Old live rock in new tank

[Renzema]

I have just finished my full setup, but I have one question.

I was lucky to purchase my rock from a tank that was many years old. I transported it in buckets full of water and was only in the buckets for under 30 minutes. The rocks were only exposed to air for a few seconds. I am assuming I will get a VERY small cycle, because of disturbing them so much from the move. I have dialed in my lights(nanobox duo) and had everything set up before putting anything in all parameters were very close to the tank I purchased the rock from.

Here is my main question. The rock has a lot of corals already encrusted and I would like to save as many as possible. Mostly SPS, and Zoas. How can I limit the impact of some of the die off? Should I make sure there is a bioload of some kind to support the organisms, or let the die off happen. The rock came from a tank with a heavy bioload, and I'm concerned with such a clean tank a lot of die off will happen from starvation. I plan to get a clean up crew as soon as possible to add some load, and dose with phyto to get some load going.

Thank you for the help.

 

[tomreefer]

check your parameters every day any sign of high ammonia, nitrates or nitrites do a water change

 

[Renzema]

I will be doing that, but what how should I address the large decrease in bio-load? That is my main concern, is by not having a bio-load the tank with get spikes as from the die off from starvation.

 

[Sk8r]

5 flakes of fish food per 50 gallons daily until cycle, then 5 days after to be sure.

Mine was old rock, arrived wrapped in wet newspaper in a blizzard in an open truck bed. Tank was equally cold water. Had full 4 week cycle but thrived. Even coral frags survived.

 

[Renzema]

Will I be seeing much a cycle. This wasn't shipped. I pulled it from his tank, and was in mine in less than 30 minutes. I full submerged it during transfer in buckets filled with his tank water.

 

[Renzema]

Mainly I think the hardest will be keeping the sponges from not dying off, and causing the cycle. Should I just dose with phyto, and hope for the best?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

You may not even see a cycle