transferring tanks, what should I do?

So I'm probably picking up a 90 gallon aquarium off Craigslist tomorrow to replace my current 55.

My question is: Should I add the extra water/substrate and heat it to the correct temp and then transfer as much of the water out of my 55 as possible?

Or should I just go with all new water then add my live rock and organisms?

I figured that I would want most my 55 gallon water for its micro-organisms and bacterial filtration. Also is $150 a good deal for a 90 gallon glass with tops and some sort of sump system and unknown light system a good price...I thought it was.

 

Yes, that sounds like a pretty good deal.

You really don't have much in the way of beneficial bacteria that's free-swimming in the water; however, using all the matured water as possible is still better, as long as it's clean and the parameters have been stable.

You could use your sand as well, as long as it's a shallow bed that is either fairly new or has been well-maintained.

 

From what I've seen for prices, that is a good buy. I'm currently upgrading from a 16 gallon to a 40 gallon breeder. I plan on buy all new sand and transferring everything else over. I started my 16 off with tap water, so I will go with all new RO water myself. I will be following this thread to see what everyone suggests.

 

I had a small algae bloom but that was my fault. I was really busy for about two weeks and I replaced the evap with tap water for that period of time. Since then I have been doing regular water changes with RO/DI and added a couple more turbos and it is dying down.

As far as my substrate I used aragonite in my 55 and still have a decent amount that is unused in the bag still. IMO I like some of the sandy beds better as far as looks go but I thought aragonite had a little more to offer. I had planned on transferring that as well.

I currently have the system listed in my sig, most of that hardware will be transferred over. I figured I would need another koralia 3 or 4, 15-20 lbs of liverock, and with the 90 gal I wanted to convert one of my 10 gallon tanks laying around into a external refugium.

 

Looks like you've got it all planned out- I don't see any problems.

 

Not a comment on your existing deal, but rather a question:

Why not look for a 120 instead of the 90? I far prefer a 24" tank for a reef and the 120 is one of my favorite tanks..

 

a 90g is 48" x 18" x 24", do you are you talking 24 inches deep by 24 wide? And the 90 just came up on cl at it seemed like a good deal.

 

Yeah, the 24" wide aspect is what makes a 120 so nice. Very much easier to aquascape.

 

true. Either way it is bigger than my system so I'll be happy.

 

I think the price you paid is alright. I got my 90G for $100 and it came with a crap light (single T8), glass tops, salt, and a few pieces of base rock. From GL as well.

But I did manage to get a very nice 75G for $60. I plan to put my 30G into it just like your are doing pretty much. Now a 75G and a 90G next to each other.