Upgrading tank question

[Rudedog1212]

I'm adding salt to the new tank as I text. I have a new system with new rock but I will be transfering around 30 pounds of live rock from the old system to the new system, the old system has been running for over two years. I'm only transfering two snowflake clowns and a barnacle blenny pluss all my corals. Can I just move everything mentioned above all at once or do I have to cycle the new tank first?

 

[lynchmob3000]

Personally I like to cycle it in darkness and do a couple water changes to pull some of the gunk out of the new rock. Just never know these days.

 

[robert s b.]

I would cycle it.

 

[Rudedog1212]

I got the rock as live rock. I bleached it and left it outside for two months. I kinda thought the right was was to cycle it. What's the best way? Throw some raw shrimp in the tank and let it decay?

 

[lynchmob3000]

I just mix up all new salt, let the rock sit in the tank with good flow, no lights usually until I see the skimmer not pulling out nasty junk anymore. Do a few water changes. You may also use a product called microbactifier to help speed things up. I used it, don't know if it did much but was cheap enough.

 

[lynchmob3000]

Then throw some cheap fish in there, if they are alive in a week or so your pretty safe at that point.

 

[jthao]

Imo, if you have new rock, I'd cycle it. If it's all rock coming straight from another tank, then you can just transfer everything right away. I've done many tank set ups where I started stocking immediately because all the rocks were live rock coming straight out of an existing tank and everything was fine.

 

[Rudedog1212]

I'm in the long process of cycling the tank. I didn't have shrimp so I put on some frozen mysis to start the process. Thanks for all the replys.

 

[Poolman21]

Have you ever tried Dr tims? It will fully cycle your tank in a few days. I am not patient enough to have an empty tank for a couple months. Lol