60 gallon rimless tank build

[Socalreef60]

Hello
I am working on setting up a new 60 gallon rimless Marineland Tank.

My previous tank was a 24 gallon nano that had been set up since 2009. I got a new house with no gallon restriction and have added about 1/3 of the sand from that tank; eventually all the rock from that tank and two other small pico tanks (5.5 gallon ones).



Heres my current history of the process:

November 28th, breakdown and clean out 24 nano.
scrubbed all live rock while in tank water in a processing bin with a toothbrush to remove algae and detritus.
Placed live rock and corals in holding tanks (12 gallon totes) and transported to new house.

Current.
Currently have two 12 gallon totes with bubblers; heaters and the live rock and corals waiting for 60 gallon to cycle.
60 gallon is set up with 30 lbs of new live sand; and said 1/3 original sand.
I have placed maybe 12 lbs of overall 45 lbs of live rock in the new tank. All the liverock has been processed and is free of detritus and any possible die off. This is not "uncured live rock" by any means.

As is the case; this is not a fully brand new tank, and I do not anticipate I will see a full cycle as there should not have been any die off due to the break down and transtion. (Also my holding tanks have not had any organisms die off; so their levels are stable).

I have not seen any nitrite or nitrate spikes in the 60 gallon after 8 days of set up (currently out of ammonia test kits). I've been ghost feeding 2-3 pellets every few days.

Whats the possibility of no cycle based on the described above? Current system in the 60 is 20 gallon sump w/ filter sock; a remora HOB skimmer and a hydor Autotop off.

 

[Socalreef60]

I'll need to provide a more current photo; as the above doesn't show the 12 lbs of rock or the installed top off tank in the sump area.

 

[Socalreef60]

Ok; so I've added another 10 lbs of live rock; bringing the total up to 22 lbs. Checked my ammonia levels; and they are reading zero; nitrite and nitrate are reading zero. About 5 days ago I had a very low level of Nitrate; so I think that my cycle is wrapped up. Going to check readings for the next two days; then hopefully introduce the sixline; clown and my torches and frogspawns after that.

Last night I changed out my old 100W heater; with two new 150W marineland heaters. I realized the old one was getting way over taxed. the Two 150W should be good for up to 40 gallons each; and my tank currently has about 55 gallons; in display; and maybe 12 gallons in the sump.

 

[wetWolger]

I look forward to seeing more photos as you go. I have definetly have very small/quick cycles before when I have jumped up in size on my aquariums from previous ones. I still always give some time for the cycle, and monitor the params to know 100% what's going on.

I love the 60 cubes, it's such a great size.

 

[Reef_Box]

Looking good. I'm about to get a 60g cube going myself.

 

[Socalreef60]

 

[Socalreef60]

So I have changed my sump set up around a bit. Added a 5.5 gallon fresh auto top off reservoir. Along w a hydor autotopoff unit.

Thanks for checking in guys! I just added another 9 lbs of rock tonight. Photos coming of that.

 

[Socalreef60]

 

[Socalreef60]

 

[Socalreef60]

 

[Wazzel]

Nice start. I have the same tank and stand, except my stand is black.

 

[someotherguy]

You should be fine, as long as you keep your bioload similar, and slowly increase it over the next few months. Too many people get caught up in worrying about the "cycle". All that term does is describe the process of a biofilm of nitrifying and de/nitrifying bacteria that evolves on your rock and sand. If you took care to keep your sand and rock "alive", then they should have enough of a bacterial population to keep things in order.
This past summer, I moved my 90 gal tank by keeping all my rock, but adding a completely new sand bed, which was seeded with old sand. I did everything fairly slowly, over the course of a month or so, and had no losses of any kind. I did get a cyano outbreak, but playing with flow has since dealt with that. I didn't bother testing any parameters, but rather kept a close eye on the livestock.

 

[Socalreef60]

Thanks someo; I was thinking that would be the case. I think I'm going to go ahead and add half of my clean up crew tonight; 15 hermits; 5 nassarius and 8 ceriths and a 2 or 3 turbos. Then double down on that in a few weeks for the full clean up crew.

Then I'm anticipating putting my last piece of display rock (fancy looking big piece of live rock with some monticap growing on it) tomorrow night; and then putting the torch; frogspawn and my clown and sixline on Saturday morning.

 

[Socalreef60]

and yes; everything from sand to rock to livestock has been kept up for the last two weeks with 70-73 degree water; two airstones; and alternating HOB filters between the two 12 gallon totes. I know the temp was lower than ideal; but its hard to keep up all the parameters in holding tanks! No die off; so think it worked.

 

[Socalreef60]

Picked up the first colonist.

 

[Socalreef60]

 

[Socalreef60]

Got my two kessil 150 watt ocean blue led lights set up. Made a trapeze hanger w aircraft cable and eye hooks. Looks even better in person

 

[TreyK]

Looking good! I love looking at other 60 cubes

 

[pbft_90]

I've got the exact same tank so ill be sticking around to see how yours shapes up! Looks good so far, I've been running for about a year now so this will be like hitting the rewind button for me.

 

[Socalreef60]

Thanks guys, it's coming along well. Should have some new livestock adds in the next few days. Looking forward to having the space to add some fish, been size bound w my old nano24 for the last two years.