Upgrade from 29 Gallon to 65 Gallon Tank

Hi,

I have joined this forum for some feedback/ directions pertaining to upgrading my tank. Currently, I have a 29 Gallon Tank, this is a reef, it has everything. I have been struggling with nitrates recently, they stay at 20 ppm no matter what I do. Also, this tank has been set up for 4 months. I have decided I will upgrade the tank, more water etc etc. The new 65 Gallon will be place in the exact same spot. Any tips/ suggestions to make this happen would be awesome.

 

welcome to 3 reef fuzyone1
congrates on the up grade


with a tank thats only 4 months old - this is what I would do if I was upgrading

1) get large tubs or buckets to hold what I have now in the 29
2) get other large tubs or buckets and make 40 gallons of new SW
3) Make the new salt water 24 - 48 hours in advance of tank swap day
4) empty water from 29 into buckets using syphon
5) if you have corals - once the level of water in buckets is deep enough start removing and adding corals from upper layers into buckets
6) as the water level in tank lowers - add your current rock into these buckets
7) when the water level is around 3 inches and everything else is gone, thats when netting fish is easiest IME
8) as your sand is only 4 months old - leave some water in tank once you have removed all the rock and livestock use that water to clean your sand - then remove the sand ( I like aquarium nets for this as the dirty water will run out
9) move the now empty 29 out of the way and put the new tank in position
10) start adding the new water to the 60
11) add any new rock - base rock that was kept dry is ideal
12) start adding water from your buckets and as the water level rises add your existing rock
13) keep going until everything you removed from the 29 is in the new tank

any equipement, filter media etc you transfer from the 29 - will help mature the 60
so if you have an HOB filter on the 29 - run that on the 60 for a while or at least take whatever filter media you have in there and run that in your system for the new tank

Steve

 

Seems as though you have done this a time or three. +1 on Steve's suggestions.

 

I'll have to keep this in mind. As I am already planning on moving all my 10 gallon stuff into my 29 gallon when I move into my new place in a little over a month. Funny how fast I want to go bigger :

 

Here is I did on a 50 reef to 60 swap in same place

get new tank cleaned and ready, lay it out in your mind

Get 2 - 50 gal trash cans and some tubs for your corals inverts and any rock with growth you want to keep and....clean the tubs and cans out just to be sure

mix one with new SW for 24hrs, stick a couple Power heads in, on near the top one near tho bottom,add a heater mid way in the water, i also put an air stone in,check your salinity after 12hrs or so and adjust if needed...I keep mine at 1.025

Now take the other one and mix it half full with new SW (same way as above).....place it by your 29 first

Now take tank water and drain it in this can to 3/4 full, let it mix for a hour ck salinty and temp adjust if needed

Now take your tubs and fill them with this water and remove your corals inverts etc to the tubs (Keep the water moving with PH's)add air if needed

Now drain more tank water into the can and put your LR in it

Now take your LR and put it in the new tank...take your time no need to hurry

Place new (cleaned)substrate (I use new RO/DI water to this) DO NOT use your old substrate (I Crashed my new tank becuase I took the substrate from the old tank and i had high nitates 25) It will repopulate real fast as your going to need more LR

If your going to have a sand area place it in now, just move the substrate

Now take and add 60% new water and then take 40% of your old water to fill your new tank! try not to disturb the sand...lots of ways to do that..make sure you hit the LR LOL or use a plate

place power heads etc in new tank

check parameters...if ok put then new fish in (Acclimate them)

All good.....add your corals Inverts etc (Aclimate them too)

fire up the skimmer

sit back and relax

Your going to need new lights...LED's 8) or T-5's 48" do a 6 bulb setup. or go with a MH and T5's depends on how much you want to spend and have in the tank

If your going with a sump, get a sump skimmer (I just did and very happy getting that big box out of the tank..now I have to readjust mt PH's..messed up the circulation and my corals on't like it )

Good luck and have fun just think it all out first....even put it on paper I have many times

Look at my pics....my rock is on the bottom glass then the black substrate