Thinking of changing 75 gallon to 110 gallon...really need a

[Anonymous]

Okay, since I'm soooo sick of looking at my empty 110 gallon (5 foot long Oceanic model), I was having the wild thought of transferring my 75 gallon reef into it as a winter project. However, I would like to hear everyone's opinions on the following :

1. Cash will of course be an issue (to a point). I'd like to get a couple of metal halide pendants, but was wondering if I could use the existing four 4-foot VHO bulbs currently on the 75 in tandem with the new MH's. If I can, what are the logistics of installing them so they work well? Has anyone done this before? The 440 watts of light are currently in an oak hood for the 75.

2. How long of a project do you see this being? What I'd like to do is get the 5" sand bed set up, then order some live rock and get the tank cycled, then slowly add things over once the lighting is established. This could take 6 months to a year, right?

3. Please give any other thoughts you may have on this. I'm very apprehensive about it, even though I've absorbed so much info here over the past 10 months and have had my 75 gallon up for over a year. It's doing well, but there are still some things I have not figured out. Would any of you even undertake such a project?

4. I'll probably be setting up a sump/refugium for it as well, but would like to know what the smallest gallon size I can get away with when setting such a thing up. Any alternative methods such as Rubbermaid containers, etc, would be helpful.

5. Assuming I sell the 75 gallon with the stand and everything, what's a good price to ask? Is it even worth selling the tank/stand/hood, or should I just use it for something else, like an undulate trigger?

As always, thanks for the input. This place, and it's contributors, are the best.

Peace,

Chip

[ December 27, 2001: Message edited by: marillion ]</p>

 

[McReef1]

Chip~

That's a lot to digest and respond to over this board!

I recently (6 months ago) moved my 55gal to a 225gal bowfront and added a refugium. This was quite easy, actually. If you like, I'd be happy to set up a phone call with you if you want to hear about my experience. Email me!

Good luck,

McReef

 

[Anonymous]

up

 

[McReef1]

Chip~

My experiences are based on the fact that I purchased FULLY CURED live rock and quality live sand the same day I was moving to a new tank. There is no true cycling period when you do it this way. If you buy partially or uncured LR, you will need to wait to cure it. This should only take 2 - 6? weeks or so. Tough to really say, depends on a lot of factors. Water testing for Nitrites, ammonia, and nitrates are the key.

My process:

1. Make plenty of water at the exact same temp and salinity as your 75 gal tank. I'm guessing you will use 50 gallons of new water (rough guess).

2. Set up the new tank

.

3. Transfer 2/3 of the water from your old tank into the new tank being careful not to disturb the sand bed in your old tank.

4. At this time you could use some of the old water in buckets to store your corals and fish until you are ready to put them in the new tank.

5. Transfer live rock from old tank and new live rock (assuming it is fully cured) into the new tank. (The rock sits on the bottom of the tank, not on top of the sand!!!!)

6. Transfer as much additional "old" water into the new tank as you can being careful not to use the really murky stuff.

7. Add your old and new sand. Some people might slightly rinse the old sand so that the new water does not become super murky and suffocate your fish. IMO, I think it is better not to rinse the sand because you will rinse away a lot of the good stuff in it (the scientific explanation

). Either way, let the sand settle for an hour or so in the new tank and most of the murkiness will settle away too. If you can fill the tank the rest of the way (using new water as needed) at this time and start your filtration system, the cloudiness will go away faster!

8. Assuming all your rock and sand is in place, and your water is not too cloudy, it is time to add your fish and corals. You might consider keeping the lights off for the rest of the day as your critters have just been stressed a bit!

Some additional hints:

This process will take several hours which means your water temp in your new and old water could change several degrees if your room temp is much different than your water (I believe stable water temp to be SUPER important). You may want to beg, borrow, or steal a couple extra heaters for the occasion (your LFS might loan or rent you some). I bought a few big rubbermaid garbage cans to store all the new water at the ready and had a heater in each one, had one heater in the old tank, and one in the new tank.

Have as much set up before you begin as possible! Walk through the process several times and make sure you have everything you need including plumbing fittings for the new tank. That said, schedule the big switch at a time when your LFS and hardware stores are open. You never know what you might need.

Wait to set up a refugium. You will surely have enough to do in one day.

If you do not have fully cured LR, you can cure it in a trash can with a heater, pump or airstone, and, preferably, a skimmer, and have it ready for when you transfer tanks.

As far as your lighting goes, IMO, the lighting you have is sufficient for a 110 gallon...depends on what you keep. If you are going to keep many SPS, you might consider MH. Not a must, though.

Again, temp and salinity of the new water are the key, IMO. No need to do a water change for awhile. You just added a LOT of new water to your tank!

Good luck!

McReef

 

[John G]

Marillion - I can't add a whole lot from what McReef said. I went from a 55gal to a 120 gal earlier this year. There is alot of planning and buying to do ( I got all new equipment, skimmer, sump, etc.) But once everything was bought and ready to go the process was easy. I had my tank an sump all plumbed and ready, added my existing 80 lbs of live rock to the new FULLY CURED 130 lbs., seeded my new 100 lbs sand bed with most of my bed (left out the crud), stored my critters in tubs with tank water, small light and circulation pump, had enough RO water made and stored.

I started on a Saturday morning and was done by Saturday afternoon. Added my critters (all of them, fish, corals, snails, etc) on Sunday. Had no deaths, or problems. I would say the most important thing I did, as McReef said, was to spend a little extra $$ for the fully cured live rock.

Good Luck!!

Hey McReef - I see you're from Denver. Me too. Where do you do most of you business? just curious.