How do I upgrade to new tank?

I have a 55 gallon reef tank thats doing very well and I want to upgrade to at least a 180 very soon. I want to move all the livestock, corals etc from the 55 to the 180. How the heck do I do that with the least stress? I figure get new sand and maybe 100 pounds of live rock and cycle the new tank and start adding stuff after that?

 

That is one way to do it. When I upgraded my 16 gallon to my 40 breeder, I just added new sand and then moved everything over. I put the fish and corals in 5 gallon buckets while I was moving between tanks. I did use the same HOB filters from the 16 gallon tank as well though, so the filter media already had bacteria cultures in it. I also used the same LR and the same LS since it was only in the tank for about 3 to 4 months prior to me upgrading. I even used the water from the 16 gallon and then just added more water. I waited for the sandstorm to die down before putting my coral and fish in. Good Luck to you. I'm not saying my method is right or wrong.