Tips on moving water, LR, and fish to new tank

[BavarianBuilt]

To start, I've had a 44 gallon set up for a little under a year now. I've got fully cured LR and very stable water parameters. I'll be moving in the next month and would like to use this as an opportunity to change my tank. My current one is old, scratched, and the silicon sealing it a little chewed up from my cats. The new tank is either going to be a 29 or 50 gal. I'll be putting new live sand in the new tank and reusing my live rock. What's the best way to do this? Should I fill the new tank with all new water and then put the live rock in? 50/50 new water and water from the old tank? I'm worried about messing up my levels when I move all my fish, snails and crabs to the new tank. I have about a two week window that I can have both tanks running concurrently, however after two weeks, everything will need to be in the new tank.

[TropicalNorth]

I have had to do this a couple of times and this is how I did it.

First I would have tubs, containers etc just in case and plenty of saltwater already mixed up. Basically I would put the sand you want into the new tank then start syphoning the water out of the old tank and into the new tank. With the water level now a bit lower in the old tank remove the rock and put it into the new tank. Continue to syphon until there is just enough water for the fish in the old tank. Then catch the fish, and other critters, and put them into the new tank.

I find this method best for the fish because they only get netted once and stay in the same water. Also the fish are easier to catch in a bare tank with a low water level. All the equipment can be transferred over too. If your keeping the same equipment and everything you don't really need to run the new tank on its own.

To keep all the bacteria that is on the old sand you can rinse it well in saltwater and then add it bit by bit to the new tank (on top of the new sand already in there). Doing the sand last means you don't cloud the water from the old tank and you can just transfer the water over.

Last thing would be to top up the tank if needed.

[AquatiCreations]

Doing the sand last means you don't cloud the water from the old tank

Yea, Once you stir the sand up, the old water is done for, and you might as well throw it out.

[RajunCajun06]

Ok if your moving you will not want to try and move a 44g with water and live rock and sand because it will most liekly crack when you lift it never mind the fact that it will weigh at least 400lbs. without rock. I had to move a 100g salt tank 150 miles. Get you some totes rubbermaid makes some good ones that would work. Or a 55g drum if you can get your hands on it. and some of those ziplock plastic containers for corals. First collect all your corals into the containers and fill them all the way with water. I placed mine in a icechest after this one to hold tempature steady and two just incase it leaked. Then I would fill whatever container you have with water but remember not all the way. Live rock will be fine out of the water as long as it stays moist so no need to rush. Then put all of your live rock into the continer with the tank water. Next you have the fish as I would get another rubber maid container and a battery operated airator from wal-mart, academy, whatever sporting goods store you have near you. Put the remaining tank water in the other tub a 10g or 20g should be fine depending on your fish but I assume they cant be too big if they are in a 44g. then put your fish in. Obviously I dont mean take all water out and have fish flooping around leave enough in the tank You can use one of those clear ziplock containers to catch the fish I find this less stressful to them. Place in the airator and then seal it up. I know this was long but thats basically the way i moved my 100 but I also had to move the tank stand and canopy but I had an enclosed trailer. Anyways i have also moved fish in a trash bag inside a 5g bucket with no heater and no airator 150 miles and have done this twice and my little tomato clown is fine

[BavarianBuilt]

Thanks for the great advice everyone. I think I'll head up to Home Depot when that time comes and buy some more buckets and containers. If I do end up going to the larger tank, can I just use all of the water from my old tank and top off with new water? This way I'm picturing it is that it would just be equivalent to a water change.

[BucJason]

I wouldn't worry about moving the water over. It will be more trouble than its worth. Just fill with all new saltwater. As long as you have all that well-established live rock, some of your established live sand, and well established bio-media in your filter , you should have an instant cycle.

[RajunCajun06]

Well if you are moving a long distance and you do set up a larger tank then there is not reason you could not reuse your water. I would not use the water that the fish were transported in btu everything else would be just fine.

[ToeJam]

To start, I've had a 44 gallon set up for a little under a year now. I've got fully cured LR and very stable water parameters. I'll be moving in the next month and would like to use this as an opportunity to change my tank. My current one is old, scratched, and the silicon sealing it a little chewed up from my cats. The new tank is either going to be a 29 or 50 gal. I'll be putting new live sand in the new tank and reusing my live rock. What's the best way to do this? Should I fill the new tank with all new water and then put the live rock in? 50/50 new water and water from the old tank? I'm worried about messing up my levels when I move all my fish, snails and crabs to the new tank. I have about a two week window that I can have both tanks running concurrently, however after two weeks, everything will need to be in the new tank.

I say do use "new" live sand and the idea of doing 50/50 is good idea since its pretty much doing a large water change.

This is a great opportunity also. Clean stuff you want to clean while you are breaking the old tank down.

Since the new tank will be up and going for a bit that gives it time to have temp be stable so you can get the live stock in. Since you can simply hand carry the LR over and start aquascaping before moving the animals you shouldn't have to worry about die off.

My experience was about the same. I set up the new tank and had my base rock in place. Put my new sand in. Filled it with new water (since it was bigger than the old). Then I started filling up the difference in water from my old tank.

What i did wrong but didn't lose a thing: I moved my livestock over as I moved my rocks out. Didn't even acclimate them well. Nobody died by acclimation. Just by rock tumble :evil_lol: that was my bad. still what i did there was not a recommended thing. The safer way is to put the livestock in original water to a container maintained by heater and PH as you start the move..and acclimate correctly to be safe...