How would you bring a LRT online?

[poppin_fresh]

Ok, so its only a 180, but it still qualifies as a Large Reef Tank according to the thread rules.

I currently have a 2 year old 72 bow connected to a basement sump and 'fuge with a total volume of about 150 gallons. I have a 180 I tore down at work and I want to set it up here at home. The LR was pulled and has been in a heated vat for the last couple months.

I want to set the tank up and plumb it into my basement sump. Do you think I could just let er' rip? I am thinking any small cycle will be taken care of by the established system? Once complete, I want to move my live stock, corals and rock from the 72 over and sell the bow and its stand.

Anyone done this?

 

[meschaefer]

I have done this, but on a much smaller scale. I would get the 180 up and running and let it sit for at least a week to see if you get a small cycle. You may or may not, depending on the condition of the rock.

I would then move the contents of the 72 over to the 180. Remember that the 72 is able to handle its bioload, and if you are moving everything over the 180 presumably without increasing the bioload. So, you should be ok. My only concern would be the sandbed, if you have a DSB moving it will temporarily diminish its ability to handle amonia/nitrite/nitrate, but it shoudl bounce bakc fairly quickly.

 

[poppin_fresh]

No DSB in the 72, only an inch or so, mostly CC that I hate. I planned on removing a cup or so every couple days and sprinkling it in the back of the 180 to seed.