Upgrading

[snostorm]

Currently running Biocube 32 with LR overrun with mushrooms and a pair of false percs. I am liking the new Red Sea reefer series XL200. Im in the planning phase, i pretty much want to start over with really only bringing over the clowns from the old tank. New rock, shallow SB...etc.My Clowns are 14 years old and really am concerned about the stress of moving them to a new tank. Im pretty attached to them. Looking to fast track the cycle my plan

Nutriwater
Caribs LS
Carib LR

of course i will test but how long before it would be advisable to move the clowns to their new home? Any suggestions to jumpstart any cycling?

thanks for any input!

 

[Michael Hoaster]

Save a small amount of sand from your old tank and add it to the new one. That should help speed up the cycle. To avoid stressing your clowns, wait until nitrite levels have dropped and nitrate begins to rise.

I'd also like to pass along some new-to-me info that you may find valuable, when starting up a new tank.

To avoid algae problems both early and later on in your tank's life try this: during the cycling phase (1st 1-2 months), keep tank lighting off and keep ammonia, nitrite and phosphate low. This will give the new nitrifying bacteria the time and space to grow without competition from other, less helpful bacteria. The bacteria I'm referring to is the kind associated with algae. All algae have associated bacteria that help the algae. By lighting the tank in this formative period, you encourage algae and it's associated bacteria to grow and multiply, making the 'algae phase' more likely, and also making algae more virulent later on.

If done well, you may avoid an algae phase altogether. And later algae issues should be easier to deal with.

If you do decide to try this, please keep us apprised of your progress. Good luck!