Additional tank cycle

[fishyfish22]

I have a 180 gallon reef running for several years now.
I'm going to add an existing tank to the system. Tank was previously set up, I'm going to reuse the sand and add more live sand. In addition I'm adding dry rock to the new tank.
It's only 60 gallons. The dry rock is not too much.

Should I worry about another cycle? Since water going into it is the same as water already in my 180

 

[on the spot]

...I'm going to add an existing tank to the system...I'm going to reuse the sand...
Should I worry about another cycle?

Worry? No.

Take precautions? absolutely.

Check ammonia levels on the additional tank before it overflows into the common sump. If ammonia is present it means you didn't rinse the old sand as well as you thought you did. The 180 will likely handle the load fine, just not all at once.

I'd fill it to just under overflow level and let it sit for a day or two.

What's going in the new tank?

 

[fishyfish22]

What's going in the new tank?

Algae. Lots of macroalgae, and maybe some corals and softies.

 

[Daddi0]

I added a second tank into my system and the only issue I had was the dry rock in the new tank went through all types of algae uglies. It was hard to not try and attack the issues but I could see that it was limited to the new reef rock so I just let it run it's course.
Cheers! Mark

 

[fishyfish22]

My skimmer is a bubble magus curve 5. Would it be able to handle the ammonia from the tank if I let it run now? I also have gfo and carbon

 

[Daddi0]

I dont think the BM5 is large enough for 240 gallons? (combined tanks)

 

[fishyfish22]

I dont think the BM5 is large enough for 240 gallons? (combined tanks)

My apologies, it's a curve 9 not a 5

 

[Michael Hoaster]

So, the new 60 is going to be plumbed to a common sump with a 180? And the new tank will have lots of macro algae? So it's a display refugium then. I'm guessing you are trying to help the 180 with nutrient control, using macros you like to look at. If you get the plants in quickly, I don't think you'll have any cycling issues. The plants will suck up ammonia, nitrate, etc. quickly.

Combining a low nutrient reef tank with a high nutrient macro tank can be challenging. Your reef may not generate enough nutrients to keep your plants happy. Raising nutrients for the plants might upset your corals. So you put yourself in a balancing act, where you can't give everything each tank wants. It would much easier to have success with plants if you can fully commit to their high nutrient needs.

But it can be done, and it has been done. You can choose higher nutrient-tolerating corals, and low nutrient-tolerating plants, so their needs are not so far apart. I can't advise you on corals, but I have some experience with plants. Slow growing macros and even seagrasses are a good choice. The red macros grow slower and require much less nutrients than the faster growing greens, like caulerpa.

I hope I wasn't too discouraging. I just wanted to point out the challenges. Good luck with your project!