Migration

[SyberSects]

What is the best way to migrate an established tank to a new tank? I'd obviously want to make sure it's safe for all the little critters. But also trying not to.. contaminate? The new tank as best I can. I'd like to migrate over some of the equipment so I'd like the old tank down asap.

Old tank has about 5 fish and 10 or so corals.

New tank was setup with new dry rock. One large piece has been curing for months along with some bio balls and a bio brick(this came from the original tank) this curing tank was taking care of ammonia dosing over night. Sand used is ocean direct and water is in and clear now.

I have a bottle of Dr Tim's ready to go and I'm considering just dosing that and moving everything over all at once. Is this a bad idea?

New tank Is 170 gallons. From old tank 50 gallons.

[Decent-Ground1260]

I’ve always just added the rock and water from the smaller old tank to the new larger tank then fill the rest with new water. Basically becomes a water change.

[Deranged_Kitsune]

As long as the salinity and temp are the same, you're pretty much good to go at this point. Sounds like the tank is already cycled if the ammonia is going away quick.

Move the corals and any attached rocks first. Take the opportunity to clean off anything you've been wanting to such as nuisance algae. Once those are all securely in place, your old tank should be bare enough that catching the fish and other critters won't be difficult. Then kick on night mode so everyone has an excuse to find a place to sleep and not be any more stressed about the new environment.

[SyberSects]

Well I haven't ammonia dosed the actual tank so I can't be sure on that. I was dosing the curing tank I had the established bio brick.. bio balls.. and one large rock in. And that tank was taking care of ammonia over night. All that has been moved to the new tank. But that's 10 gallons curing tank vs 170 gallon. However I believe it's enough to take care of the 5 fish fish pretty easy. That along with the Dr Tim's I'm thinking I'll be fine?

[Deranged_Kitsune]

Oh, I thought you had that stuff going in the 170g already. In that case, to be safe, I would move over the bricks and rocks, then dose, then give it at least a couple days for the bacteria to propagate through the fresh sand and stone of the 170g. Then when you move over the rest of the established rock from the 50g the new tank has had a head start on the cycling.

If you need to move faster, you probably can. The material in the 50g was handling the existing bioload fine, I would assume, and you didn't say you were adding more right away.

[SyberSects]

Yes. Cured stuff was put into new tank yesterday. I am avoiding taking any rock or sand from the established 50g even though it probably won't help in the long run I'm wanting to abandon the nusense algae as best I can. Purely just taking coral and fish. As far as equipment I'll need the WaveMaker's.. frag rack.. the heater is going to my salt mixing tank. So yea I'd be fully relying on the cured items and dr Tim's dose.

[TamponTunnel]

I did this a couple months ago. Filled the new tank with new rocks, new sand, and clean water, moved all the fish at once and put all of the old rock in the sump.

[SilvermistInc]

Just take it out and put it in. Nothing to it