Upsizing a reef tank

[Zack]

Here in the next few months I will be moving all the live stock (and maybe sand?) from my current 10 gallon tank to a 20 gallon tank. Aside from more water, I will also be adding 15 or so pounds of new sand and down the road a few more pounds of live rock. My questions are:

Can I keep any of my old sand?

If so, do I add the new sand under the old sand, on top of the old sand, or mix it into the old sand? I've replaced the sand bed once before, and I've also

If/ when I add the live stock to the tank, should I add any thing like prime to account for any small cycle?

Other than the sand, all the water, the same plumbing, same sump, same live rock, corals, inverts etc.. will be in this new larger tank. Is there any advice you guys can give me on this? I would like to accomplish this tank swap in a few hours and I believe this is very possible if I plan correctly.

As of now my plan would be:

Acquire new tank, paint the back black.

Prepare 15 gallons of new salt water a day before. This will give me time to temperature and salinity match it before it will be used.

Build canopy or other device to hang my LED's.

On the day of the takedown, I will catch the fish, and then place them and the corals into several buckets.

Drain the 10 gallon tank.

(if i can keep the sand) transfer sand to new aquarium and/or add new sand. Shooting for about 30-40 lbs live sand

Place new tank on stand (stand is big enough for a 40 breeder so sump and under plumbing will be all re-used).

Refill half way

Add corals+fish

rewire vortech

fil tank 100%

Lights off period for everything to clear up

And then I should be good?

[reefreak]

20 long or 20 high?

[Zack]

I'm really feeling 20 long right now. I wanted 20 high but I feel that 20 long gives me a bit more swimming room for fish.

[Zack]

Although to be completely honest, I still have that 24 aquapod in the back of my mind.

[reefreak]

well let me know i have a 20 h i can get you for $10

[alton]

Move everything out of your tank including water, dig up a cup of sand out of you tank. If it smells do not use it! Anytime you reuse sand from an old system you take a chance of uncovering a bunch of bad stuff.

[Teeb]

Be careful with the sand, you'll stir up a ton of crap when you move it. You may be better off getting new.

[Scutterborn]

If you want a 20L I have one. I'll buy Jeremy's 20h and then you gimme $10 for my tank. I just use it to mix my salt for WC.


- Ben -

[Scutterborn]

Be careful with the sand, you'll stir up a ton of crap when you move it. You may be better off getting new.

+1. If it smells ok, I'd take a cup ( not a super big gulp cup, lol ) and seed the new sand with it.


- Ben -

[Zack]

And will I see any mini cycle? I have a small anemone, would it make the move?

[rrasco]

I'm sure the tank will cycle to some degree, at that size and if you bring enough bio with your LR, it should be minimal and shouldn't have any real problem. Every system has a stabilization period where the bio and waste have to reach an equilibrium. You will probably see a lot of the familiar cycle stages, like diatoms or dinos; especially if you get new sand.

[Pennies2Cents]

I'm sure the tank will cycle to some degree, at that size and if you bring enough bio with your LR, it should be minimal and shouldn't have any real problem. Every system has a stabilization period where the bio and waste have to reach an equilibrium. You will probably see a lot of the familiar cycle stages, like diatoms or dinos; especially if you get new sand.

well said.

[Zack]

Here's me being a noob, but dinos?

[rrasco]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

[reefreak]

When i moved everything back into the 20 after the crash using my dads tank water and rock i still had dinos and hairalgea

[reefreak]

although i still do have the aquapod....