Well I barely got my intro posted, tank cycled, and a couple of fish in there, and I am already involved in a tank swap.
Quick background: Just cycled a 90 gallon tank and added the first livestock a little over a week ago. Tank params were solid as a rock, so I made a few stops over the weekend looking for a zoa or some leather to add. My instinct told me that going to Aquatic Art was a bad idea, and it turned out to be a very costly idea as well. So as soon as Chris updates me on when he can deliver the 150 gallon I bought from him as too good a deal to pass up, I will need to figure out how to swap everything to a new tank.
Current tank has 120 lbs of live rock, small CuC, 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 clowns that are loving life. I got the new RODI plumbed in this morning, an went through the basic flush routines. I have enough containers on hand to store about 130 gallons of water, but the new system is going to take close to 180 with sump, rdsb, etc. I may go buy a couple more fo the Brute trash cans to increase my water on hand, but that is TBD.
Once the tank is delivered I have to build all the plumbing, I was over bought PVC pieces at HD so that I would be ready to go the same evening the tank is dropped off, but not knowing the exact fittings that will attach to the bulkhead means that I am sure I will be running back and forth that evening.
At least the livestock is hardy and low population at this point. I imagine I do not think I would have tried to do this if it was 4 months later.
So who has had success with this type of move and can offer some advice on the following plan?
The current plan starts the night before the tank is delivered. I plan to drain some of the tank water plus new water and place some rock in one of my 27 gallon storage bins with a powerhead for water movement. Then capture the fish and shrimp to be moved into that bin as well, and as much of the CuC as I can find in the sandbed.. Empty the rest of the live rock and sand into another bin with a powerhead to keep things cured while the actual move happen. Then finish draining the 90 gallon. Most of the water will be dumped, but I plan to save some of it to keep from having to create 180 gallons from scratch.
Pull the old tank, move the new tank into the same location. Build the plumbing. That will be about it, an I imagine the livestock will have been in the holding bin for 24 hours or so at this point.
Next evening, or maybe same day if tank does not come until Friday or Saturday, do a quick seal test on the plumbing. The do a quick aquascape using my existing rock, followed my adding sand and filling with all the water spread across the house. Most of the water will be pumped from the bathroom downstairs using the return pump in the current tank (RIO3100), which I believe has the power to pump up one level; if not then it will be hauling 5 gallon buckets one at a time. Once all the water is in the system and pumps are working I will move the livestock back to the DT and start thinking about how the Apex needs to be hooked up and programmed.
Am I missing anything that is going to be a major gotcha? Should the fish do ok in a holding tank for 24-48 hours? Is that enough time for the PVC glue to setup and the tank to be good since I am not expecting any kind of cycle using this method or should I plan on longer term solution to fish storage for this?
Anyone want to take their valuable time to help a total newb move, plum, and fill a tank (there would be beer and pizza for any takers, plus a first place listing on any future DBTCs I might manage to start... yes that is a cheap, yet blatant, bribe attempt)?
Someone at least tell me to calm down. I went into total freak out mode after getting home last night trying to think of everything this will entail.
Thanks in advance,
Blindrage
Quick background: Just cycled a 90 gallon tank and added the first livestock a little over a week ago. Tank params were solid as a rock, so I made a few stops over the weekend looking for a zoa or some leather to add. My instinct told me that going to Aquatic Art was a bad idea, and it turned out to be a very costly idea as well. So as soon as Chris updates me on when he can deliver the 150 gallon I bought from him as too good a deal to pass up, I will need to figure out how to swap everything to a new tank.
Current tank has 120 lbs of live rock, small CuC, 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 clowns that are loving life. I got the new RODI plumbed in this morning, an went through the basic flush routines. I have enough containers on hand to store about 130 gallons of water, but the new system is going to take close to 180 with sump, rdsb, etc. I may go buy a couple more fo the Brute trash cans to increase my water on hand, but that is TBD.
Once the tank is delivered I have to build all the plumbing, I was over bought PVC pieces at HD so that I would be ready to go the same evening the tank is dropped off, but not knowing the exact fittings that will attach to the bulkhead means that I am sure I will be running back and forth that evening.
At least the livestock is hardy and low population at this point. I imagine I do not think I would have tried to do this if it was 4 months later.
So who has had success with this type of move and can offer some advice on the following plan?
The current plan starts the night before the tank is delivered. I plan to drain some of the tank water plus new water and place some rock in one of my 27 gallon storage bins with a powerhead for water movement. Then capture the fish and shrimp to be moved into that bin as well, and as much of the CuC as I can find in the sandbed.. Empty the rest of the live rock and sand into another bin with a powerhead to keep things cured while the actual move happen. Then finish draining the 90 gallon. Most of the water will be dumped, but I plan to save some of it to keep from having to create 180 gallons from scratch.
Pull the old tank, move the new tank into the same location. Build the plumbing. That will be about it, an I imagine the livestock will have been in the holding bin for 24 hours or so at this point.
Next evening, or maybe same day if tank does not come until Friday or Saturday, do a quick seal test on the plumbing. The do a quick aquascape using my existing rock, followed my adding sand and filling with all the water spread across the house. Most of the water will be pumped from the bathroom downstairs using the return pump in the current tank (RIO3100), which I believe has the power to pump up one level; if not then it will be hauling 5 gallon buckets one at a time. Once all the water is in the system and pumps are working I will move the livestock back to the DT and start thinking about how the Apex needs to be hooked up and programmed.
Am I missing anything that is going to be a major gotcha? Should the fish do ok in a holding tank for 24-48 hours? Is that enough time for the PVC glue to setup and the tank to be good since I am not expecting any kind of cycle using this method or should I plan on longer term solution to fish storage for this?
Anyone want to take their valuable time to help a total newb move, plum, and fill a tank (there would be beer and pizza for any takers, plus a first place listing on any future DBTCs I might manage to start... yes that is a cheap, yet blatant, bribe attempt)?
Someone at least tell me to calm down. I went into total freak out mode after getting home last night trying to think of everything this will entail.
Thanks in advance,
Blindrage
let me know if you need to borrow another heater or pump I have some you can borrow. Oh and if a 20l tank would be helpful I have one of those you can borrow too.