New Tank questions

[xanthometopon]

Hi

My new tank is going to be delivered next week, I have a few questions that I would be grateful if people could help with.

I currently have a tank setup but cant change things over at once as I need to cycle my new dead live rock in the new tank, I am planning on doing a foam reef wall.

I therefore have to run both for a number of weeks.

I am planning on moving some live rock from the current tank, but not all to help with seeding the new rock.

I am also going to move over some filter wool to try and help the seeding.

Is there anthing else that I could do to try and speed up the cycling process or help the tank to become established.

Many thanks for your help

 

[Katmanblue]

Natural sea water, good live rock and live sand to seed; that's pretty much the top 3 imho. But if I could editorialize for just a sec, the cycling period is THE MOST important stage of any tank's life. I dont know why everyone is always in a rush to make it as short as possible. It's like a baby's first step or whatever--enjoy it as part of the process.
Anyway, didnt mean to get off topic--sounds like you have a good plan, good luck!

 

[xanthometopon]

I understand what you are saying about the cycling process and I am aiming for about Christmas to get everything changed over at the moment.

I just though that I could aid the process, not quicken it by using mature items from my current setup.

Could I also use water that I take out of my current tank, during water changes???

Thanks for the comment

 

[unbreakable]

why not just move everything over except the sand, add new sand to the tank and set it up with the 50% old water and 50% new and just cycle the other rock in a brute trash can until its ready?

 

[xanthometopon]

The new tank is almost 50% bigger volume wise.

Not sure that I want to do it like this as if something does go wrong I have nothing to fall back on.

I want to do it slowly really but just wanted ideas on how to aid it

cheers

 

[Beaun]

Just because it is more water dosnt nessisarily mean it will need more rock right away. If your stocking list remains the same, the change in size should have a very small effect. It would be like adding a sump the size of the incease you are making. It wouldnt change your bioload. Just a thought. Then you could also have your old tank to cycle the new rocks or as a backup if needed.

 

[rkelman]

If you use natural sea water / your old water or water from the Georgia Aquarium isn't going to make a dang bit of difference to the cycle. Using the old water to cycle a tank is a myth. Its not the water you are cycling its the rock / filtration. That being said I would use as much of the old water as possible so your parameters are closer for your tank inhabitants when you make the switch.

Why not cycle your new rock in a rubbermaid tub first? All you need is a powerhead in there. Its not likely you'll need a heater this time of year. If your new rock is cured you may not ever see a noticible cycle. You don't need to "cycle" your foam wall as there is no decaying matter on it anyways.

 

[xanthometopon]

I may as well cycle the rock wall in the new tank as I need to make sure it all fits as I want it to

Like you say, the rock wall may not take too long to cycle, I can then transfer the rest of the rockwork and the stock across, this should have enough filtration to cope with the stock.

I will see how it goes and monitor it continously

Thanks for your comments