After how long is a tank cycled?

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

Hey!

I’m finally getting the last items for my tank upgrade tomorrow, and I had a quick question about the cycling period. The upgrade is to a 15-25 gallon tank. For the setup, I’ll be using AF Bio Sand, along with two sponges and a bag of bioballs that have been seeded in my current tank for a week. I’ll also transfer one live rock, but since it has corals on it, I won’t move it over until the new tank is fully cycled.

Do you think a week will be enough for the transferred bacteria to establish, or would you recommend a longer cycle period? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[KrisReef]

I would bring the live rock with coral over day 1. Corals eat ammonia for breakfast. Only fish care about ammonia in a new set up.

 

[ScottJ]

If you transfer wet stuff (like rocks) to you new tank, it is already "cycled." Just don't add a ton of bio-load all at once to the new tank.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Theres something called a mini cycle once you add critters. Shouldn't effect much. Just do a 10-20% water change once or twice a week for first couple of weeks to be on the safe side. I did same thing and loses or health of the coral were minimal.

 

[Fish Fan]

I would bring the live rock with coral over day 1. Corals eat ammonia for breakfast. Only fish care about ammonia in a new set up.

^This! Though some of my corals have been known to eat ammonia for lunch and dinner too.... And even in between snacks :-)

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

I would bring the live rock with coral over day 1. Corals eat ammonia for breakfast. Only fish care about ammonia in a new set up.

Alright I always thought that was only the case when all of the live rock was transferred. Only issue is, it’s the bottom rock so to transfer it I will have to move all corals and break apart the rock.

If you transfer wet stuff (like rocks) to you new tank, it is already "cycled." Just don't add a ton of bio-load all at once to the new tank.

I’m not planning on adding new bioload. But I will only be transfering a small part of the rock so I didn’t expect it to be enough.

Theres something called a mini cycle once you add critters. Shouldn't effect much. Just do a 10-20% water change once or twice a week for first couple of weeks to be on the safe side. I did same thing and loses or health of the coral were minimal.

Alright great! I will keep the old tank running for a few weeks until my new tank has enough algae to support my crew so by then it will definitly be cycled.

^This! Though some of my corals have been known to eat ammonia for lunch and dinner too.... And even in between snacks :)

Sounds good. It’s exciting but I’m also pretty nerveus.