Leaky tank...need a new one....

[ichthyogeek]

Well, after 12 years of service, a move, transitioning from freshwater to saltwater, and many, many mistakes, my 29 gallon has finally sprung a leak. What a wonderful time for that to happen

. I'm literally about to start silicon sealing the tank right now, but that's only a temporary fix, and since I'm going to college next year, I can't trust that seal to hold for 4years. Basically, I need a new aquarium. Had this happened a month earlier, I could have gotten a new one for 29$, but nope, fate's got it out for me. Hopefully, now that I've got a few years of experience under my belt, I can finally do things right again. Right now, the tank's got a pair of Chrysiptera hemicyanea, a trio (soon to be pair) of Banggai cardinals, and a valentini puffer. There's about 25 pounds of live rock in there, as well as around an inch of sand. This time around, I'm ready, but I've still got questions.

1) I'm using a Topfin 29 gallon aquarium, with dimensions of 30.25" X 12.5" x 18.75". It took me forever to find my Oddysea MH fixture, so I can't get anything with a different footprint Would I be better off just trying to find a similar 29 gallon? Or would it be better to move to a tank that holds more water?
2) I want to drill this new tank so I don't have the hassle of constantly starting and starting an overflow. The one I'm using now is from the King of DIY Youtube channel, and needs to be restarted after every water change. Can I buy a tank predrilled? Do I need to construct a ...weir?... box? links would be appreciated here.
3) How am I to even begin the process of moving the fish? I've got 6 fish in there, and I would rather not lose any of them. Do I start with Banggais, then damsels and puffer?
4)Live rock and sand. Do I need to purchase completely new stuff? Or can I get by with rinsing and scrubbing really well to get rid of detritus? I think I'll just buy new sand, but I'd rather not dispose of the live rock. There are also a few mushroom anemones on the rocks, so how do I go about moving the rocks without killing the anemones?
5)Cycling. Please, please tell me that I don't need to recycle the tank. If I do, where do I stick the fish and various invertebrates?
6)I've got a Galaxea, kenya tree, Briareum, and mushroom anemones. How do I even begin the process of moving them?

 

[Thekid]

Well, after 12 years of service, a move, transitioning from freshwater to saltwater, and many, many mistakes, my 29 gallon has finally sprung a leak. What a wonderful time for that to happen

. I'm literally about to start silicon sealing the tank right now, but that's only a temporary fix, and since I'm going to college next year, I can't trust that seal to hold for 4years. Basically, I need a new aquarium. Had this happened a month earlier, I could have gotten a new one for 29$, but nope, fate's got it out for me. Hopefully, now that I've got a few years of experience under my belt, I can finally do things right again. Right now, the tank's got a pair of Chrysiptera hemicyanea, a trio (soon to be pair) of Banggai cardinals, and a valentini puffer. There's about 25 pounds of live rock in there, as well as around an inch of sand. This time around, I'm ready, but I've still got questions.

1) I'm using a Topfin 29 gallon aquarium, with dimensions of 30.25" X 12.5" x 18.75". It took me forever to find my Oddysea MH fixture, so I can't get anything with a different footprint Would I be better off just trying to find a similar 29 gallon? Or would it be better to move to a tank that holds more water?
2) I want to drill this new tank so I don't have the hassle of constantly starting and starting an overflow. The one I'm using now is from the King of DIY Youtube channel, and needs to be restarted after every water change. Can I buy a tank predrilled? Do I need to construct a ...weir?... box? links would be appreciated here.
3) How am I to even begin the process of moving the fish? I've got 6 fish in there, and I would rather not lose any of them. Do I start with Banggais, then damsels and puffer?
4)Live rock and sand. Do I need to purchase completely new stuff? Or can I get by with rinsing and scrubbing really well to get rid of detritus? I think I'll just buy new sand, but I'd rather not dispose of the live rock. There are also a few mushroom anemones on the rocks, so how do I go about moving the rocks without killing the anemones?
5)Cycling. Please, please tell me that I don't need to recycle the tank. If I do, where do I stick the fish and various invertebrates?
6)I've got a Galaxea, kenya tree, Briareum, and mushroom anemones. How do I even begin the process of moving them?

1.) I would use a similar tank to what you found you like.
2.) I would use an overflow box that would connect to a sump/refugium.
3.) I would slowly add in the least territorial fish then add the damsels.
4.) The rich can be rinsed with RO and put in the tank. I would dispose of the sand and buy new.
5.) use as much cycled water as possible and fill the rest with new.
6.) I don't know.







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[muttley000]

Sorry to hear of your troubles! The following are my opinions on your questions.

1) Your tank is overstocked now, I would take the opportunity to go bigger myself. 40 breeder minimum IMO. The same footprint will do you no good, it's all about surface area in the salt world. If you are not going to go bigger, I would get rid of the puffer, and choose between the Bangaii and damsels. No brainer IMO, the Bangaii pair would stay, and I would find one more small fish to keep with them. A shrimp/goby pair would fit well.
2). Easiest way is to drill for a glass holes or beananimal type system. I like boxes myself www.glass-holes.com
3) if you are whittling the livestock no problem, if you are going to cram them all in there as said least aggressive first.
4) Do not rinse in RODI if you want to preserve the life and corals on your rock. Sand will need to be rinsed very well, you have to decide if it's worth your time. Keep in mind that if you use a calcium based sand to help buffer your water that the most easily dissolved part of it is gone in a couple years. I personally rinse well and use again adding some new in with it because I am a cheapskate
5) If you get the sand good and clean, or get new, and you rinse the rock well in a bucket of tank water while moving it to the new tank, and match the salinity in the new tank, you will likely not have any cycle. The water holds a very minuscule percentage of the bacteria, it is on the hard surfaces (rock and sand mostly) in your tank. Using some of the old water is helpful in keeping the chemistry somewhat stable.
6) If you take the steps above just move them like they were new purchases.

There are many ways to go about this, I have outlined what I would do.

 

[ichthyogeek]

Update: my parents are allowing me to upgrade to the 55 gallon tank!!!! I'll still have to get rid of the 29 gallon, but now there's more room! Thanks for the advice!