I'm Leaking!!!!!!

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I would remove the sand for now. I have moved tanks and usually given the sand a good "wash" before using it again. You can strain as much out of it as possible first but moving a live sandbed can be tricky.

It is a good part of your biological filtration but you may have to start it over. If you have enough LR and a good skimmer, plus you are not too overstocked, then your fish should be fine in the new tank with the "washed" sand. You will just have to watch for spikes in ammonia and nitrite. But I have never had them in this kind of situation (moving tanks).

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

As for catching your fish, I would remove most of the LR and catch them. Just keep as many lights off as possible and try to do it as fast as possible. They should be fine. They will feel much more comfortable in the dark though.

[Jason McK]

I have had 2 tanks leak on me (both 72G bow fronts)
I was able to keep 100% alive in rubbermaid contaners for 2 weeks.
this is what i did
90% of LR in 1 bucket with airstone power head and heater
all fish with a few pieces of LR in another with power head air stone and heater
All coral in another with power head heater and airstone. Plus a CF lighting over the bucket.

I would not reuse your sand. When I moved I kept the sand for my 75 and rinsed it over and over again. i wiped out my entire tank.
In my 40G I tosed the sand and had 100% servival.

I would buy new sand when you restart

J

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

Originally Posted by Jason McK

I have had 2 tanks leak on me (both 72G bow fronts)
I was able to keep 100% alive in rubbermaid contaners for 2 weeks.
this is what i did
90% of LR in 1 bucket with airstone power head and heater
all fish with a few pieces of LR in another with power head air stone and heater
All coral in another with power head heater and airstone. Plus a CF lighting over the bucket.

I would not reuse your sand. When I moved I kept the sand for my 75 and rinsed it over and over again. i wiped out my entire tank.
In my 40G I tosed the sand and had 100% servival.

I would buy new sand when you restart

J

What was it about the sand that you think wiped out your tank? I have done it about half a dozen or so times in the 6 years I have had saltwater tanks and never had a problem...I guess I will stop doing that now though!

[Jason McK]

I believe it was due to high Nitrite/nitrate levels that remained in the sand.

J

[fishoholic]

I've reused the sand we had from our 65g to our 120g and when we upgraded our 15g to a 30g with no problems. That being said everything was moved over on the same day not over a few days to a week. Does that make the difference? Just curious.