Tank Swap - advice needed

[eskimoigloo]

Need a bit of advice on swapping tanks... getting rid of the old scratchy thing, and replacing it with a new shiny one. I run a sand bed in the tank, plenty of live rock, soft corals, fish inverts etc. Was wondering whether I simply put everything into buckets including my water, give the sand a bit of a rinse (or not???) and then put everything into the new tank? I don't have to worry about cycling again do I? My only concern is what nasties I might stir up out of the sand, or if my sand is full of good bacteria whether I will lose it all and get an ammonia spike in the following days? Any advice appreciated, planning on doing the change after christmas (that's when I'm getting a tank). Also, where's best place in Hull to get a 48x18x24 undrilled tank?

Thanks, Chris.

[Tangman]

Hi Chris nice to hear from you again, if you are changing tanks i would go for a sump it will make life easier as to keeping everything in the sump rather than the tank. Your sand bed will need to be scrapped as you will disturb it when you move it, you could then put another DSB in your sump. If your putting the tank where the old one is , its a case of taking everything out into bucket or containers and save as much water as you can also have some new salt water made up for topping up. Just plan as much as you can and try and think of a plan of action like taking all the corals and rock out first, then drop the water level trying not to disturb the sand bed, then net the fish out into buckets etc and then finally empty the rest of the water and sand and dump it. HTH Twiggy:D:D

[eskimoigloo]

Was just thinking about a sump (could use my old tank!) which means I could move skimmer into sump too. For that sort of volume, a 48x18x24 tank, and a 48x12x18 sump, what sort of return pump size would I be looking at then? Also what's regarded as the best system of overflow and returns these days? If I dump the sand (and it does happen to contain a lot of good stuff) do I not run the risk of spikes of ammonia or nitrate? Going to be putting the tank into a different place which makes things easier, and it will be built into a stud wall (not sure how yet?!) with access around the back and ends for maintenance and storage of food, chemicals, salt etc. I will put a post on the new tank build when it kicks off... thanks for the advice so far! Should I speak to Chris at Blue Zoo about a tank?

[moorish]

would go with eric,take everything out and put into containers leaving the sand to last.going for a sump would be a good idea a much better method,keeps everything out of the way.derek

[Tangman]

Hi Chris you can get the tank drilled Chris might do it for you, you can buy core drills and do it your self or if there is someone who is capable if you dont fancy it. A return pump of any thing upto 2000 litres an hour, ie Newjet 2000 or Eheim 1260 you can always put a T piece in to divert the water back to the sump if its to powerful. If the tank is going in a different place you could set it up a few weeks before you swop over, that would give the tank some bioload if you put some water out of your old tank in as well. HTH Twiggy:D:D

[eskimoigloo]

Ok, going to go for a sump then... set the new tank up straight out of my old tank, including as much of my existing water as possible, ditch my current sand bed, except for a small amount to "seed" the dsb in the sump. Unfortunately my sump will be my existing tank so won't be able to "cycle" the new dsb before adding everything to the main tank, but I only have a few fish anyway and my LR is well matured to cope with the poop! Planning on using Mr Tees's sump/weir plans that he posted on here a little while ago. My only question now then is where to get a tank? and what size pipework to go for?

Regards, Chris.

[Tangman]

Ok, going to go for a sump then... set the new tank up straight out of my old tank, including as much of my existing water as possible, ditch my current sand bed, except for a small amount to "seed" the dsb in the sump. Unfortunately my sump will be my existing tank so won't be able to "cycle" the new dsb before adding everything to the main tank, but I only have a few fish anyway and my LR is well matured to cope with the poop! Planning on using Mr Tees's sump/weir plans that he posted on here a little while ago. My only question now then is where to get a tank? and what size pipework to go for?

Regards, Chris.
Hi Chris PM sent