Old live rock, new cycle

[hillg2784]

I am upgrading from a 120g with hob filters to an IM 200 EXT, the new tank will be in a different location from the original.

When it comes to setup, I will use new sand and I’ll be adding some new Marco Rock to the tank. I have a lot of live rock now that is covered in beneficial bacteria, would it help the cycling process to add some of that to the new tank? What about adding some of my current water to the new tank instead of dumping it when doing a water change on my current one? I was going to dose with Dr. Tim’s to jump start the cycle. The plan is to get the new one cycled and then start to transfer the fish over the course of a few days or even the week.

 

[JTP424]

Using the live rock would definitely help, it's basically like seeding with some you'd pick up from a LFS.
No reason to use the current water. Start fresh, like you're doing with the sand.
Your plan to jumpstart the cycle is a good one.

 

[vlangel]

I have been using the same rock in my aquariums since the late 90s. It helps tremendously with the cycle and I have never had dinos. I will say that I do not keep sticks or difficult SPS, my reef is a mixed high nutrient macroalgae tank so I am not worried about my rock giving off phosphate. For a predominately SPS tank maybe using some new rock is a good idea.

 

[skey44]

I have been using the same rock in my aquariums since the late 90s. It helps tremendously with the cycle and I have never had dinos. I will say that I do not keep sticks or difficult SPS, my reef is a mixed high nutrient macroalgae tank so I am not worried about my rock giving off phosphate. For a predominately SPS tank maybe using some new rock is a good idea.

Acropora keeper here. I think using old live rock is a good move. Many modern tanks suffer from phosphate/nitrate instability. I dark/bacteria/GFO cured my old dry live rock from the yard and it’s worked out well. My nitrates and phosphates seem to be more stable due to my old cured rock instead of the more common stark white rock that takes years to reach equilibrium in the tank. System started late July 2024 with old rock.

 

[vlangel]

Acropora keeper here. I think using old live rock is a good move. Many modern tanks suffer from phosphate/nitrate instability. I dark/bacteria/GFO cured my old dry live rock from the yard and it’s worked out well. My nitrates and phosphates seem to be more stable due to my old cured rock instead of the more common stark white rock that takes years to reach equilibrium in the tank. System started late July 2024 with old rock.

Beautiful!

 

[skey44]

Beautiful!

Thanks so much. It’s my little oasis.

 

[vlangel]

Thanks so much. It’s my little oasis.

I know what you mean. I feel the same about my tank.

 

[hillg2784]

Acropora keeper here. I think using old live rock is a good move. Many modern tanks suffer from phosphate/nitrate instability. I dark/bacteria/GFO cured my old dry live rock from the yard and it’s worked out well. My nitrates and phosphates seem to be more stable due to my old cured rock instead of the more common stark white rock that takes years to reach equilibrium in the tank. System started late July 2024 with old rock.

Do I need to cure my rock? I planned on taking it from the rubbing tank that will be coming down at some point and just dropping into the new one, since I have so much of it. . After that add water, Dr. Tim’s and then some fish.

 

[JTP424]

Do I need to cure my rock? I planned on taking it from the rubbing tank that will be coming down at some point and just dropping into the new one, since I have so much of it. . After that add water, Dr. Tim’s and then some fish.

No need to cure the rock that is currently in use :)
Just take it out and plop it in the new tank!
If you're planning on keeping the rock out of water for a while THEN I would suggest "re"-curing etc.

 

[Turnage]

I'm currently doing something very similar. I have a 32g Biocube tank and I'm about to have a 80g AIO IM tank delivered in about a week Three weeks ago I took a 70g rubber made bin and have been curring about 40ish pounds of dry live rock with tank water. I added a full bottle of bacteria 2 weeks ago and I will be moving about 5 pounds of my display tank rock over to boost the bacteria seedling for an additional 2 weeks. If everything goes well and with the planets aligned, I should be able to transfer everything over to the new tank without any problems.

 

[skey44]

Do I need to cure my rock? I planned on taking it from the rubbing tank that will be coming down at some point and just dropping into the new one, since I have so much of it. . After that add water, Dr. Tim’s and then some fish.

No, my rock was dry in the yard. I had to cure it.
If it’s successfully doing the job in current tank just move it over once you’re running with salt water!

 

[vlangel]

I just moved my rock from my 56g display and 30g sump into my new 75g aquarium in September. I expected a mini cycle but I didn't even have that.

 

[hillg2784]

I'm currently doing something very similar. I have a 32g Biocube tank and I'm about to have a 80g AIO IM tank delivered in about a week Three weeks ago I took a 70g rubber made bin and have been cutting about 40ish pounds of dry live rock with tank water. I added a full bottle of bacteria 2 weeks ago and I will be moving about 5 pounds of my display tank rock over to boost the bacteria seedling for an additional 2 weeks. If everything goes well and with the planets aligned, I should be able to transfer everything over to the new tank without any problems.

I like this idea, plus it helps to have less rock in the old tank when trying to catch the live stock. I feel that also the more I can transfer over, the better it will also be for the tangs as they like to nip at the rocks for food.