New tank question

[holabird]

Ok. Starting a new 150. I am using live sand from an old tank, live rock
From current tank and even some water from current tank that I got from a water change (live water?). Will the tank still cycle with every thing coming from a current tank? I would think yes but probably quicker. What say the experts?

 

[izoid]

You will get a variety of answers on this one but whever I have used cured live rock, I have never seen a cycle. The rock has already cycled and is full of beneficial bacteria, what else would need to cycle?

 

[rdnelson]

Ok, so I am regurgitating what I have read and learned so far so please don't flame me if I misstate anything.

1. The water is not live. The BB don't live in the water column. Some not so good things can though so it would be best not to use water from the old tank if you can get enough new water with the same parameters.
2. Lots of nasty stuff collects in the sand and when you move it you will stir it up. If you plan on using it, rinse it thoroughly before you put it in the new tank.
3. I agree with izoid, as long as you are not increasing your bio-load dramatically, the BB in the live rock should be able to maintain the parameters.
4. You will most likely see a Diatom bloom because of silicates.

Hope that helps.
Rich

 

[dan30097]

Dose with prime especially if you reuse your live sand. Recommend Matrix it will be add more surface area for beneficial bacteria to reduce ammonia or nitrate.

 

[purplegorilla]

1. Rinse the sand if you can for couple of times.
2. Conserve about 20-30% of the old tank water.

Don't dose with anything. Let nature takes its course.

You should be good to go after 1-2wk if you can wait just to be on the safe side. I have moved many times and that's what I usually do.

 

[gmpolan]

Personally, if it was me and i was given the opportunity to replace the sand for a set up i would and just seed it with some live sand. As in most cases, most of us wont replace the sand until we either break down the tank or go through alot of work to get it vaccumed out. Iunderstand its an additional cost but it just looks so much nicer with fresh new sand. Everything else noted above by trinth and rdnelson is about spot on.Just my two cents tho...

 

[jennm]

rdnelson99;706510 wrote: Ok, so I am regurgitating what I have read and learned so far so please don't flame me if I misstate anything.

1. The water is not live. The BB don't live in the water column. Some not so good things can though so it would be best not to use water from the old tank if you can get enough new water with the same parameters.
2. Lots of nasty stuff collects in the sand and when you move it you will stir it up. If you plan on using it, rinse it thoroughly before you put it in the new tank.
3. I agree with izoid, as long as you are not increasing your bio-load dramatically, the BB in the live rock should be able to maintain the parameters.
4. You will most likely see a Diatom bloom because of silicates.

Hope that helps.
Rich

Ah, Grasshopper, you have been a good student!

100% what Richard says.

The only thing I'd add is that if you are concerned when adding clean up critters down the road, use some Seachem Stability. Set it up, wait for the diatom bloom, monitor parameters. You do not *need* to see ammonia or nitrite if you're using cured rock - it did that a long time ago.

I see no need for Prime unless you have livestock in there and do experience a spike (but if you take your time, you shouldn't see a spike).

Jenn

 

[rdnelson]

JennM;706647 wrote: Ah, Grasshopper, you have been a good student!

100% what Richard says.

Andy you thought I wasn't listening.

 

[jennm]

I knew you were listening

 

[holabird]

Jenn, I wont have a CUC. Its going to be a fowlr tank and mostly triggers, puffers etc which will destroy a CUC. So nothing is needed now? I got it set up and running but wanted to wait awhile before adding anything. Thanks.

JennM;706647 wrote:

The only thing I'd add is that if you are concerned when adding clean up critters down the road, use some Seachem Stability. Set it up, wait for the diatom bloom, monitor parameters. You do not *need* to see ammonia or nitrite if you're using cured rock - it did that a long time ago.

I see no need for Prime unless you have livestock in there and do experience a spike (but if you take your time, you shouldn't see a spike).

Jenn

 

[jennm]

Go slowly and hit it with Stability for a week per directions when you and your first fish. You can also use it when you add more fish (per directions).

Jenn

 

[kayakatl]

Having just done this from a 92 to 55 here is what I did.
Set up 92, put 45 gal of fresh salt water at the same salinity as my 55
I ran 2 air hose siphons between the tanks (from top of 55 to water of the 92 and from the 92 to the sump of the 55. I balanced them the best I could and matched temperature. At roughly 2.5 gph I let this run for 2 days or so, slowing taking rock form the 55 and aquascaping the 92.
Basicly I acclimated the entire tank slowly as if I was adding new live stock. Now no need to acclimate my livestock when transferring. I used a new bag of sand in the new tank, and took 5 cups full from the 55. This helps make the sand live with out filling the entire system with detris caught in the old sand. The remaining sand was pulled after live stock and the water from the 55 went into the 92. I placed the sand in a 10 gal with a HOB filter ans stirred it up to get out most of the detris. Once ii can mix it and the water stays pretty clear I am going to add it to the 92. It should be clean, live and mostly detris free. I used Prime in the 55 before transferring and in the 92 for 2 reasons. 1. I washed a bunch of stuff off in tap water including the never ending task of rinsing new sand, so it declorinated residual water left in the sand. I also use prime in both because it helps the fish build their stress coat. Seeing as they are always upset when you try to catch them I wanted to make sure they were as stress free as possible and healthy.

Some may have different opinions on this, but I had no cycle, and my fish are happy as can be, and I didn't have to drip water on their heads. If your tanks are close enough to run a siphon or you have 2 aqualifters I would consider this method though. You are effectivly making it a single system before you move it. It basically just becomes a massive water change done over a longer period of time.
Good Luck!