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Old 01-13-2004, 03:12 PM   #1 (permalink)
newsalt
Torch coral
 
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 578
Procedure for Switching Tanks (long)

Well, if you've read some of my recent posts, I'm considering switching from my existing 15g high tank to a 29g or a 37g. I'm not sure how to go about making the switch. The two problems I have are:

Problem 1
The room where the existing tank is needs a new carpet. Since I will be making this aquarium switch, I figure that would be the best time to put in the new carpet because once the new tank is set up, I don't want to move it again to have a carpet installed.

Problem 2
The new tank will go in the same spot were the existing one is.

Here's how I plan on making this switch:

A day or two before the new carpet is to get installed:

1. Add some new, washed substrate into the new tank.
2. Siphon water out of existing tank into new tank.
3. Disconnect equipment (heater/filter/skimmer) on existing tank.
4. Remove live rock from existing tank and place it in the new tank to keep it wet. At this point, the existing tank should be light enough to move (with some help).
5. Move existing tank (fish still in it) and new tank into another room. Put powerhead in new tank to keep water moving over LR.
6. Reinstall equipment (heater/filter/skimmer) on existing tank.
7. Have new carpet installed.
8. Place new stand for new tank in position.
9. Place new tank (already has the LR and some new substrate in it) onto the new stand.
10. Put some water from existing tank into a bucket.
11. Move fish from existing tank into the bucket.
12. Place enough of existing substrate into new tank to achive desired depth.
13. Fill the remainder of the new tank with fresh saltwater.
14. Get filter/heater/skimmer working on new tank.
15. Acclimate existing fish in the bucket to the new tank as if they were new purchases.
16. Place fish into new tank.

I know this is quite a long list, but I had to write it down in order to visualize what has to be done. If I'm missing anything, please, someone who has gone through this, please let me know. Also, the new tank will be about 10" longer than the existing. In the event I want to add more "cured" LR, when should I do that to try to avoid an ammonia spike from LR die-off.

Thanks
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Equipment

120g Reef, (2) 250W XM 20K MH, (2) 110W T12 VHO Super Actinic, MRC MR2 Beckett Skimmer, 55g Sump, Iwaki Return Pump

Setup August 2006
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