Which one should I buy?

[CEverii]

Alright so im about to upgrade from my 75g to a 125g. The guy i'm buying my 125g from has two to choose from(both come with stand and canopy). One is $200. This tank is not predrilled, has 2 overflow boxes on the back, but comes with over 100lbs of live sand. The second one he has is $300 and is predrilled, but it comes with no sand. Which would you go with?

Also, what is the process of moving my sand over to the new tank, or adding the sand I have to the existing sand in the other 125g

[Steve McKay]

Alright so im about to upgrade from my 75g to a 125g. The guy i'm buying my 125g from has two to choose from(both come with stand and canopy). One is $200. This tank is not predrilled, has 2 overflow boxes on the back, but comes with over 100lbs of live sand. The second one he has is $300 and is predrilled, but it comes with no sand. Which would you go with?

Also, what is the process of moving my sand over to the new tank, or adding the sand I have to the existing sand in the other 125g

If the sand has already been in use, you don't want it. Maybe a little of the top layer to seed a new sand bed but not all of it. If Lee comes along he can help further in this regard. All I know is it is not good to reuse a sand bed. I would take the standard tank myself, but most would take the predrilled tank because the overflow is less likely to lose it's siphon and there's less fuss.

[CEverii]

well I mean ive already got about 60lbs in my current 75g that im moving over to the new 125g. Should I just buy another 60lbs or so and put it on the bottom, then put my 60lbs on top?

[Steve McKay]

well I mean ive already got about 60lbs in my current 75g that im moving over to the new 125g. Should I just buy another 60lbs or so and put it on the bottom, then put my 60lbs on top?

Your sand bed should not be reused either, it is no different from the other sand bed. You are better off getting new dry sand and seeding it with a little bit of live sand from your 75g tank. A 125g 72" x 18" to have a one inch sand bed you will need 52.5lb, 2" sand bed=105lb. and so on.

[Steve McKay]

I too will be upgrading from a 50g to a 125g or 180g, and will only use some of the top layer of my sand to seed my new 5" DSB. The rest goes to the landfill.

[CEverii]

Ok i understand. Any tips though on how to keep new sand from being pushed into mountains on the left and right side of the tank from current? I've got some good current in my 75g now, and for about 2 months every other day I ahd to reach in and level the sandbed.

[Steve McKay]

And I have 130lb 5"DSB in my 50g.

[Steve McKay]

Ok i understand. Any tips though on how to keep new sand from being pushed into mountains on the left and right side of the tank from current? I've got some good current in my 75g now, and for about 2 months every other day I ahd to reach in and level the sandbed.

Less flow, move your circulation pumps near the surface. If there aimed at the glass then the flow is directed down and pushes the sand away. Smaller circulation pumps. I presume your tank is a fowlr, unlike a reef tank you do not need heavy flow.

[CEverii]

Well, I will have a reef tank soon as I upgrade. But I always heard that you need MORE flow in reef tanks?

[Steve McKay]

Well, I will have a reef tank soon as I upgrade. But I always heard that you need MORE flow in reef tanks?

That is what I have. I have four LPS and eight SPS corals. If you are going to have a reef tank, you should post in the reef forum where I usually post. Do you know what kind of equipment you will need. Having a reef tank is a whole different ball game than a fowlr. You need a good skimmer, better lighting T-5 suggested and like you mentioned better flow especially if your going to have SPS corals. I would suggest you have a sump and a fuge (refugium).

[Steve McKay]

If you read through my build thread entitled"The McKay Build Thread" you will see how a reef tank is put together and probably get a few laughs too.

[CEverii]

This is what I currently have

--75g FOWLER--
33gal SUMP
Two Maxi-jet power heads
T5 108w Lighting
65lbs LR
40lbs Base Rock
Reef Octopus NBW-150 skimmer
20 Hermits, 4 Peppermint Shrimp, 2 Percula Clowns, 1 Scooter Blenny, 1 Green Manderin

[Steve McKay]

This is what I currently have

--75g FOWLER--
33gal SUMP
Two Maxi-jet power heads
T5 108w Lighting
65lbs LR
40lbs Base Rock
Reef Octopus NBW-150 skimmer
20 Hermits, 4 Peppermint Shrimp, 2 Percula Clowns, 1 Scooter Blenny, 1 Green Manderin

You have a good start, you can still use your skimmer when you upgrade, the sump is good to go. The Peppermints will probably have to go, you will find out that when you feed your corals especially LPS corals that the shrimp will dig into the corals to steal there food and will damage them. I had some aiptasia and after the Peppermint shrimp were done eating it I had to banish them to the fuge because of this issue.

[leebca]

My only comment would be to not bother trying to save the sand bed. It may be more trouble than its worth, containing dead and/or decaying things.