How should I switch from one tank to another

A

Adesparza

Hello I need some help (information really) on how to proceed in switching from one tank to another the one I have now is a 20 gallon I am upgrading to a 29 bio cube. My questions are:
Do I do a water change on the old one and put that water in the new one?
The old tank has live rock in it should I also move that over to the new tank?
I do have rock from about 6 months ago that I kept in a bucket with water can I put that in the new tank(no circulation in bucket just water and rock but it was indoors if that matters)?
What is my best option for sand should I get the sand from old tank or should I just buy new sand(if I use old sand and it stirs when I move it out wont that be bad for the fish?)?
I have two fish in my old tank I need to transfer them over
Your help will be greatly appreciated I am so nervous
 
Stirring up the sand of any established sand bed could cause a bacterial bloom in your tank. It makes it cloudy and can nuke your tank.

You could however scoop the top layer of your existing sand once you drain it down and mix it in with your new sand.

Just keep some extra saltwater on hand in case you need to do water changes.
 
If this were my project I would:

Reuse the water as long as it has good parameters. Top off the difference with good new fresh water.
Move the existing live rock quickly from one to the other.
If you need more rock I would give what you have in storage a good flush with new clean salt water before using it.
Get new sand for the tank, but use a bit of the old sand to "seed" the new stuff with bacteria. About 1/2 cup should be plenty.

Two fish in a Bio 29 shouldn't be too much of a load. I would be mildly surprised to see the new tank cycle if you go this route.

--H

@Adesparza wrote:
 
Thanks to everyone that has replied
shse666 when you say a good flush does that mean move it around in a bucket of new clean saltwater? After I do that can I just let it sit in a bucket with the clean water? The new tank should get here tomorrow (I hope)
I ask because I will need some of that rock so I want to make sure that I do it right.
OK another question should the new sand go in first or the existing water then the sand or does it matter?
Thanks for everyones time I just want to make sure that I get this right I do not want to loose those two lil fellows they been with me since the beginning
 
Yep. Just some swishing around, knock off any loose particles. Let the old water drain off a bit. I have not found any use for being overly paranoid standing there for days with acid drenched toothbrushes and bleach and declorinator. As long as the rocks were not treated with copper or other medications and/or left to rot with a ton of dead algae/critters it should be fine. If you are feeling paranoid you can always run a bit of Phosguard and/or activated carbon for the first week or so.

As for the sand, however you want to do it. Last time with my Neo 90 I took a fair amount of reused crushed limestone and placed it as the lower layer and center of the sandbed. I covered that with CaribSea Aragonite Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand from Petsmart because it looks so much better. The tank did a full complete cycle in less than 7 days. Quickest ever for me.
 
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