Upgrading need some advise please

[niftyjosh]

Going from a 50 breeder with about 20 gallons worth of sump so 70 total to a 90 with about 20 gal of total sump so 110 total. Should I treat this move as a big water change or should I cycle this new tank?

Thanks
Josh

 

[afboundguy]

I would treat it as a large water change... I would just make sure that the ph, temp and salinity are exact...

 

[Dekon]

I upgraded from a BioCube 29 to a 65gal. What did was I used Marco rock and added my LR from BC29. I also used some of the water from the BC when I changed everything over. I never had a cycle. Maybe I got lucky, I don't know. I am sure there are people with more experience that will chime in.

 

[Turbosnail]

I went from a 50 breeder to a 90 back in Aug and treated it as a big water change and it worked out fine. Like Dave said make sure all the perimeters in the new water match the old water as best as possible.

 

[MikeG]

If you treat it as a big water change, make sure any new rock is completely cycled. Dry rock can go either way and not need to cycle or have a ton of organics and take a long time to cycle. What is your plan for sand?

 

[niftyjosh]

Thanks all. It sucks though because I just bought a new light for the 50 gal and I don't think it's going to work out very well. It's a single 250w MH with 4 39w T5HO.

 

[niftyjosh]

Well it just so happens I ordered another 40 lbs of rock and sand from Marco to add to both my tanks but I just may add it all to the new tank as I transfer the old over.

 

[MikeG]

If it's a standard 90 gallon (4 feet) you are going to definitely want two MH.

 

[MikeG]

Well it just so happens I ordered another 40 lbs of rock and sand from Marco to add to both my tanks but I just may add it all to the new tank as I transfer the old over.

If you have livestock you are transferring, I would strongly advise against putting the marco rock directly in. You may get lucky and have no organics on the rock or it may be loaded and cause a huge cycle. I have had both happen with marco rock.

 

[niftyjosh]

Well I figure I can keep my minimal amount of sps centered and locate my lps and softies accordingly

 

[niftyjosh]

It's the aquacultured key largo. Mby I'll soak it for awhile and see what's going on.

 

[Turbosnail]

+1 I should have mentioned that I cycled some rock in a barrel before I swapped the tanks around.

 

[Takara]

as long as you don't change the livestock, it should be just like your last setup with more water volume, just don't think you can drop a lot of new livestock in right away. also your going to have to play with your flow which will be different

 

[niftyjosh]

Ok right along the lines of what I was thinking. That's for the help. Going to have to stick with the single halide for now seeing as a new fixture isnt in the budget.