29 gallon to 40 long worth it?

Ryand63 · 09/08/2012, 10:22 AM

So I found a 40 long on Craigslist and was thinking it would be nice to have an extra foot and a half length. Would it be as easy as bringing the tank home, having the difference in gallons of fresh sw made and dumping the tank water in the 40? Seems like it shouldn't be a problem?

Mantis737 · 09/08/2012, 10:43 AM

Be careful if you have a sand bed. Moving tanks can cause a mini cycle. I would not move a sand bed. Did it once and had a cycle that knocked out a bunch of sps. Wouldn't do it again.

I would suggest starting a new sand bed in the new tank fill it up and seed the sand bed. Let it sit for a couple of weeks then move everything except the existing sand bed to the new tank.

Yellow Rocket · 09/08/2012, 10:44 AM

I took everything from my 10g and put it in a 29g with no problems. All I did was buy and extra 20g of saltwater.

Biocubehqi · 09/08/2012, 12:15 PM

I would go for a new sand bed. Couldn't hurt.

roninmagik1 · 09/08/2012, 12:39 PM

you probably wanna add sand anyhow, to maintain the depth...

Ryand63 · 09/08/2012, 02:43 PM

I'm now actually looking at a 55. I was thinking setting it up with existing sand and adding 20 more lbs of dry sand? Just curious for more info but why would it cause another cycle? If I used the same water rock and sand?

Mantis737 · 09/08/2012, 03:27 PM

Depends on how deep your sand bed is but I think my churned the sand bed up and released some of the anaerobic bacteria that was trapped deep in it.

Ryand63 · 09/08/2012, 06:11 PM

My sand bed is about an inch and a half....

JEC11718 · 09/08/2012, 06:16 PM

my next tank, which i'm picking up on tuesday is going BB! -20T no sump/skimmerless to 65 w/50sump!

TucanSam007 · 09/08/2012, 06:18 PM

go new sandbed. seed it with some of the old top layer

KafudaFish · 09/08/2012, 06:25 PM

40B>55 due to foot print of tank.

Agu · 09/08/2012, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TucanSam007

go new sandbed. seed it with some of the old top layer

What he said.

And skip the 55, a 40 breeder makes a better reef tank.

Ryand63 · 09/08/2012, 09:08 PM

For now I know it sounds crazy but I'm doing fiah only due to moving out of state in a year and a half. I was thinking the extra length should give better fish stocking options?

Michigan Mike · 09/09/2012, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryand63

For now I know it sounds crazy but I'm doing fiah only due to moving out of state in a year and a half. I was thinking the extra length should give better fish stocking options?

Ya it may be better for some fish. 55g have tempered glass on all sides though, kinda sucks they force you to use a hob overflow like a lifereef.
40 breeders & 75/90g are good tanks,IMO.

Ryand63 · 09/09/2012, 08:11 AM

Very good point never even though of that

Mxreef887 · 09/09/2012, 08:40 AM

When I would upgrade tanks I wouldn't problems with cycling or any spikes, but every now and then I would get a short diatom break out. IMO I would replace the sand and seed it with old, that way you have a fresh start on it without worrying about absorbed nutrients.

Another note, Petco here in Albuquerque has it's $1 per gallong sale. I'm gonna pick up a 40 breeder for $40 to start me a frag tank.

LaOtIn · 09/09/2012, 10:00 AM

please don't do the 55g. I would take a 40L over a 55 any day. Of all the tanks I've had over the years my 40L was my favorite.

If you like the "reef wall" look then go for a 40L, but be warned, it has zero depth. If you want depth get a 40B

MrTeyssere · 09/09/2012, 10:56 AM

Bigger aquarium = more fish options.

Ryand63 · 09/09/2012, 01:26 PM

I know I'm just torn. I love the 40 breeder look but would love the extra length for possibly a larger fish or two. I can't decide!!!!!!!!

aandfsoccr04 · 09/09/2012, 01:47 PM

not a 40 gallon long but probably a 40 breeder.

johnc99 · 09/09/2012, 11:53 PM

I've just done something similar - went from a 29G to a 40B and IMO it was well worth it. The fish look a lot happier (even with the trials and tribulations of actually transferring them). In the smaller tank I was seeing a fair bit of flashing and posturing between my angel and clowns, and between the angel and blenny. In the new tank there has been some flashing but there always seems to be something more interesting on the other side of the tank.

