question about tank upgrade

I currently have a 40 gal reef tank with CC substrate and live rock.I am getting a 80 gal from my sister and would like to upgrade. I would also like to ditch the CC and go with sand and I will need more live rock obviously.
Im pretty new and have only had the 40 (which is an older tank)for about a year after a friend who couldnt afford it gave it to me.
So how would i go about doing the swap?
Does the new tank need to be cycled with the sand and new live rock before adding any of the 40g live rock and coral/fish/inverts?
Do I go with live sand?Do i need to run 2 tanks for 3 months?
Too many questions...Im hoping someone out there can simplify this a little.I think Im over thinking it.

Thanks

 

well..i recommend you use some water from your 40g.. that way you get a head start.
i do recommend live sand as well.
after a few weeks you can start gradually changing your live stock over.

 

Reddog

this is what I would do
if the 80 is going to be in the place the 40 is now then

I would have some very large plastic tubs
I would make up 40 gallons of new salt water

1 - turn all the power off
2 - start removing water from 40 into the large tubs
3 - as water level lowers start removing upper corals and rock work and place in tubs
4 - keep doing this carefully until you have 1 inch of water and the CC in old tank
5- now is when I would remove fish and add to tubs
6 - throw whats left in the 40 away
7 - place new tank in location
8- add new base rock cleaned rinsed etc (you will need new rock as the contents of the 40 will be lost in the 80 adding base rock means cycle issues avoided)
9 - add the 40 gallons of new salt water and a new dry sand bed
10 - start adding old water back
11 -as water level rises add the rock you have in tubs to the tank (keeping the old rock wet also avoids cycle issues)
12 - continue to do this until everything is back in place

if the 80 is going into a new place - so much the better
you can mix the new water and place new rock into this (save the need for all the tubs)
and then follow steps above to transfer the stock water and rocks from old to new tank

if you where closer Id come and help you do it

Steve

 

Sounds like you are over thinking things a bit. Here's the process I would use.

First get the water mixed and filled to about 3/4, flow going, heater running.
Let it stabilize for at least 24 hours.

Next move you live rock over. Any additional rock you need get base rock. You can put the base rock in at the same time.

Finally add your new NON-live sand in around the rock. You can leave your fish in your old tank for a couple hours while the sand settles, then throw them in as well.

You will want to wait about a month to add any new fish so the dry rock has some time to colonize with bacteria. You shouldn't see any cycle doing it this way.

 

Wow I was overthinking it.
So using base rock and non live sand i should be able to avoid cycling issues.
Any recomendations on type of sand and base rock preparation??How much rock should one have in an 80g? Are there any problems that could arise from doing this or is it pretty straight forward as it sounds?
Also thank you for those who chimmed in.You guys are a wealth of information.