November 23rd, 2009 at 11:29 PM..
 
Reply With Quote
 
NEPA Reefer
Hiker4twenty's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Thornhurst, PA (The Poconos)
Posts: 1,630
Thanked: 239
iTrader: 0
 
      November 30th, 2009
Well I got the new 29g up and running this past Friday night. It's got 30lbs sand (20lbs dry & 10lbs live). I have another 10lbs from my current tank that I will transfer in. I put in 12lbs LR and about 1-2lbs LR from my current tank to help seed. 200w submersible heater and a 160gph powerhead just to get a little movement, lighting with PC's. A few hitchhikers came on the LR(snails and small white stars. Do you think they'll make it through the cycling?

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75g reef, 100+lbs LR, 8x54W T5's, 29g refugium
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1 year and counting
 
Reply With Quote
 
I am a girl
Bifferwine's Avatar
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Posts: 29,959
Thanked: 3492
iTrader: 0
Images: 26
 
      December 1st, 2009
Some of them will. They managed to survive being shipped to your tank. Hitch hikers are hardy.

 
They see me moderatin', they hatin'
Sarah
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.
·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 90-gallon reef
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 10 years
 
Reply With Quote
 
NEPA Reefer
Hiker4twenty's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Thornhurst, PA (The Poconos)
Posts: 1,630
Thanked: 239
iTrader: 0
 
      December 1st, 2009
They seem to be doing fine so I guess they'll make it.

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75g reef, 100+lbs LR, 8x54W T5's, 29g refugium
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1 year and counting
 
Reply With Quote
 
NEPA Reefer
Hiker4twenty's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Thornhurst, PA (The Poconos)
Posts: 1,630
Thanked: 239
iTrader: 0
 
      December 1st, 2009
The wheels are spinning in my head with this new tank and got me thinking of possible issues. When I transfer my LR and sand from my current tank will it cause the new tank to go into another cycle because of all the junk in the sand? Or will I have enough bacteria in the newly cycled tank to handle the changes? I was thinking about adding the about 1/2 the LR and sand about a week prior to the actual transfer to reduce the amount of toxins released into the water....good or bad idea?

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75g reef, 100+lbs LR, 8x54W T5's, 29g refugium
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1 year and counting
 
Reply With Quote
 
I am a girl
Bifferwine's Avatar
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Posts: 29,959
Thanked: 3492
iTrader: 0
Images: 26
 
      December 2nd, 2009
It's unlikely that moving your rock and sand over will start a cycle, but there is the possibility. Usually enough bacteria survives that you won't see anything spike. Adding some of it ahead of time is a great idea, IMO.

 
They see me moderatin', they hatin'
Sarah
><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>¸.
·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 90-gallon reef
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 10 years
 
Reply With Quote
 
NEPA Reefer
Hiker4twenty's Avatar
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Thornhurst, PA (The Poconos)
Posts: 1,630
Thanked: 239
iTrader: 0
 
      December 2nd, 2009
Thanks Biff!

Current Aquarium(s) Description: 75g reef, 100+lbs LR, 8x54W T5's, 29g refugium
Experience in Saltwater & Reef Aquarium Hobby: 1 year and counting
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Upgrading to Reef Tank ctb31690 New to Reefing 3 June 8th, 2009 07:02 PM
upgrading to a bigger tank and want a lot of advice newbeemike Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment 6 December 26th, 2008 07:54 PM
upgrading tank, changing substrate poolshark181 New to Reefing 8 February 13th, 2008 07:04 AM
Want to buy 200 or larger reef ready tank John Maag Fish Tanks 0 December 25th, 2004 11:49 PM
Upgrading from my current unhappy 15 gal tank Benjamin Slade Fish Tanks 4 June 29th, 2004 05:05 PM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108