Upgrade

[miked]

I am about to convert my 30 gallon reef tank with no sump and 4 fish to a 60 gallon reef with a 25 gallon sump. If I use new live sand with current live rock in my tank and a using mostly fresh salt water, will my tank go through a mini cycle and kill everything?

Should i set up a 10 gallon with water from my current tank to house everything for a couple days so my tank can cycle?

Thoughts and suggestions please. Thanks

 

[rookie07]

I would suggest you use as much of your current salt water as possible. The salt water is mature and has good things in it.
I would think you will be alright upgrading without a cycle, but keep an eye on the tank and parameters, and be ready to do water changes when needed...also, dont forget that when you do a 10 or 20% water change, that amount should include sump volume also, not just display volume as you had before.
Best of luck

 

[miked]

thanks

 

[KathyC]

Here is your earlier thread:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/76997-upgrade.html#post758823

What other questions did you/do you have?

 

[miked]

Kathy thanks for that. I actually forgot I posted that thread. Feel like a real arse now. :duh: Was in a panic on Saturday and this thread slipped my mind. Thanks again.

I have one other question I purchased live rock from an existing member and put the LR in a 18 gallon bucket of fresh saltwater. Did I kill the rock? I checked paramaters and in the bucket had an Amonia spike?

 

[KathyC]

Not to worry..so many threads

The L/R you are asking about - how long was it out of water before you put it in the bucket?
Best to put in a bucket with a heater and a powerhead for circulation and gas exchange.

How high was the ammonia reading?
Did you end up using the new live sand & mixing it with your current sand?

Always good to take ammonia readings daily for a week or so after doing an upgrade. The surfaces of the new tank and plumbing need to be 'cycled' and sometimes there is a small ammonia spike. That can be easily addressed with a water change, so do be sure to have some ready in case you need it

 

[miked]

I had it out of water for 45 minutes during transport form previous owner and had it in my ten gallon with water from my current tank with pump no heater though for about a month. When i put it in the new bucket it was out of the water for 30 seconds and two days later I noticed the water smealt funny. amonia was only .50 so it was not that high. I did not do anything yet. I have buckets of water everywhere and I am waiting for this amonia to go away and then proceed.

I was planning on using new live sand and sprinkling some of my old sand on top (as in previous thread) lol

 

[KathyC]

I had it out of water for 45 minutes during transport form previous owner and had it in my ten gallon with water from my current tank with pump no heater though for about a month. When i put it in the new bucket it was out of the water for 30 seconds and two days later I noticed the water smealt funny. amonia was only .50 so it was not that high. I did not do anything yet. I have buckets of water everywhere and I am waiting for this amonia to go away and then proceed.

I was planning on using new live sand and sprinkling some of my old sand on top (as in previous thread) lol

Had you tested it for ammonia previous to moving it to the new bucket just recently? You could have had the die off from the original move also. Sitting for a month in an unheated bucket, even with circulation isn't good, and if the rock didn't have much growth on it some critters might have died due to lack of food - and caused the ammonia spike. In an unheated bucket the temp will tend to drop into the 60's

Try this - swish the rock around in it's current bucket to knock off/out anything that might have died on the rock and move it into a heated, circulating bucket of water and let it sit overnight. Test the ammonia again.

 

[miked]

I will do that. Thanks so much Kathy you been a great help.