PSA: Tank Upgrade! Need Advice on Migration Process

[athosh]

Hey everyone, I just got the BRS deal opportunity to upgrade to an Opus G2 300 (65 gallons). I’m currently running a 25-gallon mixed reef and would love some advice on the best way to migrate my existing ecosystem to the new tank.

Here’s what I have for the new setup:

• Dry rock for aquascaping
• Two bags of sand
• I will reuse the same equipment (reef octo 110ss int, xr30 radion, etc )


My plan so far:

1. Start the new tank with Turbo Start and AlgaeBarn Nitrocycle for two weeks.
2. Consider adding more beneficial bacteria, (maybe bioptim/biodigest , microbacter or any recommended???)
3. Add copepods

My questions:

1. What’s the best method to transfer my current live rock and sand to the new system?
2. When should I start transferring my acros and other corals?


Any tips or experiences would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

[athosh]

Bump , any help it’s appreciated

 

[athosh]

: )

 

[SandNRocks]

I just upgraded from 13 gal to 40 gal. Used all of the existing rock and most of the sand and then a bunch of new dry rock and dry sand. Biggest thing for me whenever i use dry rock and sand is to rinse it thouroughly. Like really thouroughly. I submerge the rock and use a pipette/baster to blow all of the crap out of the holes in the rocks. Same with the sand. I rinse with a hose til its clear. Once its all clean i rinse in ro water. I never use live sand. Even if i do i rinse it woth freshwater essentially killing it. I think most problems in a new tank come from all the junk sitting in the rock and sand. Anyways…

I cleaned the 13 really well and got as much dirt and detritus out i could. Then all i did was mix new water and then literally transfer everything all at once. I also used as much old water as i could. It was cloudy for like a day. After a day i changed all the floss and did a ~20%wc.

I didnt add bacteria or anything. The live rock has plenty to deal with everything in my opinion. I measured params before the transfer and then after the transfer i manually dosed nitrates and phosphates to bring them to the level they were in the original tank. Everything took off and was growing again within a week. Sps heavy mixed reef.

Adding some bacteria could definitely help if you have a bunch of fish though.

 

[Orito]

I did something very similar at the beginning of this year.
What I did was, cook the add on rock in a bin with water from the WC for 60 days, used new dry sand, used most of what I could of the old water and completed with fresh salt water.
It was a one day move and had no losses, only a ugly fase in the new rock.

 

[athosh]

Thanks for the reply, I am trying to avoid the most stressful environment for the acros that I have.. since I will add a bunch of new dry rock.. I'm not sure if I should wait a least a little to transfer everything, I have read some stories about people loosing corals by doing on a single shot. and same time some others loose corals at the waiting .. not sure what process would be the best to cause less damage

 

[SandNRocks]

understood. When i did my transfer, my source water was wonky (like 2tds) which is why i did a big water change after the transfer. it caused some flesh recession on my hammers, lost half of my one stylo colony, and my digis didnt open for a few days. Acros ironically were the only things that didnt seem bothered. Personally i feel if parameters are good, acros can be as hardy if not hardier than just about anything. Ive had more issues with softies, zoas, and lps than ive ever had with acros. To each their own though and anyone could have different results.