Larger Tank

JON

JON

Speed Reefer
Jan 9, 2003
59
0
0
47
SE Ohio
users.adelphia.net
Is it a good idea for me to get a larger tank? I have a Eclipse 12 gallon reef tank. I've modifed it to take a protien skimmer and power compact lights. It's a nice tank but a little confining to what I can put in it. Would a 30 gallon do? I have little creatures living on my LR, would it hurt them to be taken out of the 12 for a few seconds to be put in the larger tank? I have several happy little inverts also. Would this cause too much stress on them? Also, is live sand a good idea? I really don't know if it is that beneficial or not? I'll need a new light as well, so what again is the watts per gallon that is suggested? I really don't know what kind of coral I'll eventually get but I like to keep my options open. I know this is alot, sorry!
 
A bigger tank would be much easier to maintain in addition to increasing your stocking choices. There are many critters that should be exposed to air--but this is easy to work around. Get several large plastic bags, put the item in the bag while in the tank, add water and move. I use a tupperware bowl for our fish, corals and mobile inverts, but you might not have much working space in a 12.

If possible, the lowest stress way is to have the new tank setup, cycle it, and then move everybody over. If this is a no go (ie, new tank have to go where the current tank is), then use several buckets. Move everybody into the buckets, tear down the old system, set up the new one, move everyone in. You'll need to be careful and monitor the new setup for a mini cycle.

Live sand is a good idea-it helps provide low oxygen areas for the critters that metabolize nitrates to live..

If you've kept the 12 setup so long without problem, I'd leave it alone and setup another tank for some of the larger critters you're interested in. Just me, but the more tanks, the merrier!
 
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