combining tanks

pdlman · 03-02-2005, 06:23 PM

I am going to combine my 2 75 gal tanks into my new show 140 tall with a 55 sump and I just wanted some advice on the best way to go about this. Both tanks have been set up for over 2 years. I plan on combining all of the life from one into the other and remove the LR, cup up the substrate put it in the new one, pump the water in the new one and repeat the process again on the other tank. The LR can stay in coolers for a few minutes while I transfer. I will have to add alot of new water, do think that will result in a cycle. Any advice would be great.

amcarrig · 03-03-2005, 10:29 AM

I would ditch the old substrate save for a cup or two to seed the new substrate with. You will most likely experience a mini cycle from the transfer.

Jay · 03-03-2005, 10:42 AM

Why throw out all his sand? Its expensive where I live. I just payed 80 bucks for sand in my 55 gallon. Plus all the life and fauna that he has in his substrate.

Im sure there is a perfectly good reason but I am just wondering?

Jay

pdlman · 03-03-2005, 10:51 AM

I am curious about the sand also? Why do you think it would be better? You might be right though new substrate would be cleaner-I do not have a DSB only about an inch. I guess the most important is keeping the water. I think what I will do is put most of the old substrate in the sump/refuge and maybe do new in the show part. What do you think of that? I also bought a product from seachem called "stability" that is suppose prevent new tank syndrome. I am chuck full of corals and I dont want to lose them with a big cycle.

JohnO · 03-03-2005, 05:59 PM

pdlman

The problem with using the old sand is more a case of it releasing a lot of goop into the water which will fuel an algae bloom like you have never seen before :-)

This is more the case with DSB's but will also happen in shallow sand beds as well. If it's only an inch of sand or so then the cost of new sand is minimal.

Just keep a cup or so as suggested and use that to seed the new bed, that's what I would do.

If you need more convincing then just wait until you empty to old sand out and smell it, I am sure that will convince you :-)

John

pdlman · 03-03-2005, 08:16 PM

No thanks-I just did that and it smells like sh(* I put new substrate in and transfered the water, put some of the old sandbed in the fuge. It took ALOT OF TIME! I am glad it is over! I hope everything goes smooth from here on out.

JohnO · 03-03-2005, 08:30 PM

LOL, smells like rotten egg mixed with boiled cabbage aye :-)

John

amcarrig · 03-04-2005, 07:52 AM

[quote author=JohnO link=board=ASAP;num=1109813036;start=0#6 date=03/03/05 at 22:30:24]
LOL, smells like rotten egg mixed with boiled cabbage aye :-)

John[/quote]
God, do I know that smell! How do the fish stand it?

Thanks for covering for me while I was gone dear.