New tank - Tips / Steps / Tricks to get a tank cycled

[turbotank]

I read through a few threads and was interested in everyone's thought, tips or tricks to get a tank to cycle.

I am moving to a new tank (red sea reefer 450) and looking for everyone's information on what they have done to speed up the cycling process.

I am using Ocean Direct live sand & reef rock 2.1

thanks everyone!

 

[polaravic]

You are moving up? The live rock from your old tank should help cycle your new one very quickly. I did my holding tank (storage while waiting for the new one to be built) in two weeks. My new tank cycled in two weeks as well with the use of existing rock and Sargassum.

Sargassum, a macro algae, grows scary fast in a new tank. It loves NH4 and NO3. Once the tank is cycled the growth will slow down a lot but still help to keep down the phosphates and nitrates.

I didn't use live sand. I cleaned the living daylights out of my old sand and also new sand.

This doesn't mean you can put everything back right away. Start slow with a few rocks and the the hardiest corals a week at a time. Fish should go in last.

polaravic

 

[Sk8r]

Good advice. A re-set-up with live rock and sand (your own) can take as little as five days to settle down---maybe not to host its FULL complement of fish, but adding one every few days and watching your tests like a hawk (keep Prime at hand) can work.

 

[GimpyFin]

Biospira from Instant Ocean works very well. Not that I recommend rushing a new tank, but you can move it fairly quickly without any problems if done correctly. I would recommend re-using at least some of your existing rock, maybe even a little sand if you can for the bacteria. I moved an entire tank of several fish, corals, and inverts from a 93 cube to my 110 within a day doing this. I first got the new tank up to the temp/salinity of the existing tank and used my extra 29g QT with existing tank water/heater/powerhead as a secondary tank to help with transferring stuff over. I re-used about half of my existing rock, a tad of existing sand for my new fuge, added some new life rock and live sand, and added a large bottle of biospira to beef up the biofilter. The biofilter never skipped a beat (Not even a trace of ammonia) and fish, corals, etc. have all been great 5 months later.

 

[cwschoon]

Is there beneficial bacteria in the water column? If seeding a new tank from an existing one, does it make any difference if you transfer water, or is it really only the transfer of cycled live rock that would make a real difference?

 

[Sk8r]

I cycled my first large marine tank with dead rock, fishfood, and the lfs coral tank discard water.