Changing Nano Tank

[Lhprichard]

Hi All-I'm primarily a freshwater keeper and have been for a long time. Conversely I've never been a serious marine fish guy. I inherited a Pygmy Angel and a Damselfish which have been living in a 12 gallon Uniquarium with filter built into the back. (I know, far from ideal, but it was the best I could do at the time). Long story short, my neighbor was moving and I rescued them. I feel bad for the little buggers and have made arrangements to get a 40 gallon tank (36 x 18) for them. The Uniquarium has been running about 6 months and gets a water change every 2 weeks. If I use the live sand, rock and bio media from the Uniquarium in the new 40 gallon will I end up going through a cycle? Obviously I would have to add more sand, rock and bio for the new aquarium given that it's larger. I just don't want to put the little guys in harms way. Any advice/input is appreciated. Thank you.

 

[homer1475]

If I use the live sand, rock and bio media from the Uniquarium in the new 40 gallon will I end up going through a cycle? Obviously I would have to add more sand, rock and bio for the new aquarium given that it's larger. I just don't want to put the little guys in harms way. Any advice/input is appreciated. Thank you.

If your going to add everything from the old tank , and all the new stuff is dry(dry rock, dry sand, etc), it should be fine, but certainly not a guarantee. Not sure what bio media is, but I'm going to assume its someplace where bacteria are allowed to grow? Unlike FW, rock in a SW tank is the biomedia.

What I would do is get new sand, and new live/dry rock, and start the tank to cycle. Once cycled, add all the other stuff from the smaller tank, transfer fish over and not worry about it.

 

[Lhprichard]

If your going to add everything from the old tank , and all the new stuff is dry(dry rock, dry sand, etc), it should be fine, but certainly not a guarantee. Not sure what bio media is, but I'm going to assume its someplace where bacteria are allowed to grow? Unlike FW, rock in a SW tank is the biomedia.

What I would do is get new sand, and new live/dry rock, and start the tank to cycle. Once cycled, add all the other stuff from the smaller tank, transfer fish over and not worry about it.

Sorry, I should have explained. It's kind of like Fluval Biomax, but thicker. Almost cement-like rings in the wet-dry chamber.

I see what you're saying. How long do you think it will take to cycle? (Wanna keep the little guys confined the least amount of time that I can while of course keeping them safe). And I'm so old school, I remember when people used to buy damsels to cycle the tank. I'm hoping/thinking that's not the case anymore. Thank you very much for your time.

 

[homer1475]

While some claim its snake oil, when I needed to cycle a tank in a couple days for a temp holding tank. Biospira worked in 3 days. I have also used DR. Tim's with good results.

I would use one of these bacteria in a bottle products, transfer everything over(your not increasing the bioload, just the water volume), and call it a day.