Cycle is confusing me

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

Hey there!

It’s been a while—about two years—since I last cycled a tank, so I’m feeling a bit rusty and confused . I’m upgrading from a 15G to a 25G, but I’m only transferring one rock from the old tank because it has a zoa garden. That rock isn’t in the new tank yet since it’s wedged under another rock and can’t be moved just yet.

Normally, I just start fresh with new saltwater, add some ammonia, and wait a month to cycle. This time, I decided to try something different. I used AF Bio Sand and added two bags of bioballs and two sponges to my old tank to seed them. After seeding, I moved those bioballs and sponges to the new tank four days ago.

Now here’s where I’m confused—did I skip the cycle? I’ve fed some pellets three times so far, but my ammonia and nitrite levels remain at 0. Nitrates have gone up a bit, and so have phosphates (I dose phosphates during cycling to prevent dinos). The sand, ceramic scape, and glass are all crystal clear.

One thing to note: the sponges and bioballs had some debris and a few worms when I transferred them. Could the combination of all these factors have been enough to skip the cycling process? Or is there something I’m overlooking?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Did you add a pinch of flake food or ammonia or anything?

 

[aSaltyKlown]

Yes, you have "skipped" the cycle. Using the seeded bio balls and sponges brings over the needed bacteria to continue the cycle. What livestock will you be transferring? I'd go ahead and transfer it. I would bet that with the addition of the other rock, you will have no issues. Don't add any new fish for a few weeks and monitor the NO3.

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

Did you add a pinch of flake food or ammonia or anything?

Yup! Pellets once a day.

Yes, you have "skipped" the cycle. Using the seeded bio balls and sponges brings over the needed bacteria to continue the cycle. What livestock will you be transferring? I'd go ahead and transfer it. I would bet that with the addition of the other rock, you will have no issues. Don't add any new fish for a few weeks and monitor the NO3.

Great! All my corals will be transferred (my Euphyllia garden is my baby so I don’t want to make mistakes). And 2 clowns. CUC will be transfered a few weeks later when the tank is dirty enough. Alright great! I expected atleast a little cycle due to not enough bacteria but I guess I’m good.

 

[Uncle99]

Nitrate would not increase if the “cycle” was not working, and in your case, you see an increase.

I’m not sure what skipping a cycle is, not really possible to stop the cycle process, which never stops, provided we got substrate to house them and an initial seed.

Instant cycle likely in your case.

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

Nitrate would not increase if the “cycle” was not working, and in your case, you see an increase.

I’m not sure what skipping a cycle is, not really possible to stop the cycle process, which never stops, provided we got substrate to house them and an initial seed.

Instant cycle likely in your case.

Instant cycle is what I ment with skipping it…

 

[Uncle99]

Instant cycle is what I ment with skipping it…

Got it.

You should be ready to add a fish or two.
They will add ammonia to your waters increasing the population of bacteria.

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

Got it.

You should be ready to add a fish or two.
They will add ammonia to your waters increasing the population of bacteria.

Yea all my livestock from my other tank will be moved there, including a big part of the water so I won’t be adding anything new for a while.

 

[Uncle99]

Yea all my livestock from my other tank will be moved there, including a big part of the water so I won’t be adding anything new for a while.

Water contains very little bacteria so using it does not add to filtration, but certainly, you can do that.

When I upgrade, and everyone is different, I add new sand except 1 cup old, the pre seasoned rock, new water and all corals.

Then I move the fish all at once.

Enjoy your new upgrade.

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

Water contains very little bacteria so using it does not add to filtration, but certainly, you can do that.

When I upgrade, and everyone is different, I add new sand except 1 cup old, the pre seasoned rock, new water and all corals.

Then I move the fish all at once.

Enjoy your new upgrade.

the main reason for taking as much old water with me as I can is so the paremeters are as close as possible. I recently switches salts and my other tank isn’t quite up to those parameters, but the new tank only has that salt so alk and cal are higher.

As it’s not a huge upgrade I’m taking almost all equipment (had a oversized pump, fleece roller, controllers) so I’m not sure how I’m going to do everything at once but it’s gonna be a long day haha. I’m definitly moving the fish last cause I won’t be able to catch them in a full tank with hiding spots.

 

[Uncle99]

the main reason for taking as much old water with me as I can is so the paremeters are as close as possible. I recently switches salts and my other tank isn’t quite up to those parameters, but the new tank only has that salt so alk and cal are higher.

As it’s not a huge upgrade I’m taking almost all equipment (had a oversized pump, fleece roller, controllers) so I’m not sure how I’m going to do everything at once but it’s gonna be a long day haha. I’m definitly moving the fish last cause I won’t be able to catch them in a full tank with hiding spots.

Yup, good reason to use existing water.
Enjoy you new tank!

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

Yup, good reason to use existing water.
Enjoy you new tank!

Thank you! Can’t wait till it’s all in there.

 

[Dan_P]

Hey there!

It’s been a while—about two years—since I last cycled a tank, so I’m feeling a bit rusty and confused . I’m upgrading from a 15G to a 25G, but I’m only transferring one rock from the old tank because it has a zoa garden. That rock isn’t in the new tank yet since it’s wedged under another rock and can’t be moved just yet.

Normally, I just start fresh with new saltwater, add some ammonia, and wait a month to cycle. This time, I decided to try something different. I used AF Bio Sand and added two bags of bioballs and two sponges to my old tank to seed them. After seeding, I moved those bioballs and sponges to the new tank four days ago.

Now here’s where I’m confused—did I skip the cycle? I’ve fed some pellets three times so far, but my ammonia and nitrite levels remain at 0. Nitrates have gone up a bit, and so have phosphates (I dose phosphates during cycling to prevent dinos). The sand, ceramic scape, and glass are all crystal clear.

One thing to note: the sponges and bioballs had some debris and a few worms when I transferred them. Could the combination of all these factors have been enough to skip the cycling process? Or is there something I’m overlooking?

How long were the sponges and bioballs in the old aquarium?

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

How long were the sponges and bioballs in the old aquarium?

A solid week. I think around 8 days. From what I’ve read online something is good seeded after a week.

 

[Dan_P]

A solid week. I think around 8 days. From what I’ve read online something is good seeded after a week.

For nitrifying bacteria which are slow growers, the new system might be seeded with nitrifying bacteria but does not have an established population like you would after a traditional start up. This might not be an issue if other bacteria like heterotrophs are in sufficient numbers to consume ammonia.

 

[MnFish1]

There is no way to know how many ammonia nitrifying bacteria grew on your sponges and bioballs in such a short period. The bacteria growth will only increase if there is more food added to the tank you originially put them in. So - no- this is not the same as an 'instant cycle' where you take long-established live rock and put it into a new tank. It may work - but there is no way to know one way or the other.

 

[Rick's Reefing Adventures]

There is no way to know how many ammonia nitrifying bacteria grew on your sponges and bioballs in such a short period. The bacteria growth will only increase if there is more food added to the tank you originially put them in. So - no- this is not the same as an 'instant cycle' where you take long-established live rock and put it into a new tank. It may work - but there is no way to know one way or the other.

Alright. Yea I won’t be putting the live rock in for a while as it’s the last thing I can take out of the old tank as it’s on the bottom… But it will take a few days before I’ll start switching more corals so I’ll give it a bit more time to grow.