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[swfk44]

i have a up and running 55 gal that is well matured, and i want to take everything out of the 55 and put it in the new tank, should i be expecting an ammonia spike and if so what can i do about it. i'll be putting in all the live sand from the 55 and transfering the wet/dry for now to ward of the ammonia spike if possible. i have a pile of new rock that has been kepted wet since my buddy took this tank down. i'll also use all of the current water in the 55 for starters. any help to do this the best way to keep all things alive would be great. thanks

 

[misu]

Don't move the old sand. Get new sand and add a cup from your existing one to seed. Then add the extra rock and test for a cycle for a couple of weeks. If all good then you can mix some water just to get parameters close for livestock transfer.

 

[cr500_af]

If you move the rock from one to the other quickly (i.e., zero drying), you should be fine. I did the same when I set up my wife's tank and, though I was prepared to, had no spikes and no cycle. The water is not an issue. No real reason to save any... the bacteria colonies are in the substrate and on the rock. It wouldn't hurt to move about a cup of sand from the old tank to the new one, just to help seed the sandbed.

 

[eagleeyemike]

what do you mean by seed the sand bed

 

[cr500_af]

eagleeyemike;608352 wrote: what do you mean by seed the sand bed

There are lots of bacteria and tiny invertebrates in the sand on an established tank. This will move some of them to the new sand so they can populate the new tank.

 

[gmpolan]

Seed it by adding a cup of live sand from an existing tank..

 

[eagleeyemike]

thanks for the explanation

 

[sharkbait]

Ah I have to do this today on my new 150g starfire tank....its gonna be a long day...

 

[eagleeyemike]

Are you sure you don't want to do that tomorrow instead of going to Dacula. LOL

 

[sharkbait]

eagleeyemike;608409 wrote: Are you sure you don't want to do that tomorrow instead of going to Dacula. LOL

Yeah still going tomorrow as well..