Getting Started ,,AGAIN!!

[sunnrayy]

Hello,,
I am starting up again after 5yrs I have a new 72 gal cuvered tank ,stand and wet dry filter system (Christmas present). All was purchased together as a package for reef tank!! I have had water and salt,hater going in the tank with just the sump running to mix it. I have wet sand i am doing next (water is RO) I have not started my pump system yet getting the water up to temp.

I have a friend (who is moveing) that is selling me evering thind in his 58 gal reef tank it has slmost 100lb of live rock corals,leather,and others also bubble anemone with clones clams and kritters for clean up.He lives about 2 hrs away so I have to go get them(save shipping and to cold in MI to do that now).I have a crs mide size to go get this .Should I get coolers and heavy plastic bags to move this and do I need to cure these rock?

Not sure how much water I can bring with me because this is going to be 1 trip to get this stuff. I have a truck I can use but the weather has been in the teens. Way to cold to do the in the back with no cover.
I want to do this right because I am getting a great deal on this.
Thanks

 

[tazdevil]

I would be a little concerned about the cold, in coolers, if they're well built, you may be ok; but if you can get warm packs that would help. With that much LR, you don't need a W/D filter, it's kind of useless and MAY give you a headache down the road. You should not have to recure the rock as long as its kept in water. However, your tank may still have a bit of a cycle as the substrate is brand new.


On the reef tank, do you have metal halides or what type of lighting-thinking of the clam and the anemone?

 

[Anonymous]

You DEFINITELY need the heat pax, layer and seal the coolers with styro and/or newsprint if at all possible.

You will indeed have to go through a "mini cure" with the live rock, there is simply going to be stuff that won't make a two-three hour stint out of water, but it shouldn't be too bad. Don't worry about bringing old water with you as much as keeping everything sufficiently warm. You can take a couple of large trash cans, line them with black plastic trash bags (no ant-anything, though - just plain) and have water mixed, heated, and ready to go. You DO want to match it to his current paramenters (especially pH!).

What fun! Keep us updated.

 

[tazdevil]

You should not have to recure the rock as long as its kept in water

Umm, that is why I said this SM. You could try to rent a cargo van, where the back is heated and you have control over it-the air is what you share in the cabin. Then the heating is even less an issue, provided you keep it warm in there for the trip.

 

[Anonymous]

Shipping live rock in water can be a pain, but I guess if he's going to go that route it's worth a try. However, I don't think it's realistic to expect zero die-off.

 

[Anonymous]

I live in a cold climate during winter as well. I'd recommend coolers, water, and heat packs as well. I'd recommend trying to get water parameters as close to what you're removing it/them from. Additionally, as added "insurance", I'd seal the top of each cooler w/ some duct tape to ensure an airtight seal for the trip. If you're going to be transferring all the LR and critters directly into your new bowfront, you'll want to eliminate, or at the very least minimize, any spike.

BTW, is this tank the 72g Bowfront made by All-Glass? If so, I have the same system and I'd have to agree w/ Taz on this...If you're going "reef", you don't need that W/D filter. I made the mistake when I got back into this hobby and setup my system with the W/D. I later changed over to a 26g sump/fuge. It was a tremendous PITA to do considering the unique dimensions of the bowfront stand. I even had to do some cutting w/ a Sawzall to get the sump/fuge into the stand...Talk about making me nervous...jeez. HTH

BTW...Welcome to RDO Sunnrayy...