Changing Tanks

[RBU1]

Does anyone have expierience with changing out tanks? I will be going from a 180 to a 300. THe sump will be new but the rest of the equipment and stuff will transfer over. I was not sure if I will get any type of cycle that may kill some fish.

The new tank will be going in the same place as the old. So I will be putting all the fish and rock in containers moving out the old and moving in the new and filling it up.

Any suggestions???? BILL

[Stixbaraca]

When I moved a year or so ago, I changed from a 45 to a 58. I think the worst part was the anticipation of it. Even though your doing it on a much larger scale...I was moving everything 20 miles while swapping out the tanks. All in all I had no mini or major cycle at all. I took the time to do a thorough cleaning of all the equipment while doing it. I used a couple large coolers to hold the temp while I worked. Make sure you use as much as humanly possible of the old (seasoned) water in the new tank since you will be adding almost 120 gallons of new water to the new setup.

[eastonreef]

i upgraded from a 90 to a 125 a few months ago. first thing i learned is that it took longer than i thought.

i set up the new tank on the other side of the same room. i put some new sand in the tank and added some water to get it to settle. i did a water change the day before and saved the old water and put it in the new tank. then did it again the day of the move. this way the fish wouldnt get shocked.

make sure all the containers you are using to hold the fish, rock and corals have their own heaters and pumps.

good luck....

[RBU1]

Thanks for the suggestions.....Keep them coming.......I will need all the help and idea's I can get....

[eastonreef]

while the rock is out of the tank you may want to drill a few holes for frag plugs to fit into.

[Mache62]

I switched out from a 40breeder to a 125 over the summer. I loaded up everything into some rubbermaid tubs.....rocks in one and corals and fish into another. I added heaters and small powerheads. I was ready to bring in the new stand and tank when it cracked. I had to wait 2 weeks to get the new one in. All in all, I think everything was in tubs for about a month. Never lost even a snail!
Just take your time and you should be fine.

[RBU1]

Thanks Mache glad to hear everything ended up OK....That really stinks about the tank. Any lessons learned to share?????

[RBU1]

Did you get rid of the rubbermaid tubs????I am going to need a bunch.....

[eastonreef]

if you are up in this area i have one or two i can loan you.

[RBU1]

I am in Jersey 10 minutes from the Commodore barry Bridge.

[RBU1]

Not sure were you are....thanks for the offer.

[eastonreef]

i am in easton pa. 18040 --- i go to something fishy most weekends if you ever go there.

[RBU1]

I think that is far...But I really appreciate the offer. BILL

[FishTri]

I didn't move a tank, but I had to empty 200+ gallons of fresh salt water out of a tank to add in a background. So I've got some large containers (55 Gallon drum/large Rubbermaid Brute on wheels) that would come in real handy for mixing/storing water, rock etc.

[littlefish72]

Just do it all as quickly as possible.......save as much of the water as you can..........invite a few friends over to help you..........I helped a friend move from NC to SC and he didn't loose a thing and when I moved up here from NC I didn't loose a thing either

[Mache62]

I had a few but gave them away to others to use already....sorry.