View Full Version : bigger tank = another cycle?


llewella
02-16-2010, 11:50 AM
Ok so I want to upgrade to a bigger tank. Probably a 120 from a 55. The thing is I dont have room to have them both up and running at the same time. So I was wondering if I transferred everything to the new tank (water, LS, LR, corals) would it go through another cycle. I would of course have to add more water and some more LR. Would I be putting my corals in danger doing this? I currently do not have any fish but am contemplating a Gobi.
Thanks!

Cjsparky
02-16-2010, 12:00 PM
Mine went through a mini cycle when I tore it down, and changed stands. That being said, the ammonia spike barely happened. I did NOT clean my sand bed when I did this, and did get a healthy Nitrate spike that took about 3 30 Gallon changes to cure, and my algae bloom is finally starting to subside.

CJ

Maddog
02-16-2010, 2:38 PM
like Cjsparky said you will have a mini cycle most likely. I would also buy new sand you don't want to stir up a old sand bed.

gixxer600
02-16-2010, 2:40 PM
+1 with the sand. but if you want to re-use the old sand just take it out and rinse it then just seed with a bag of new sand to get it going again.

llewella
02-16-2010, 2:40 PM
Will the mini cycle kill the corals?

BIGGQ00
02-16-2010, 3:02 PM
i upgraded from a 55 to a 90 and mine went through a major mini cycle. i lost fish but most of my corals survived. i did lose a xenia frag but eventually i got more. i used the sand that i had in my 55 and that is what caused mine to go hay-wire(?)

glxtrix
02-16-2010, 3:17 PM
mine went through a major mini cycle.

Ouch man! Sorry to hear :dead1:

Darren24
02-16-2010, 3:22 PM
Done it many times with no cycle or loss.

1. Use as much "old" water as possible.
2. Us some of the old sand. (After removing corals, rock, fis, etc.) drain as much old water in to containers. Then with the little water left in the old tank I used a fish net and strained out some of the old sand and added it with the new sand.
3. Add the sand to the new tank and put a plastic (non-toxic) trash bag weighted down by dish plates in each corner and add the new and old water. The plastic bag will keep your water from getting murky. When the water is 75% in gently light the trash bag out.
4. Add rock which has been in containers with old water (to keep it from dieing).
5. Add corals, fish, etc. when the temp is the same as their holding tank.

Just plan it out on paper and expect it to take 8-12 hours depending on how much rock and how many corals you have.