Is nitrifying bacteria in the water column?

[cwschoon]

If seeding a new tank in the home from an existing one, does the transfer of water make a tangible difference? I have always thought not and that a transfer of live rock, sand, media, etc., was the way to go. Opinions?
Thanks.

 

[GimpyFin]

The water will have a little, but you are correct in that most of it will be in the rock and sand.

 

[kfisc]

Rock, sand, media, etc. may propel the process a bit faster, but water contains all you need to get started. It actually is in the air- even far into the Midwest, you can set up a plain quarantine tank, and coralline algae, for example, will be absorbed into the water and can be seen growing in a few weeks, if water parameters are adequate.

 

[Seahorse NJRC]

Your thought process is correct.


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[jminick2]

only in early stages of cycle after that all on surfaces that's why its bad idea to use uv sterilizer during cycle. Least that's what ive read.