Tank Swap

I have a 90 gal AGA that is in horrific shape (the glass). I picked up a new tank that I am going to swap out with it some time this weekend. My tank has been up and running for about 3 years. I have some tricks in mind to try and prevent the tank from cycling but I am open to suggestions from anyone on here. Here is my plan

Current Tank Setup:
1. 15 Gal refugium with 3 inches of sand
2. 55 Gal sump
3. 90 Gal tank


Plan (thus far)
1. Sometime today or tomorrow : Move some more sand from the main tank to the refugium. My thought on this is that it will A give me a deeper sand bed in the refugium and keep some more of the systems bacteria in the tank. This will be done BEFORE the actual move.

2a. The day of the move, I will have 2 holding tanks setup. 1 will be for the fish only. This will be between 20 and 30 gallons and have water from the original 90 gal in it. It will have a heater, a few soft objects for the fish to hid in/near/around, an air stone and that's about it. This will be covered by a blanket to keep it dark. (estimated holding time 2 - 3 hours).

2b. Holding tank 2 will be be for rock and my 2 anems. Same setup as above mostly.

By this point, I should have anywhere from 40 to 60 gallons out of the tank. My protein skimmer will be running still, cycling water from the sump to the refugium tank only. Main tank feed will be offline.

3a. Remove remaining water from main tank. (keep)(keep warm with heater)
3b. Remove 1/2 to 3/4 of sand from tank. (keep) - keep in 5 gal bucket with original tank water.

4. Remove tank from wall unit (the tank is built into the wall)

5. Install new tank

6. Add original sand back to tank along with some new sand.

7a. Add as much of the original water back to the tank as possible
7b. Add new water to make up difference.
7c. Check main tank chemistry, temp, etc.
7d. If 7c passes, turn on sump pump - begin cycling water between all 3 tanks.

8a. Add rock back to tank
8b. Add fish/anem/etc back to tank

9. Add bio-spire to tank (not sure if any of you have used this or had luck with it, I have used it and had tremendus luck with it.) (75 gal treatment)

10. Monitor tank.

The following day.

1. Check water chem
2. Add second batch of bio-spire to tank (75 gal treatment)





::: Questions I have :::
1. Do you think moving sand from the main tank to the refugium is a good idea? Will adjetating the bed release anything into the tank?
2. If you have done anything like this before, what were your results?

 

Moving the sand is risky, depending on the depth in the main tank you might foul up your water. I suggest you don’t bother with step number 1.

In my opinion, if you are keeping the sand rinse it well.

I like the plan in general – this has been well thought out, good for you. Please keep us updated and good luck !

 

Thank you for your input - I think your right on the sand and that was my big "?". I am going to do photos along the way. I also have a carpenter coming to do some nice accent molding around the tank this week as well.

 

Got the tank tonight project starts friday. Pics to come.