Tank Transfer (cycle)

[ryanp]

Im tryin to avoid hittin a cycle. Everything is coming out of my 55 and going into my 165. This includes 55 lbs of live rock, emperor 400, fluval 204, and some live sand. The 55 has been established for almost a year. Should i have to worry about a cycle with moving that much established bacteria in the media and the live rock? Only live stock that i have is a 3inch clown trigger. Any other suggestions to help with the move would be appreciated.

 

[gmpolan]

Id be advised on transferring the sand over, might stir up alot...if it was me and i had the chance to put new sand in, i would... IMO

 

[ryanp]

gmpolan;450991 wrote: Id be advised on transferring the sand over, might stir up alot...if it was me and i had the chance to put new sand in, i would... IMO

I was wondering about that also. I once rearranged my live rock and it stirred up a bunch of debris and cause my nitrates to soar.

 

[coolsurf]

I just completed a transfer this past weekend. I transferred everything including the sand but I rinsed it with RO several times prior to putting it in. I also added some new cured live rock. I had a mini spike but not bad at all. This was my second transfer I have completed the first being a major which I had no cycle whatsoever.

Use a good portion of your original tank water and just add more to it.

 

[ryanp]

coolsurf;451004 wrote: I just completed a transfer this past weekend. I transferred everything including the sand but I rinsed it with RO several times prior to putting it in. I also added some new cured live rock. I had a mini spike but not bad at all. This was my second transfer I have completed the first being a major which I had no cycle whatsoever.

Use a good portion of your original tank water and just add more to it.

Thanks for the input, what size tanks did you go from? Was it as large as 55 to 165?

 

[kirru]

I went from a 10g to 40br with 20l sump, had no spike what so ever and its been a year now. I transferred all the live rock and used pretty much all new water, had to, and the 10g of old salt water. I didnt move the sand as I had plenty of it, tho about a pound or two went in to the fuge in the sump

 

[coolsurf]

When I did my first xfer, it was from 24 to a 40. I used the sand unrinsed from a larger tank that was maintained very well and shallow. If it's a deep sand bed, I would definately rinse it. I also added Matrix from my original tank and put it into the xfer tank to help seed it.

 

[brianjfinn]

From what I've heard from others, you should use all the live rock, all the water, and at least some of the sand. If you rinse the sand, do so sparingly. Also, supplement with a bacteria additive (someone else will have to chime in with the names) and monitor your parameters closely. If anything gets out of whack, do a water change. Hope it goes well!!

 

[ryanp]

brianjfinn;451134 wrote: From what I've heard from others, you should use all the live rock, all the water, and at least some of the sand. If you rinse the sand, do so sparingly. Also, supplement with a bacteria additive (someone else will have to chime in with the names) and monitor your parameters closely. If anything gets out of whack, do a water change. Hope it goes well!!

bacteria as in Bio Spira? Ive heard thats the only thing that works

 

[nukieuk]

I moved a 90 gallon tank a while ago, i kept all the water and replaced just the sand, i lost zero fish and no corals. I would just add new sand and seed it with a couple of cups from the old sand bed. That worked for me. Actually I have done that twice in the last year and half thinking about it lol. Second time my gf's son threw a pool ball and cracked my 90 That time I lost one fish due to stress but that was it.

 

[ryanp]

I think ill just use all new sand. At least it will look cleaner....for awhile

 

[smoothie]

Keep a little bit of your old sand to seed the new