12g Nano Tank Cycle Question

[Pigpen17]

Hey RC! It's been a bit!

So I am talking my coral out of my 56g tank. I have finally come to the conclusion that all of my favorite fish are not reef safe, and I am turning the tank into a fish only tank.

So I bought a JBJ 12g cube set up. Now, my coral is on an established live rock in my 56g tank. My plan is to fill the cube, bring it up to temp and let it run a few days. Then add sand and let it run a few days. Then add the rock with the coral. Because it is established live rock, I should be fine? Right?

 

[Mrramsey]

Hey RC! It's been a bit!

So I am talking my coral out of my 56g tank. I have finally come to the conclusion that all of my favorite fish are not reef safe, and I am turning the tank into a fish only tank.

So I bought a JBJ 12g cube set up. Now, my coral is on an established live rock in my 56g tank. My plan is to fill the cube, bring it up to temp and let it run a few days. Then add sand and let it run a few days. Then add the rock with the coral. Because it is established live rock, I should be fine? Right?

Yes since the coral is already on the live rock just match the salinity, temp and params of your current tank and you should be gold.

 

[Pigpen17]

Thanks! In business!

 

[OrQidz]

You should be ok...only thing to watch for is if you stir up a lot of detritus and gunk that's been on the rocks, it could cause a cycle in the smaller tank. Just something to watch for. It's amazing how much crud builds up in the rocks sometimes!

 

[Pigpen17]

Good to know. Maybe I'll take a powerhead to it in a bucket of saltwater before I put it in.

 

[Atilla_87]

I would also do a water change on your 56g and use the discarded water to fill the 12. That should help fast track any cycle and ensure that the parameters are the same.

 

[Pigpen17]

Ah. Good idea. Thanks.

I was also thinking that the tank size may require a lot of water changes. It got me thinking, "If I only had some saltwater mixed up all the time. I could do water changes very quickly." *looks at 56g tank. "Hmmm."