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fish_who?

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I am moving in a month and a half, so I need to start planning for my new tank. I currently have a 65 gallon reef, but want to bump it up once and for all. I will be moving to a condo where my garage is below me. How big of a tank do you think I could put on a 2nd floor? I am thinking 150 gal. What do you think? I will be using most of my equip from my current tank, and moving it on move day. Should I move my 65 and inhabitants from the 65 to the larger tank on the first move day, or wait? How would I do this? I know how I am going to move the tank, but what about cycling the larger tank? If I use my old stuff is it ok to just add them to the new setup? Help me out here.
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Bradbendr

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The 2 biggest questions back at ya is : how far are you moving, and what type(s) of filtration are you using? Short distances with bioball/live rock as filtration is the easiest to move as long as media is kept moist, and system is running again within 4 to 6 hours. As time goes on without wastes to process, the faster the filter will die. As for the tank, Check with your prospective landlord about floor construction/strength.
The strongest locations are usually adjacent to an exterior (load-bearing) wall. Avoid placements over 55 gal. in the center of ANY second floor room you are not absolutely sure of. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR MOVE!
 

fish_who?

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Good questions, thanks for the quick response. I am moving about 10 miles away to a condo I just purchased. I had planned on putting the tank in my dining room, which is next to a bathroom wall, then to the right is the neighbors wall. The floors seem to be very solid, when I jump around I do not hear them creak or even make loud noised, like most 2nd story houses. As for my filtration, currently I have no sump, I have about 75lbs or LR (which will go into a new trash can, with water and a PH), 40-50 lbs of Live sand, and a fluval 404. I only use the Fluval for water movement. I removed all media, and chambers.

Do I move from 65 to new tank, or move 65 to new house in some spot, set up new tank, then move 65 to new tank after cycle period? That is my main question, with the exception of size. I think the moving will go well, just the steps are the question.
 

fish_who?

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Oh, another question. If I buy a tank, and it is not drilled, can I get it drilled? Does it compromise the stregnth of the glass?
 

davelin315

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Glass can be drilled, it's about $30 per hole for most places, and they don't guarentee they won't break it. If you're going that route, buy one that's already drilled. If your garage is heated, I would put a sump down there and run it from the garage (as long as it is clean as well, and you can separate the area from where your car will be, exhaust will mix with the water and go up to your tank otherwise). As far as tank size, every time I buy a bigger tank, it's big for about 3 months, and then it's too small again. Buy the biggest you can afford and fit (make sure it can be brought up to your 2nd story condo through available stairs, as well, or you might end up having to rent a crane and take out a window like a friend of mine did for his custom tank and stand), you'll outgrow it slower than a smaller size. As far as the move, I would get the new tank ready as far as some substrate and water a couple of days in advance, then move a few things at a time if you can, otherwise everything at once, just dump it into the new tank, the only thing you're really changing is your water (unless you have a DSB, in which case I have heard you need to be careful about stirring it up, it can cause toxicity in your water and kill everything) since your bioload is the same, just in a bigger space. Every time I move my 125 I move it all at once and refill it with probably 95% brand new water and then acclimate and dump the critters in. I've done this several times, and the only time I had disaster was when I got sick and went to the hospital and no one could release my fish for 3 days (actually only lost a couple of fish out of many, I put a few in a 5 gallon bucket which was lined with a 13 gallon kitchen garbage bag that was filled with around 4+ gallons of water and then tied it off with air in the top) and when I transferred a baby lion and baby trigger tank with crushed shells as the substrate - the tank cycled when filled again as the shells didn't hold bacteria well due to their non-porous nature. Good luck with the move, I would definitely suggest at a minimum getting your water ready beforehand (I use 32 gallon rubbermaid trash cans to mix and store water).
 

JennM

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Some tanks are drillable, some aren't.

Several brands have a sticker on or near the bottom, along the edge, and if it says "D" it's drillable, if it says "E" it's economy, tempered glass.

DO check with a structural engineer about weight...I'd hate to see you post about a huge hole in your floor
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Jenn
 

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