OK, Many of you may have seen my 29G reef pics I have posted here before. Well, It's time for a cool change. (Older folks will remember that song).
I have been staring at this empty 55G in my bedroom for almost a month wondering how I was going to afford the initial startup costs in my current situation with my injuries. God Bless Santa Claus! Santa brought me a Buyer for a Hex tank I needed to sell, That got me the money to buy the lighting I need for a Reef in the 55G. Then, Santa Gave me alot more Live Rock....(Thanks Mom). Still later, Santa brought me 80lbs of Fiji Pink Fine Live Sand....(My Wife). We got the sand from an established tank that the owner was taking down and got the 80lbs for $30.00. I have 3 265 GPH powerheads ready to go in. Transferring my Sump from the 29G over to the 55G until I can afford to get a refugium. Meantime I have Black Mangroves inside my overflow box on the tank side.
Sand has been put into the 55G and got loads of Fiji Live Rock Rubble out of it for fragging later. Boy is that tank cloudy right now. lol. There is currently no filtration on the 55G but has 2 powerheads circulating the water. The tank also has a heater running. It is 3/4 full because I still have to add the live rock from my 29G when I do the xfer.
So....
Question #1 is: Will the live sand stay live until Thursday night when I begin the transfer?
Question #2 is: Any Suggestions on making the move easier?
Question #3 is: Will I experience any ammonia/Nitrite problems in doing the changover since I am transferring the Wet/Dry?
I am thinking of using a clean bowl and dipping the corals with tank water from the 29G right into the 55G keeping them underwater the whole time. The move is only like 3 feet away.
The SG is exactly the same in both tanks as is the temp.
Thanks for any input.