I went with new sand but I am slowly moving about about 1/8 of the sand from the previous tank (about 5lbs).

Comparing the 40B with a 55. I think you will find more fish appreciate the larger footprint (even though it's shorter). With a 55 you'll have 576 sq inches of surface area (48x12); with the 40B you'll have 648 (36x18). Also the increased back-to-front depth will offer many more possibilities for aquascaping. I had almost 50lbs of LR which filled much of the 29G and I had to place rock against the back glass. That same amount of LR provides 2 medium islands with plenty of space surrounding them.

I would go with the 40B. You won't be sorry.

johnc99 · 09/09/2012, 11:53 PM

Double post. Apologies.

Ryand63 · 09/10/2012, 06:33 AM

yeah I've always like the 40B. Guess it really comes down to which I can find on Craigslist with a better deal. I'm not really looking to spend too much for a "just beacause" upgrade when i'll be moving in a year and ahalf. Def. leaning towards the 40 B though!

09/08/2012, 10:22 AM	#1
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 943	29 gallon to 40 long worth it? So I found a 40 long on Craigslist and was thinking it would be nice to have an extra foot and a half length. Would it be as easy as bringing the tank home, having the difference in gallons of fresh sw made and dumping the tank water in the 40? Seems like it shouldn't be a problem?

09/08/2012, 10:43 AM	#2
Mantis737 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 112	Be careful if you have a sand bed. Moving tanks can cause a mini cycle. I would not move a sand bed. Did it once and had a cycle that knocked out a bunch of sps. Wouldn't do it again. I would suggest starting a new sand bed in the new tank fill it up and seed the sand bed. Let it sit for a couple of weeks then move everything except the existing sand bed to the new tank. __________________ 65g breeder (36x24x18) - 40g breeder sump / fuge, Tek Elite 6x39, Reef Octopus NWB 150, 2x BRS Reactors w/ MJ600s (carbon and GFO), 2x BRS dosing pumps (Ca and Alk), JBJ ATO, Mag 9.5 return, Neptune Apex Lite

09/08/2012, 03:27 PM	#7
Mantis737 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 112	Depends on how deep your sand bed is but I think my churned the sand bed up and released some of the anaerobic bacteria that was trapped deep in it. __________________ 65g breeder (36x24x18) - 40g breeder sump / fuge, Tek Elite 6x39, Reef Octopus NWB 150, 2x BRS Reactors w/ MJ600s (carbon and GFO), 2x BRS dosing pumps (Ca and Alk), JBJ ATO, Mag 9.5 return, Neptune Apex Lite

09/08/2012, 06:18 PM	#10
TucanSam007 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Suffolk, Long Island Posts: 657	go new sandbed. seed it with some of the old top layer __________________ 65g sps tank, 20L sump, Apex, ATI Sunpower 6x39/Reef brite, SSA CS1, 2xMP10wes & 1 MP40wes, Eheim 1260, Tunze Osmolator, Two-part, GFO/Gac

09/08/2012, 06:25 PM	#11
KafudaFish Debi's meddling son Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,805	40B>55 due to foot print of tank. __________________ "You are pretty smart." TheBimbo - "You have an odd little mind Mr. Fish. Very odd indeed." Fat Man -"KafudaFish speaks the truth." Mikey - "Beware of the white crayon's power!" Me - "You da man!" Nina - "The mind of a Kafudafish is a strange and wonderful place." Pinnatus

09/08/2012, 10:44 AM	#3
Yellow Rocket Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 81	I took everything from my 10g and put it in a 29g with no problems. All I did was buy and extra 20g of saltwater.

09/08/2012, 12:15 PM	#4
Biocubehqi Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 568	I would go for a new sand bed. Couldn't hurt.

09/08/2012, 12:39 PM	#5
roninmagik1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 58	you probably wanna add sand anyhow, to maintain the depth...

