Waste of time. We're talking an insignificant amount of bacteria here. It's like lighting a match to assist the gas furnace heat up a room :D

Albert is right. I got completely roasted on another forum for suggesting something like this, but I haven't ever found that fish had ill effects from doing this.

Pretend you are taking the fish home from the LFS. You won't be hurting the live rock, you won't be hurting the fish. Everything you need is on the rock.

Actually if you take all the rock and use it in your tank with new tank water as long as its the same temp and the same ph and salinity you shouldnt have a problem. Doug did it with his tank and no neg effects what soever. Hopefully Doug will chime in here to explain.

the bio load is in the rocks and shouldnt have any die off all the pods and creatures in the rocks is what makes the tank have life.. the bacteria is in the rocks remember I would may be bring back 50 gallons of water IMO that should work out good Like it was lready stated its like doing a huge water change.

The only reason you would need to transport any of the water is because making up 210 gallons of water would be time consuming, more expensive and a big pain in the butt. Reasons not to be taken lightly Imo :razz: :lol:

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MUCH appreciated, folks. I guess I figured the water was like gold, but if you're saying the bacteria is in the rocks, I'm all for that. Just less stuff to transport!!

WIth that Make sure that you are using the same rock from that tank when you move it. and ENSURE THAT ph,TEMP, AND SALinity is the same. THe rock is mature that is why you can do it.

I would try the siphon method with a few siphons going simultaneously but keep in mind that that does require the bucket to be lower than the level of the tank. If you put the can on the ground and then lift the full bucket later that should work fine. Don't bother taking any more than 50% and position the intake so it sucks up water anywhere from the bottom to mid level in the tank. Less DOC's in the water you take that way.

I would take 40-50% just because that would simplify things like acclimation.