need advice with cycling a tank

[pepino]

ok i finally decide im upgrading from a 20 to a 55 with 20 sump i was wondering if i buy the water from my lfs and kust transfer all my live rock to the new tank and i will be using dry sand for how long do i need the tank to be cycle i have sanils and crabs and zoas xenias mushrooms and a clown fish and a goby any advice will be apprecciated

 

[xrock06x]

shouldnt take long just make sure parms are good might have some die off from sponges etc..watch ammonia level and nitrites

 

[spamreefnew]

keep old tank running and add water from it to the new tank slowly,,,dont rush it

 

[alpine]

Try putting this in the new to the hobby forum.You will get a lot more responses.

 

[csb]

Pepino ... your post is a little bit cryptic, but if I understand you correctly, you shouldn't have to "cycle" because the bacteria you need to support your tank's biological system is already established in your existing rocks and substrate.

When you transfer to the new tank, be sure that the parameters of the new water are identical to your existing tank water. Transfer all of your existing water too ... so you'll only need another 30-40 gallons to fill the remainder of the new tank.

To maintain your bacteria colonies, be sure to transfer all your rock, plus any filters and at least some of the substrate to help seed the new sand. The added water volume will help dilute the wastes while the bacteria adjusts to the new tank. You should wait at least 30 days before adding any new livestock so that the new tank will have time to stabilize ... but you should have no problem transferring your existing inhabitants.

 

[pescadero]

Re: need advice with cycling a tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11806175#post11806175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pepino
ok i finally decide im upgrading from a 20 to a 55 with 20 sump i was wondering if i buy the water from my lfs and kust transfer all my live rock to the new tank and i will be using dry sand for how long do i need the tank to be cycle i have sanils and crabs and zoas xenias mushrooms and a clown fish and a goby any advice will be apprecciated

every time that you change your setup (including something as subtle as moving live rock and old tankwater into a new tank, or adding one fish to an existing setup) a cycling event will take place. that event will last as long as it takes for the new setup to reach equilibrium, which is in turn dependent upon the capacity of your biological filter. most people don't notice subtle cycling events for two reasons: a) because the magnitude of the ammonia and nitrite peaks might not be very high, and b) because most people aren't likely to test water chemistry often enough to observe the subtle changes.

in your case, since you'll be cycling a new tank, a new sump, new water and new sand with old rock. i would plan on cycling the entire system as if it were a new tank, and monitor the cycle's progress with a test kit. although your fish might tolerate living in the new tank during the cycle, your corals might not fare as well. its always better to proceed slowly and with caution. you'll have fewer losses that way.

 

[csb]

There's another factor in play though ... water volume. There is a greater water volume in the new tank which will dilute the wastes. The bacteria colonies are going to adjust to less food (diluted amonia) anyway... meaning, the existing colonies would reduce. Therefore, the bacteria "lost" to the new sand are compensated for by the existing bacteria on the rocks. The sand will establish itself quickly, but I don't think it's necessary to "cycle" the new tank because of that.

Pepino, you have been given conflicting advice. Personally, I think you'll be safe either way you go. Think it over for yourself and pick the choice that you feel is best for your system. :smokin: