Hey guys I've got a quick question. I'm thinking of setting up a smaller 20 gallon tank next to my display tank. If I were to use only live sand, live rock, and water from my display tank into the smaller tank. Would the age of the smaller tank be the same as the display tank? Or would it still need some time to cycle? Thanks guys
Age of tank
- Thread starter Aretes
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Sciencing Daily
Might go through a mini cycle just from disrupting and detritus that was stored in the sand, but in general it is the same as the large tank. I would let it settle for the week and do a water change before adding fish just to be safe but it's pretty much the same tank.
Age of tank
I am currently cycling a new quarantine tank filled completely with my display water, and have had an ammonia spike for two weeks now. Finally falling but for whatever reason I had to cycle it again.
I did not add any sand or live rock. Just pvc pieces and a sponge filter that sat in my sump for a couple weeks.
I am currently cycling a new quarantine tank filled completely with my display water, and have had an ammonia spike for two weeks now. Finally falling but for whatever reason I had to cycle it again.
I did not add any sand or live rock. Just pvc pieces and a sponge filter that sat in my sump for a couple weeks.
joshua_00030
New member
Well ssobel your bacteria that runs the nitrogen cycle is on your rocks, sand and equipment. Not free floating in the water. The filter you added from the sump will certainly help, but it's not that easy to establish a new tank.
anthonys51
New member
yes i agree tank should be fine, technically its the same tank it would be like taking all your rocks out and putting them back in quickly. trust me if taking rocks out of a tank killed the cycle with how many times i redue my rocks i be in trouble.
anthonys51
New member
what are you putting into the tank. if you added enough live rock you should be able to put things in it as long as you didnt go crazy. lets start with what do you want to add to the tank and how fast you want to add it
ps i would add new sand to tank and not use the old sand in the tank. plus i would use live sand simple because its cleaner and not that much more expensive
ps i would add new sand to tank and not use the old sand in the tank. plus i would use live sand simple because its cleaner and not that much more expensive
Two weeks probably isn't long enough to fully 'seed'; plus, depending on the size of the sponge and tank, it may simply be too small.
I'm looking to start adding in livestock as soon as it's safe to do so. I'm going to start off with a pair of ocellaris clowns and add in a compatible host anemone soon after. I'm only going to use this tank short term for a couple months while I wait for a larger tank to cycle.
anthonys51
New member
ssobel not to sound rude but as josh already stated , the majority of the bacteria isn't in the water its lives on rock, sand, sponges ect.
anthonys51
New member
adding the clowns should be good, i would say there is enough bacteria but if you want to wait a week to be safe why not. the anemone i know they like mature stably tanks, so would absolutly wait a week on that one, but even then a 20 doesn't give you much lead way when it comes to water chemistry, you have to make sure your on point
