Everything from my 180 to a new 225!

I have a perfectly healthy 180 that's been up and running for the last 3 years.
It's fish and softies only with T5's and an FX5 fluval filter.

It's time for an upgrade and I found a brand new 225g with overflows, diamond edges with stand. All holes drilled it's never seen water. Perfect Condition.

My 180 has some scratches and I'm tired of the FX5.

Going with a 50gal Sump/Refugium and 6ft T5's

Can anyone provide suggestions on the transfer process? I have an Emperor and Queen Angel that are like my kids.

Plan is to use the same water & sand (it's clean!) Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

The sand would be the issue. I've transfered sand before, but it must be a shallow bed that has been well-maintained. If it's a DSB or has not been vacuumed regularly, I wouldn't recommend disturbing it at all until everything else is out of the tank.

 

I would get new sand, you may release nasties that could cause problems. There is no real loss of bio filtration with throwing the old sand away. Just use a few cups to seed the new sand.

The easiest way is to set up the 225 and get it running then transfer the rock and coral over then finally the fish while leaving the 180 running.

Let us know what your plans for placement of the tank are and we can adjust the process from there.

 

Thanks for the quick response. Issue is the 225 is going in the exact spot the 180 is currently.

Also I disturb the sand weekly to the bottom of the glass weekly as is. no cloudy stuff at all. I vacuum the sand once a month as well. Do I really need new sand? It's Clean.

 

You're sand should be fine, then.

A lot of people neglect their sandbed, and in such cases, trying to move it for immediate reuse can release a lot of toxins and nutrients into their new tank... not a good way to start an upgrade.

 

Probably will not be an issue. But will slow things down quite a bit in the transfer process.

Make up a bunch of new water to make up the difference between the two tanks and to account for water that you won't want to transfer. Temperature match to the 180. Pull out as much of the water as you can into containers along with your rock, corals and fish. Move the sand to containers, swap tanks, stands and equipment. Put the sand in the new tank, cover with towels or plastic wrap to keep from creating a cloud. Add as much of the water you can, move rock and corals then fish add the last of the water.

 

Can you explain a little more on covering the sand with plastic wrap or a towel?

Should I use any nitrate reducer or additives during this process?

 

Place towels or plastic wrap over the top of the sand to prevent it from getting blown around from filling the tank with the water. They absorb the force of the flow of the water. You need to cover all of the sand surface very well for this to work. Also don't pour the water in as fast as you can.

 

When you add the water he is trying to help you keep the dust down. I think i would separate it all add the sand or rock in what order you like and start adding water as you go so that nothing is out of the water any longer than it has to be.

 

ahhh gotcha, Understand on the plastic wrap

the switch is being made in 7 days from now. Just waiting on the stand to be repainted and water treated and I order the sump on monday.

50 gallon sump for 225 sound alright?

Is there any good quality and good looking LED systems for a 6ft long tank that is 29" tall?