Upgrading to a bigger tank!

[touchingstoves]

Hello guys, I am recently upgrading my seahorse & pipefish tank of 20 gal to a 60 gal tank. Do I just move all my sand over first, then rocks, then fish and water? Also, since this isn't like a water change, I'll be adding more than 100% of new water to the tank, will that affect my seahorses and pipefish? I've got gorgonias too. So I'm just unsure of what order or how to do this transition. Help!

 

[mark.a.smith405]

I would suggest a new cycle with new sand and rocks. Add a little sand or rocks from your old tank to help aid the cycle. Hopefully the other old balls will chime in. Post a picture of your current tank!! we all like gorg & seahorse tanks!

 

[touchingstoves]

TJ's 20 Gal...for now

Here ya go!

 

[Geronimo]

It's going to be a tricky one bc sea horses and gorgonians demand a lot of food and you do t have the bacteria community to handle that bigger tank yet. I will test the water twice a day and have a bottle of bacteria on hand just incase anything happens.

 

[touchingstoves]

It seems like the best way for this is to start from scratch. New tank, new sand, new rocks. This will take some time to cycle, I'd like to do this the right way. My first few tanks I've learned a great deal and had some major growing pains. Mainly because I didn't have guys like you!

 

[805reef]

I'm going to be going through the same thing in a couple months. I'm reading up as much as I can on it but right now my rough plan is to start cycling some rock in a big container so that it can be fully cycled by the time the tank is ready. In the new tank I will use new sand (because I hate my current sand/too small) and my current rock a long with the new cooked up rock.

 

[Corals&Reefs]

Could you start the new tank cycling while you keep your existing setup going? Once the new tank gets established slowly introduce and transition? Several years ago, I had to move had a lot of trouble getting the tank re-established.

 

[touchingstoves]

I'm buying new rocks, sand, and macro algae. Can you start cycling with macro in there?


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[CoralsAddiction]

You should keep your rock because it is seeded with beneficial bacteria. If you have an established tank it will be easier on your livestock. Live sand you can replace no problem.

 

[touchingstoves]

Only problem is I keep finding bristle worms! Clear tentacles that search and gather sand, and aptasia. No Bueno! I'm getting Marco rocks! Is there any way to get rid of hitchhikers without disturbing the bacteria on the live rock?


Ohana means family and family means no seahorse gets left behind.

 

[BeanMachine]

i agree to start over completely. Move your livestock over after the tank is cycled. Start with dry rock if you dont want the critters and seed the tank with bacteria ... like a Dr. Tims product for example. It will take time but that would be the safest way.

 

[touchingstoves]

[MENTION=3575]Coral[/MENTION]saddition do you know of any way to get critters out of the rock?


Ohana means family and family means no seahorse gets left behind.

 

[touchingstoves]

[MENTION=3628]BeanMachine[/MENTION] I'll look for it. Does it just add beneficial bacteria and speeds up the cycle?


Ohana means family and family means no seahorse gets left behind.

 

[Corals&Reefs]

What do you guys think of isolating the rock separately, presuming they are in the rock, stop any type of nutrient then put in a tube trap to draw the worm to a food source? I've heard that helps catch them, but not done it myself.

 

[Corals&Reefs]

Referring to the bristle worms, of course.

 

[touchingstoves]

I feel like I can put it in a coral dip? Does the help? Then use the rocks later.


Ohana means family and family means no seahorse gets left behind.

 

[touchingstoves]

Hey guys to speed up cycling, if I put marco algae, will it prevent the ammonia spike during cycling?


Ohana means family and family means no seahorse gets left behind.

 

[touchingstoves]

Just adding marcorocks. Waiting for tank to cycle.


Ohana means family and family means no seahorse gets left behind.

 

[touchingstoves]

Not sure what to do with the knobby gorgs just yet.


Ohana means family and family means no seahorse gets left behind.

 

[MisterJ]

Hi TJ,

i was going through your post and with bristol worms the only way for it to come out is when its pitch dark in the room and if you have a strong red light to shine in the tank it will actually come out. I had a few that was bugging me but I ended up trying this method and it worked. However, its all about patients because it doesn't just happen right away.

As for your water cycle if you want to speed it up. The best thing you can do is when you do a water change from your current tank, use the waste water and put it in the new tank with your new water that way the current bacteria will help speed up the cycle. Even if its a 20% change it will help out. You can also put 1 frozen shrimp in the tank and let it sit in there for a day or two for the bacteria to form as well.

hope this helps and best of luck with the transition.