Upgrading my tank. Need Help!!!

Hey everyone! Thanks in advance for the help. I have purchased a larger tank and will be combining 3 smaller reef tanks together in the new larger aquarium. My plan is to use the live sand and live rock out of the smaller tanks to fill the new one. However my question is when I move the sand it will get mixed up. When I place the sand into the new tank will I have a nitrate/nitrite/ammonia spike? Is the tank going to cycle again?

 

There would most likely be a spike so i wouldnt even mess with it and just buy all new sand for the new tank.

 

Is it going to be a high spike or could it be leveled off with daily water changes until the spike drops. Will the tank have to completely recycle?

 

if it were to cycle it would be quick. I dont have any personal experience with it so im not really sure what the levels would probably get up to. maybe someone else will chime in soon.

 

How deep are the sand beds? Deeper, more potential for Ammonia- etc.

Yet another reason why I run a shallow sand bed out of finely Crushed Coral.

 

Sand beds are about 4 inches in one and 2 inches in the other two. Sand beds have always been turned over by nassarius, and the burrowing habits of sleeping blennies. Sand bed is healthy.

 

it will cause a cycle its not safe to move your sand from one tank to another. The cycle could be a normal one or short one it just kind of depends on the amount of nutrient that would be released into the water. Could possibly kill off everything that you move into the larger tank. But if you set up your new tank add brand new sand and then your current Live rock to the new tank you should be okay.

 

Ok. Thanks for the thoughts. I guess I willl be buying some some sand. Thanks alot for the help.

 

+1 to what everyone else said, its risky moving sand like that