Tank To Replace Existing Tank

As some may know from my 90 Gallon Build thread, I purchased a 90G; with a 30G long for the sump/'fuge. But the thing is, my current tank, a 55G, currently sits right where the 90G will go.

I've already made the stand for the 90G, and will soon be buying glass at Lowes for baffles for the sump/'fuge. Nearly everything is ready to be put into action, but I just don't know how to proceed.

The live sand, LR, fish and corals from the 55G will all be going into the new 90G. I will be buying another 60 or so lbs. of sand, and will eventually (not now, though) be buying more LR, but my question is how to make the swap?

I wish I could just fill the 90G and get it started on cycling. Then, once the cycle is complete, I could move everything from the 55 into the 90G. Unfortunately this can't be done for the reasons outlined above.

Here's the general list of issues:
1. I can't move the livestock from the 55G into the 90G until the 90G is cycled.
2. I can't fill the 90G until I move the 55G, because the 90 will occupy the same space as the 55 currently does.
3. Lastly, I'd like to utilize the main return pump from the 55G, in the 90G while the 90G is cycling, but the pump must stay in the 55G to maintain life.

Well, you get the idea.

I'm sure someone has been through this predicament. Would you please tell me how I can best proceed?

Karma to all, and to all a good night.

 

When I switched fom my 45g to my current 90g, that was my same situtation. What I did was tear down the 45g and placed all the corals in one bucket and the fish in another(try to use a blk bucket). Syphoned all the water to a 60g trash bin and removed the 45g. Cleaned the area and placed the 90g. And just little by little transfering sand, water, corals, fish and of course, more water to fill it up. I know its a little unorthadox, but I lost nothing in the transaction. Luna

 

When i needed to set my 125 up where my 29 was i drained the tank and inched it out of the way...kinda depends on yer room layout and situation tho i guess.

 

After dropping the money on the 90 and 30, I'd rather not spend money on a 3rd tank unless I really have to. :-/

 

I've considered this, Luna; but that plan of action carries the assumption that the new tank will not cycle. I'm wondering how sure of this I can be.

If all my LR and LS from the 55 goes into the 90, maybe I'll have little or no cycle???

Your method might be the solution. Thanks.

 

In essence, your not going to being cycling b/c your just transfering the "stuff" from one tank to another. The tank itself doesnt go through the cycle, its the livestock/eco-system. It will go through a small cycle if and when you add more LR and LS however. The only other way is to relocate the 55 to another place and place the 90 there and cycle it, but that doesnt make any sense and/or is un-necessary. Like I said, I lost nothing when I did it that way. Luna

 

I have a similar issue,

The wife informed me she wants wood floors in the living room....so i have to figure out how to move my 115gal display tank and another 55gal tank that are in the living room.

I had thought of Draining the tank into several large trashcans and putting the livestock into 5gal buckets, im just not sure how long they will survive in those buckets, cause it will be a couple days to get the carpet ripped up and the flooring down. Do you think just some airstones in the buckets with them would hold them over?

any ideas are welcome.

 

OK so let me get this straight. If I have it right then I agree with Luna. You're not necessarily buying any new live rock or sand, right? Just moving everything over? If so then what Luna suggested is your way to go. I have done this twice in the past year and it works.

Siphon out as much water as you can to save it in buckets for the transfer. Take out all your corals and put them in a container (bucket or something, I used my sump...) that you can keep a heater and an air pump in. Then take out the rocks and put them in buckets of water so your die-off is minimal. Same goes for your fish as your corals - a heated bucket with an air pump so you can maintain oxygen exchange.

Then move your 55 out of the way. Toss your 90 in place. Take the sand out of the 55 and put it in the 90 (something I forgot, keep some water in with the sand so your die-off there is minimal as well). Then the best way to try to minimalize a cloudy-water-for-hours situation is (if at all possible, might not be for you, it wasn't for me) is to have your buckets of water ABOVE your 90 so that you can siphon the water into it slowly at first. Even more, you can put a plate in the tank, set a glass on the plate, and have your water siphoning into the glass. That way when it spills over the glass and plate it doesn't disturb the sand as much.

Finally, when you get about halfway full then you can add your heater to the display and start adding water more quickly. If all has gone well and you don't have cloudy water (my BIGGEST problem and main pain - every freakin time) then you can add your rocks.

I would wait until the water is heated properly and then acclimate your corals and fish, but really only to the temp since if you keep as much water as possible then your parameters will be pretty much the same. Then you can get your filtration going and such.

I have done it this way lots of times and only once did I ever lose fish. This last time when I went from my 72 to 125 I didn't lose a single thing. Huge anemone, corals, fish, everything made it alive.

 

Thanks for the response, Brandon. I think this will be the plan. I should be setting everything up by the weekend. I'll keep you all posted!! BTW, new pics for Luna and everyone else in the build thread.