65-120: now that it`s SNOWBALLED!!!

[jawfishjunky]

Once again, I cant thank the community enough for its generous efforts to help me in my project.

Originally I was going to move a 65 Gallon Reef into a regular 120 Gallon tank. I was gonna continue to use my stone-age-simple HOB Skimmer and Rock-Bio-Filter method which has been very successful for 2 years.

Many experienced aquarists both on this Forum and outside it have suggested that I could sieze this oppurtunity to upgrade to a Reef-Ready Sump/Refugium situation. They all feel I will love this transformation.

I have found a bunch of great gear on the internet that I can just about afford.
Even my wife has great enthusiasm about making this leap. She is encouraging me to "Go For It".

So what`s the problem?

It`s all about "D-Day":

My gut tells me that the same day transfer of my successful reef from the old system to the new system will be a more precarious one.

1) My proposed Sump/Refugium holds 40 Gallons. I`ll probably be running 25 through there to prevent flooding. So 120 Gallons + 25 Gallons - the 65 in my tank means there will be 80 Gallons of New water that I`m putting my creatures in.

2) There is about 120 LBs of Rock and 80 LBs of sand displacing water in my old tank, so there wont really be 65 gallons of Eco-System water going into the new tank. The volume difference between water the life is accustomed to and new water will be pretty big.

3)A Forum member previously detterred me from putting out-going water changes into the new tank, but in light of the ratios I`m talking about, maybe it would be less stressful to the sea-life to have a greater volume of "familiar" water to move into?

4) The circulation cant get running in a Reef-Ready overflow until it is practically filled, right? All the living stuff from my old tank will be in containers of the old water. I have to use as much "old tank" water as possible. Am I actually going to have to put living things into the new tank before I know the complex new circulating system is working properly?

Thanks again for all your help. I know you people have been there before, but common sense tells me some of my concerns are valid. One positive is that I will have a specialist come over and take me through the plumbing set-up.

please continue the guidance........I`m sure to be buying gear within the week.

What I`m planning on using:
*120 Gallon 48" X 24" Aquarium
*TRIGGER Berlin Refugium/Sump
(Last Model on WebPage)
Standard Sumps
*AquaC Urchin Pro In-Sump Protein Skimmer w/ Drain Fitting + Mag-Drive 3 Pump
*48 inch Current USA Nova Extreme 8x54W T5HO with 4 Lunar Lights
*Danner Mag-Drive Supreme 18 1800 GPH Pump

 

[ccCapt]

I understand about being anxious about the transfer, but try to relax. It's really not as complicated as you may be making it out to be.

First off, I did basically the same thing you are doing. I transferred everything from an established 75 with a 20g sump to a brand new 125 with a 55g sump. I made aprox 90 gal of fresh sw in the new tank then just filled it the rest of the way with my old water. I had no losses of fish or coral.
I assume you will be using the same salt and water from the same source as your current set up. So, basically you are just doing a giant partial water change and adding volume to your system.....both good things.
As long as you have a few ph's in there to keep the water moving, you don't have to worry about setting up the sump at the same time.

You seems to have a good understanding of what you need to do and have a good plan. I think everything will work out great and I can't wait to see some pics of the upgrade.

 

[dskidmore]

Is the new tank going up in the same spot as the old one? No reason to push yourself to do it all in one day if the new tank is in a new location. Even if it was the same location, temporary containers can be used. You can always use powerheads to keep things areated. Don't feed the day before the move and you don't have to worry much about mechanical filtering, your rock should take care of biological...

If you've been doing regular water changes, then your critters are prefectly used to freshly mixed saltwater. You could put them in a bucket with a small amount of old water and drip acclimate them if you're really worried. Personally, I'd do a 50% water change and put the waste water into the new tank. (Don't siphon from the bottom, you want water, not junk.) Add again that amount of new water to the new tank, now both tanks have 50% old and 50% new water, and you should have no chemistry related shock. (Make sure temps are the same too.) Move critters, using just a powerhead to areate, then move over all the water in the old tank, top off new tank with new water, and all systems on!

I've not moved a SW tank, but I used to move my FW tank twice a year. I usually only preserved about 20% old water for the move. I just added another 10% new water every half hour or so until the tank was full again. (I was more worried about temperature shock than chemistry shock after having transported them long distance.)

 

[jawfishjunky]

Thank you,

your reply, as well as others have helped a lot.

Please check my little addendum about nutrient export.

JJ

I understand about being anxious about the transfer, but try to relax. It's really not as complicated as you may be making it out to be.

First off, I did basically the same thing you are doing. I transferred everything from an established 75 with a 20g sump to a brand new 125 with a 55g sump. I made aprox 90 gal of fresh sw in the new tank then just filled it the rest of the way with my old water. I had no losses of fish or coral.
I assume you will be using the same salt and water from the same source as your current set up. So, basically you are just doing a giant partial water change and adding volume to your system.....both good things.
As long as you have a few ph's in there to keep the water moving, you don't have to worry about setting up the sump at the same time.

You seems to have a good understanding of what you need to do and have a good plan. I think everything will work out great and I can't wait to see some pics of the upgrade.

 

[jawfishjunky]

Addendum----Regarding nutrient export.

I`m fully aware I have a "Dirty" tank. There are a few things that my new Caulerpa-filled Refugium will phase out.
But.........

I do have some great looking green plants
(Macro-Algae?) growing out of my rock that I just love. Ive always considered them in-tank nutrient export.

Will I lose these plants if I add a refugium?

peace and thanks,
JJ

 

[dskidmore]

Just keep your refugium plants trimmed back when your nitrates get low enough. If you still have nitrates then there's room for more plants.

 

[jawfishjunky]

I TOTALLY pulled the trigger online today! Sump, Fuge, pumps, skimmer, overflow----the whole shebang! WOO HOO!
The stand is in place and the crew at the LFS are "blacking the back" for gratis (that means "Free" for all of you Deadwood/Al Swearingen Fans
The Forum Community helped me navigate the possibilities and I came up with a gameplan that the dude at Marine Depot actually thought was pretty cool.
Just another BIG thank you from the Jawfish Junky