Live Rock Eruption...LOL

So, I am moving a 75g tank tommorrow w/10 livestock. I heard that I should take the rocks out first, then some water, then the livestock. In this process won't the dirty substrate and rocks release toxins? How do I control this?

 

Overthinker, you're overthinking. ;D

that's the easiest way to catch the fish with the net. If it's a DSB and it's been established for many years, just don't stir up the bottom layers while chasing your fish around.

 

Thank

You

 

LOL overthinker overthinking.. nice!
I usually pump out some water first... about as much as I am going to change (I am using a water change as an example)... then if I am introducing/taking out new fish I take out all the rock.. catch the fish i am taking out... rearrange the rock.. put new water/salt in... then float the new fish..

 

I think....lol

That I am going to try and transfer as much original water as I can. Just because I am so new to this...then perhaps in a week do a water change. Depending on how dirty the remaining half of the water is I will decide whether to add some new water and re-acquaint the fishies. I think once I remove the dirty substrate and add my new sand then the tank wont be as bad, so I can wait on that water change!

 

Over, you need to have as much water on hand as you can.

I had never done salt when I bought my setup from a friend. Go buy some big totes. We took out the coral and put them in totes. We put the live rock in totes with no water. Just put wet towels over it to keep it moist. We removed the fish and put them in a bucket. We took out as much water as possible to save. Left about an inch of water over the 3" sand bed and it was still heavy but quite manageable.

This was a 90g tank, it took all day, and we used every drop of the 30g of new water I had on hand. Would of used more If I had it. You are going to stir up so much crap. You will want to get rid of as much dirty water as possible.

Adding the water back in, we just dumped it onto a lid in the tank. This caused way too much stirring. Get a big power head to move the water. You will be using it anyway when you do water changes.

After all this, I had a mini cycle. Not too bad at all really. My nitrates went from 5 to 40, but came right down. You will need to do another water change soon after. I changed 30g and still did another one 4 days later.

Start early and get to the store to get your water. Ask them for loner bucket for the water. Don't be caught late with not enough and all the stores closed. It was stressful for me because I didn't know anything, but really it went well. No casualties, and only minor shift in parameters for a couple of weeks. I love my tank now. Enjoy.

 

Didn't read far enough... why are you getting rid of the sand?

 

Old Substrate

I got rid of it because the previous owner had neglected that tank for awhile, was refilling the sump with tap water, and since the top layer was all shells and rocks I needed to take it out because I eventually want starfish. Oh, and I plan on thoroughly rinsing those shells and throwing them back in so the crabs have a their choice of residence.

Everything in the tank is doing really well. We cleaned like maniacs! Ended up doing a 50% water change...if not more. You were right, I was running around town buying up all the DO I could find, which consisted of like 5 stores! And the last store I went to had the most stock at the cheapest price...my luck! Oh well, this is all about trial and error, luck and skill.

Thanks for the help!!!

 

Sounds like it went well. And ya, I might have done the same with the sand. I'm sort of like that if I think it is nasty. Good deal.