Upgrading to a new tank, thoughts on transferring coral and potential bioload?

[Drakeknocking]

Hello, I currently have an 9g established reef that I have been keeping for around a year, it's doing really well and I have 2 clowns in there. I just recently bought the same style tank, just much larger at 18 gallons. It's currently cycling with new live sand and new rocks. The only thing I have done is grab a tiny amount of the sand in my 9g and seed it in the new tank.
I have 2 questions,
1) Once the tank is cycled, do I move my rocks, coral, and fish from my 9g to my 18g in one go, or space it out a bit?
2) What are your thoughts on adding possible tank mates to my 2 clowns? I tried to keep a yellow goby in the 9g, but it killed all my livestock due to how tiny the tank is.

Thanks!

 

[Emac909]

I can’t speak on such a small system. But when I upgraded from a 150g to a 187g I narrowed a 200g bin from a member here and filled it with a hundred or so gallons of old water from water changes on the 150g. Then when I broke down the 150 I put all the live stock and rock in the bin. Then with what water that was left in the 150 I used it to filter all the detritus out of the sand. By using a strainer and staining one strainer full at a time. I then put the sand in a container and put it in the bin with the live stock. I ran my skimmer really wet for a few days to get as much of the detritus out of the system. Then a few weeks later I put everything in the 187g

 

[happyreefer]

I would first try putting a small frag of zoas into your new tank and wait a few days to see how they do. If they look good then its safe to say that you can now transfer everything you have. The one thing you might want to exclude is the sand, depending on how well you've cleaned them. If you dont deep siphon clean the sand as a part of your normal routine, it can release toxins into the old tank while its being scooped out and again onto your new tank during cycling. Most people will advise not to reuse sand from the old tank, it's just not worth taking on the risk.

Good quality live rocks is the key to establishing a new tank so I would try scrubbing the bottom side of the rocks that you have with the water from your old tank throughly before transferring it over. If you can find the time, try to clean the entire rock before you transfer.

For the new tank mates, I would just keep the 2 clowns and transfer them in the new tank or go with new tank mates with a larger upgrade. The 2 clowns in an 18g sounds good but anything more might be too much. Have you thought about getting a 40g? The reason why I ask is because you can have so much more fun reefing with a 40g and it will allow you to add new tank mates!

 

[Drakeknocking]

Yeah I wish I had space for a 40g. Probably when I move out haha. I've been able to keep those 2 clowns in my 8g really well for 2 years now. Good idea on the small zoa frag, will try that.
I only reused about 1% of my old sand in the new one. I didn't clean it very well so I used a tiny amount.

 

[Drakeknocking]

Here's a pic of the new tank. I'm thinking of adding 1 Yellow Watchman Goby in addition to my 2 clowns. Probably need more liverock too.

 

[Drakeknocking]

Recent pic of the 8g. Since this pic I've added new coral and other coral is outgrowing the tank.

 

[happyreefer]

Recent pic of the 8g. Since this pic I've added new coral and other coral is outgrowing the tank.

That's great to hear, happy reefing!