Nano Cycle?

[ejordan]

I decided to setup a 6 gallon nano for my kitchen this weekend....

I began by adding about an inch of new Caribsea Arag-Alive argonite sand to it, and then seeding it with about 3/4 on an inch of sand from my main 100 gallon reef.

I then filled it with 6 gallons of salt water, also from my established 100 gallon reef.

I have about 6 lbs of cured figi rock arriving tommorow...

My question is, should I expect to still go through a cycle, even though I am using sand & water from an established system? Will the live rock initiate a cycle anyway?

 

[Bildobastig]

from my thoughts (i may be wrong) but if you just used the water and LS from the established tank you should be alright.. i know this from experience.... but with the live rock you should put it in an isolation tank and monitor it to be on the safe side .. thats just what i think though.. again the latter part is just my theory.

 

[spline9]

Also speaking from experience, you should be ok.
The only things that I can think of that would cause a cycle is if you have dieoff on the LR or if you stock the tank with a whole ton of fish all of a sudden.

 

[aural]

its not the water and sand that will put it into a cycle. it is the rock. Unless you are getting fully cured rock locally then it will still cycle. If your rock is being shipped, there will still be die-off.

 

[kaserpick]

I agree with aural and Reefwick

Thumbs up!
Kaserpick

 

[Agu]

Yes the rock will have some dieoff and probably create a cycle.

You might want to consider curing it initially in the sump of your 100 gallon reef. That tank should be able to handle 6 pounds of rock with no problem. That way you're not raising levels in the nano and you'll minimize any cycle you'll have to deal with.


jmo,

 

[ejordan]

Actually I don't run a sump on my 100 gallon, so I would have to put it directly in the tank, which Im not so sure is such a good idea....

 

[Jordan55]

Just put the rock in the 6 gallon, wait a week or two... and your cycle should be over.

I had new sand and new water with perfetly cured rock and I still got a mini cycle.

Just expect a 2 week cycle to be sure.... then you can add clean up crew.