[Bughead]

I'm replacing my 100 gal with a 180 this week. The new tank is going in the same spot as the old one. So imagine the logistics and hassle--not something I ever hope to do again.

Question 1. I took 180 lbs. of live rock out and put it into two tubs in the back yard. So, of course, we have a cold snap! I don't have spare heaters to put in the tubs (I'll put little power heads in this morning), and the water temp this morning was 68. Is this going to cause a lot of death?

Question 2. I can use some of the water, which is now in the live rock tub, to put back into the 180. I will use the filter fiber from the old tank and of course the live rock. I'll have a 4-6" sand bed, the top most layer being live sand from my 40 gal (which is to become the sump). Will the tank go through a cycle? When will it be OK to return the fish, big foxface rabbit, hippo tang, flame angel, lawnmower blennie and 4 grown convict blennies? Is using some used water important? I only have about 50 gals of it.

Does anyone volunteer to come over here and help move this tremendously heavy glass tank? Somebody must be on their Las Vegas vacation this week and looking for a little diversion from all the lights, glitz and glamour.

[popcorn]

Having recently been through both a tank upgrade, and a prolonged winter power outage, I think you'll be fine. Regarding the rock, you may lose a little life, but more likely from lack of circulation. As long as the temp changes slowly, you should be ok. (Our entire tank got down to 68-70 before we got a generator, and everything pulled through just fine.)

In the upgrade, we had planned on using old water, but seeing how many flatworms died and fouled the water, we ended up using mostly new. The tank will probably go through a small, quick cycle, but I would imagine that the fish will be fine.

Call friends and offer food and beer. That's how we got ours moved.

JMO/JME, but Good luck!
Danielle

[saltjunkie]

I think mostr will be ok. You will have some die off though. I moved my tank, nothing grand like yours. 50 gallons) From Louisville ky to tampa fla., 20 hours. The live rock and corals and fish were in blue rubbermaids wih battery air pumps. Thats it. The 5" sand bed was left in the tankwith just enough water to cover it, no pump or heaters, all i lost was some sand bed fauna, and a green Chromis. I think you will do fine. And If i lived close i would come and help.!
Rick

[Bughead]

Thanks. I feel better now. I'll let you know how it all goes.
Thanks again.

[Biomanjcs72]

Yep, it should all be fine. My tank got down way low last summer when I was moving into and redoing my house. THe A/C got stuck on for an entire weekend. when I came home it was 50 degrees in my house, there was condensation on the outside of the tank (no heater in it yet), but all fish (2) were fine. YOu've got a good plan, and everything everyone else said is good, and I'd just be restating it here, so have fun.

[fishguy_8]

Well these guys already stole what little thunder I would have had so i'll just chime in and say......if you pay for the plane ticket....I'm there buddy
Jon

[Bughead]

Labor Day. Tank is up and running. Looks fabulous, albeit still quite cloudy because of the sand. I can't believe how much work that was and how totally exhausted I am. So far the water is OK, even though initially I had some ammonia because the sand I used had set in the bucket for over a week even though I'd rinsed it first. But with all the added old tank and new salt water, there's no ammonia now.

The place that drilled the tank delivered it for us and used these fantastic industrial sucker things that stuck to the glass and made it possible to lift the thing. Still took 3 people. Not something I ever want to do again, but it really is neat to finally have my great big tank.