switching tanks.

[evol]

ok guys. im moving up here..fro my 6.5 gal nano to a 30 gal tall. ima keeping filtration simple. simple 13" cpr hob fuge with a aqua c remor protien skimmer. the tanks dimensions are 24"x 24"x 14". imma be running it with 1x260w SE MH maybe a 15k bulb w 2x65w actinics. I just threw in 30 lbs of brand new LS last week...had white film cover all my pumps, heater and glass the next morning...but all is clear clear now.

ok question is...i only have like 15 lbs of lr in my 6.5 gal. that tank has been up for appx 7 months...and all is looking great. im getting my hands on 40lbs of cured live rock. its from an est aquarium. so here is the question...when i put in the LR should i let the tank cycle for a couple days? Instructions for the sand stats that i should let the tank cycle for 1 MONTH. So i figured i would introduce the LR then cycle it for 1 week then introduce over everything from my other tank? or should i introduce the cured LR then teransfer my snails and hermits over first? does that sound ok?

current inhabitants: pink and purple ric, 2 false oc clowns( smaller than an inch) kenya treem GSP, met green shroom...7 on the rock, orange bullseye zoo..appz 100 polyps,blasto merletti 16 heads, orange shrrom, and candy canes, misc leather...i think an encrusting leather? LFS had no idea either. toadstool and mics hermits and snails.

 

[reefwick]

I'd do it just like a new tank set-up as far as letting everything sit for awhile and test your water. Your not going to know wheather or not it is safe to transfer until you check the paramters. I'm not too sure how you calulated 1 month of cycling down to a couple of days here either. Anyways testing is going to be the only way to really know when it is safe to transfer.

Might not have any cycle, the only way to know is test. Good luck

 

[PatMayo]

I agree, not testing is asking for trouble.

Let the tests be your guide. Using good quality testing gear is essential.

Regards,

Pat

 

[Entropy]

If I am understanding correctly you are using rock from an established tank? If this is the case and you transport it in SW, you will have almost zero die off and not need to cycle the tank. You can add the rock to the tank with fresh salt water and then add new sand. I would then give it a couple of days to settle and then add the rock from your nano. You can check the parameters for the new tank, but they should be fine assuming the new rock is fully cured and been in an established tank for a couple of months or more.

This is the way I setup my 90g and it didn't cycle at all. Basically your filtration comes with the live rock and as long as you add polluters fairly quick (fish and inverts) your bacteria will not die off and your tank will not cycle. It will take a while for your new sand bed to seed, but the new live rock and old live rock will more than make up for the contents of your nano. Just don't add much more too soon and go slow.

 

[Entropy]

Forgot to add that I would use fresh aragonite, and not waste your money on live sand in a bag. You will not need it with 55 pounds of live rock IMO. The rock will seen the aragonite in no time, so get more sand for your money, and let the LFS keep the water in the bag.

 

[evol]

yes, of coarse testing is nessesary, its not sumthing im going to neglect, im using seriferttest kits BTW. the LR and base rock is coming from an established aquarium that is being torn down. i believe around 40-50 lbs. that tank has been up for 2+years. the things i was curiouse about was the sand. its that live aragonite sand in the bag...got 30 lbs of it...from the LFS. it said let the tank settle for 1 month for best results. i dunno. ill just stick to the regular method...no need to speed things up.

the tank has been cycling w/ just the sand for about 1 week or so. im not getting the LR and base rock til friday. blah ne ways im tired haha..dunno. well input is always good. thnx.