concern about moveing tanks.

TheReefGeek · #1 03-01-2006, 07:33 PM

Mark, how can you be carefull about the layering of a DSB? There is no way to move it and keep the layers in-tact that I know of.

You also have to decide whether or not to clean out some or all of the substrate when making the move as well.

Skimmer Juice · #2 03-01-2006, 08:03 PM

How would you go about seting it up.You would have to move the sand in first.Then put the cycled water from my 50 gallon but what would you use for the other fifty gallons?Would you just use fresh saltwater?I use r.o water stored in plastic tubs at room temp.

TheReefGeek · #3 03-01-2006, 08:10 PM

You could use brand new water, or start doing some water changes now, say 20% a week for example, and keep the old water. Then use this, plus some new water, and it is not as much of a shock to the tank, because the change is a bit more gradual.

Skimmer Juice · #4 03-01-2006, 08:13 PM

A perfect solution thanks.

G1GY · #5 03-05-2006, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

You could use brand new water, or start doing some water changes now, say 20% a week for example, and keep the old water. Then use this, plus some new water, and it is not as much of a shock to the tank, because the change is a bit more gradual.

This old water will have to be kept heated and circulating also.

mark · #6 03-01-2006, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

Mark, how can you be carefull about the layering of a DSB? There is no way to move it and keep the layers in-tact that I know of.

You also have to decide whether or not to clean out some or all of the substrate when making the move as well.

Seen posts where people would take a inch at a time out, bag and label then place back in order.

What I did was just toss out all the sand and set the tank back up BB. If I was to do something like that again (and had time and tank), I would set up a new DSB and just hang on to a bit of the old sand to seed the new.

TheReefGeek · #7 03-01-2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark

Seen posts where people would take a inch at a time out, bag and label then place back in order.

Wow, now that is patience and precision.

If you are concerned about kicking up detrius and spiking your tank, rinse all the sand many times, and just keep a little not rinsed to seed the sand again. Seems like a waste to throw it out, unless it is a nano tank or something where it doesn't cost much $$$.

Quagmire · #8 03-05-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark

Seen posts where people would take a inch at a time out, bag and label then place back in order.

Not sure this would even work.Unless you only took enough sand at a time to have an inch or 2 in the bag.If you put too much in each bag (bucket),say ending up with 6 or 8 inches in each.The creatures in the lower parts would sufficate causeing a spike.

Johnny Reefer · #9 03-06-2006, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Not sure this would even work.Unless you only took enough sand at a time to have an inch or 2 in the bag.If you put too much in each bag (bucket),say ending up with 6 or 8 inches in each.The creatures in the lower parts would sufficate causeing a spike.

When I did a tank switch out three months ago I bagged all my sand in Ziploc vegetable bags. Those are the ones with the tiny holes in them. Held all the bags in holding tanks along with the Live Rock. The bags were in the holding tanks for about 10 days. Seemed to work out okay, but I do have a bit of a cyano problem right now. I'm not sure if that's related.

HTH and cheers

,