Tank setup

[cdawson]

I've got a 135g tank, what filtration, heater, would you use ? I'm also going to use playsand as a substrate with coral mixed in and some silica sand as well. Also how can I transfer the water from one tank to the next and trade the substrate? would it be ok to remove the silica sand while the 50g is still full?

[mkpeters6]

Ive got a 125gal and i use two AquaClear 500 filters and I have just a 250watt heater. I was going to get another heater but the one keeps my water at about 78 deg. so I have just left it. I would suggest though to get a bigger one. I am interested in what types of fish you are going to keep--that will really dictate what type of filters you should run.

You can transfer the water with a simple siphon, unless they are to far away, then just add a few buckets of the good water and fill the rest with regular water-- If you move the sand, it will bring even more biological matter into the knew enviornment

as for the substrate I think it would be quite difficult to remove sand when the tank is full, especially if there is still fish in the tank.

[cdawson]

It's going to be a brackish tank with 3 mono argentus, two silver scats a figure 8 and a Green spotted puffer. It'll definately need lots of filtration. I was thinking two emperor 400s with a ebo jager 300 (if there is such a thing). I've got playsand as a substrate and I'm going to mix the silica sand from my 50 gal with the play sand and crushed coral. I tested it already and it looks stylin' If I use the same ornaments same substrate, how much water do I need to put in the new tank in order to keep the bacteria alive? I was told that if I put the 50 gallons in and the rest new water that it would kill the bacteria. Should I put the water in each day (10 gal. a day). These fish are VERY important to me and my wife nothing must go wrong here!!! =)

[OrionGirl]

The bacteria are not in the water, so moving it around just imports ammonia/nitrites/nitrates, as well as other dissolved wastes. Not a great plan. Adding the substrate from the current setup (where many bacteria are found--the rest will be in the filter media, unless you're pulling this from a tank with UGF) will be the best idea, and the using 100% new water will be fine. If you are changing the salinity, then you will need to do so slowly, for both the fish and the bacteria.

Moving this over to BW...

[Pufferpunk]

I would add Bio-Spira to cycle the tank.

[cdawson]

Originally posted by Pufferpunk
I would add Bio-Spira to cycle the tank.

except that your dumb government won't allow it across the border because it's DUN DUN DA!!!!!! "BACTERIA!!!!"

[ChilDawg]

Glad to know that my government is working for me...can't trust Canadians with a small amount of aquarium bacteria that is harmless to humans!!! :)

[olaf]

To get the sand out of the tank, use 1" flexible tubing and siphon to sand off the bottom. Water will come with it also so you will have to put the water back into the tank. I would suggest letting it sit for a little while before you add it back to let everything settle. You probably see how dirty your sand is after doing this and probably want to start out fresh.
For transferring the water go to your local hardware store and buy a plastic trash can 50, 60, or 80 gal.
As you fill it up half way you can stop and put the fish in the can along with the water.
For substrate I would use Live Sand, Mineral Mud or M2 Substrate, Aragamax Sand, or Arag-Alive! It will jump-start a new tank.
I have used a few of these in combination along with white sand. The sand sand will settle and compact over time. The others that I listed won't compact as much which will give more surface area for bacteria and other bio creatures to live.

[cdawson]

I already moved everything and they're doing fine...I've got a nice mixture for the substrate (playsand mixed with silica sand and crushed coral). My substrate wasn't too dirty anyways the tank's only been up for about 4 months. The monos and scats I got came into the the LFS about 3 months earlier than expected. Hopefully I can post some pics pretty soon of the new tank as well as the planted tank I'm converting the old tank into =)

[brackishdude]

Both Pufferpunk and Filbert are sights to behold!!!:D