How should I switch tanks?

[Seattle206]

Ok, I have a 180 gallon sitting in one corner of my house. I am going to bring in a 200 gallon replacing it. I want the tank in the same spot as where my 180 is now. How should I do this? How am I going to do a cycle? I do not want to move all that water around. Should I take a risk and just remove the fish, put them in buckets. Empty the tank, move it, put the new tank in its spot, fill it, wait a couple hoursuntil the water warms up, then put the fish back in? The water will not be cycled at. In fact I have never cycled any of my tanks. But Im not sure what to do.

 

[pbecot01]

If you use the same gravel and filter and decorations the cycle should carry over.

 

[Seattle206]

Well, I dont have any gravel or decorations. All I have in there are two sponge filters. But I also have two canisters and a sump.

 

[Harlock]

If you move the filters then, you'll be cycled for your current fishload. If the purpose of the 200 is to add more fish, I'd give it a little while to make sure the tank is stable and then add slowly.

 

[StreetCypher]

I had the same problem.
I bought a 180g to replace my 55g, but i wanted it in the same spot.

So i took the driftwood, PVC and rocks out and put them in a ~30g rubbermaid filled with tank water and a heater. I pulled off all the filters and put them aside. Then i moved the 55g (still with substrate in it) to another room (easy to slide it out). Then i moved the 180g stand, and placed the tank on it (with help).

I filled the 180g with 100% new water, threw in the heaters, old filters and new substrate (already washed) and then threw my fish in as soon as i could (after a little acclimation).

No problems with the fish. The only thing was i had to set up my tank a little faster than i liked.