Tank Move

[jeffopentax]

Moving time is nearly upon me. Looking for any methods/tips/suggestions for moving my 30g cube. Should be as simple as capture livestock, drain tank, move, fill with new saltwater, and restock. Correct?


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[reef keeper]

correct

 

[jeffopentax]

Just checking


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[Skim]

Until Murphy sticks his nose into it.
Good Luck and may the Force be with you.

 

[nathan]

Moving time is nearly upon me. Looking for any methods/tips/suggestions for moving my 30g cube. Should be as simple as capture livestock, drain tank, move, fill with new saltwater, and restock. Correct?


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I would think you need to keep a large portion of your old water so you don't have the tank get thrown out of wack and have it start to do a cycle again and kill all of your live stock

 

[nathan]

I would think you need to keep a large portion of your old water so you don't have the tank get thrown out of wack and have it start to do a cycle again and kill all of your live stock

SOMONE correct if I'm wrong here

 

[jeffopentax]

I would think you need to keep a large portion of your old water so you don't have the tank get thrown out of wack and have it start to do a cycle again and kill all of your live stock

I think i read somewhere there's no benefit to using old water, since the bacteria is on "things", not in the water itself. Anyone want to weigh in?


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[Joshbrookkate]

When I moved my 75g, I found the following helpful:

I had made an extra batch of new SW at correct salinity and temp to have on hand, double what I thought I needed. I used every bit of it.

I set up 3 bins with fresh SW and small powerheads and heated them the day before. Saved time that day.

I took the opportunity to shake and rinse off the live rock as it came out of the tank. So I used one of the 3 bins for that.

The other 2 bins I used for livestock and the liverock after cleaning.

I put an ammonia badge in the new setup to monitor for ammonia, in case it went up after disturbing the sandbed. And I had something like "Prime" (not sure what it's called in Canada) on hand to neutralize the ammonia if it appeared. I also added a Poly-Filter to the sump for a couple of days, just in case.

Keep in mind that things take a lot longer than you think it will. But it all works out.
Good luck.....

 

[jeffopentax]

I probably should mention I'm moving to a new house, not just moving the tank from one room to another.


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[heath]

SOMONE correct if I'm wrong here

I think that you are correct..
when I have moved my tank, I saved as much of the old water as I could...
I used pails for the water and fish, and totes for rock and substrate..
I used new water to top up the tank.. had no issues or losses...
I think that if you use all new water you could be asking for issues, like a mini cycle..
Jeff, think of it as a good size water change...

 

[reef keeper]

either or as far as water.

You will want to get your RO unit set up as soon as possible, but make enough water at your current house in pails.

The fish etc will be ok for a few hours until you get it set back up.

Theres no value in reusing water. the bacteria is in the rocks.

 

[nathan]

Why do we not do 100 percent water changes. I'd been always told you could set your tank back into a cycle. Of course there is bacteria in the rock but also in water. I wouldn't take the chance.

 

[reef keeper]

the reason we don't do 100% water changes is because when the rock is out of the water, bacterial die off begins. In addition, unless the parameters are EXACTLY the same, the corals and fish can react negatively to the swinging nutrient and chemical levels.

 

[TORX]

Also, the new water will need to "cycle". Too much new water and your tank will cycle again. Save as much as you can without disturbing the sand bed or rock work.

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[AdInfinitum]

the reason we don't do 100% water changes is because when the rock is out of the water, bacterial die off begins. In addition, unless the parameters are EXACTLY the same, the corals and fish can react negatively to the swinging nutrient and chemical levels.

100% water changes will knock the crap out of the zoo and phytoplankton populations that we work so hard to establish...wiping out an entire generation of free swimming larvae. The bacteria in the water are immaterial and completely unimportant. Best to keep the substrate in place and as undisturbed as possible if you can carry the tank with an inch of water above the sand.

Remember, bacteria double their population every 3 hours and therefore recover quickly...however planktonic populations take minimally 8 days per population cycle which is why I always save some water....plus I'm cheap....lol

 

[Nonuser]

I moved my 20 with about 5 gallons of water all the live rock, sand, corals and fish. I was not really prepared for the weight and had to lift it up approximately chest high from about waist. I emptied the water in 3, 5 gallon pails and threw the last most foul water out.

 

[reef keeper]

how far are you moving and can you get in ahead of time to set up the RO? or are you using tap again

 

[dale]

+1 for reuse old water, there is more to it than just bacteria..

 

[jeffopentax]

how far are you moving and can you get in ahead of time to set up the RO? or are you using tap again

Moving in town, so time shouldn't be an issue. Going to stick with tap for now. Tank is doing fine except for gha, which may or may not be directly related. Can't see the water being any worse where I'm moving to.


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[shamous113]

+1 to reuse the old water. I'd try for at least 50% of the old water.