09/08/2012, 02:43 PM	#6
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 943	I'm now actually looking at a 55. I was thinking setting it up with existing sand and adding 20 more lbs of dry sand? Just curious for more info but why would it cause another cycle? If I used the same water rock and sand?

09/08/2012, 06:11 PM	#8
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 943	My sand bed is about an inch and a half....

09/08/2012, 06:16 PM	#9
JEC11718 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 93	my next tank, which i'm picking up on tuesday is going BB! -20T no sump/skimmerless to 65 w/50sump!

09/08/2012, 09:08 PM	#13
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 943	For now I know it sounds crazy but I'm doing fiah only due to moving out of state in a year and a half. I was thinking the extra length should give better fish stocking options?

09/09/2012, 08:11 AM	#15
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 943	Very good point never even though of that

09/09/2012, 08:40 AM	#16
Mxreef887 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 12	When I would upgrade tanks I wouldn't problems with cycling or any spikes, but every now and then I would get a short diatom break out. IMO I would replace the sand and seed it with old, that way you have a fresh start on it without worrying about absorbed nutrients. Another note, Petco here in Albuquerque has it's $1 per gallong sale. I'm gonna pick up a 40 breeder for $40 to start me a frag tank.

09/09/2012, 10:00 AM	#17
LaOtIn Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 649	please don't do the 55g. I would take a 40L over a 55 any day. Of all the tanks I've had over the years my 40L was my favorite. If you like the "reef wall" look then go for a 40L, but be warned, it has zero depth. If you want depth get a 40B __________________ I am a water keeper that happens to like fish and coral Once a Marine, Always a Marine Semper Fidelis Devil Dog

09/09/2012, 10:56 AM	#18
MrTeyssere Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Norway Posts: 12	Bigger aquarium = more fish options.

09/09/2012, 01:26 PM	#19
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 943	I know I'm just torn. I love the 40 breeder look but would love the extra length for possibly a larger fish or two. I can't decide!!!!!!!!

09/09/2012, 01:47 PM	#20
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 2,823	not a 40 gallon long but probably a 40 breeder. __________________ 120 gallon mixed reef

09/09/2012, 11:53 PM	#21
johnc99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Gatos, CA Posts: 160	I've just done something similar - went from a 29G to a 40B and IMO it was well worth it. The fish look a lot happier (even with the trials and tribulations of actually transferring them). In the smaller tank I was seeing a fair bit of flashing and posturing between my angel and clowns, and between the angel and blenny. In the new tank there has been some flashing but there always seems to be something more interesting on the other side of the tank. I went with new sand but I am slowly moving about about 1/8 of the sand from the previous tank (about 5lbs). Comparing the 40B with a 55. I think you will find more fish appreciate the larger footprint (even though it's shorter). With a 55 you'll have 576 sq inches of surface area (48x12); with the 40B you'll have 648 (36x18). Also the increased back-to-front depth will offer many more possibilities for aquascaping. I had almost 50lbs of LR which filled much of the 29G and I had to place rock against the back glass. That same amount of LR provides 2 medium islands with plenty of space surrounding them. I would go with the 40B. You won't be sorry. __________________ We must recognize the dignity which all creatures possess, and we must respect it for as long as we have them in our charge. - "Coldwater Fish" by Roy Pinks Current Tank Info: 40B FOWLR w/ Reef Octopus BH-2000, AquaticLife HO T5s

09/09/2012, 11:53 PM	#22
johnc99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Los Gatos, CA Posts: 160	Double post. Apologies. __________________ We must recognize the dignity which all creatures possess, and we must respect it for as long as we have them in our charge. - "Coldwater Fish" by Roy Pinks Current Tank Info: 40B FOWLR w/ Reef Octopus BH-2000, AquaticLife HO T5s Last edited by johnc99; 09/09/2012 at 11:54 PM. Reason: Double post

09/10/2012, 06:33 AM	#23
Ryand63 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 943	yeah I've always like the 40B. Guess it really comes down to which I can find on Craigslist with a better deal. I'm not really looking to spend too much for a "just beacause" upgrade when i'll be moving in a year and ahalf. Def. leaning towards the 40 B though!