Tank cycle question

[Jack Eskay]

So I'm starting a 70 gallon but don't have the right plumbing or enough water to fill the tank. I took all live rock sand and water from my existing two tank and put them in the 70 and filled it half way. If I keep a heater and powerheads on will the tank still cycle with it only being half full, or will I have to fill it up and get it running through the sump?

 

[brandon429]

You don't have to cycle, the bacteria transferred just fine if that rock was already cycled

If you get ammonia, it's from moving the sandbed waste it's not loss of bac

I skipped all cycles for my pico reefs by transferring live rock from the pet store just as you've done

 

[Duke4Life]

Typically unless it's a brand new setup you don't transfer the old sand as it can cause issues with the stuff that has built up in it.

 

[Jack Eskay]

You don't have to cycle, the bacteria transferred just fine if that rock was already cycled

If you get ammonia, it's from moving the sandbed waste it's not loss of bac

I skipped all cycles for my pico reefs by transferring live rock from the pet store just as you've done

Ok but I do believe it will go through a mini cycle... the rock was in a bucket with a pump for the last two weeks until now, same with the sand but no bucket.

 

[Jack Eskay]

Typically unless it's a brand new setup you don't transfer the old sand as it can cause issues with the stuff that has built up in it.

I was going to do that but a friend recommended to swish up the sandbox as much as possible and then suck out all the nastily floating debris and sand. I did that and cleaned the sand bed as best I could. Saved me from buying new sand

 

[brandon429]

It's still cloudy/waste from partial rinse so yes some ammonia can come from that. The rocks won't lose bac all they have to do is be kept wet. The rocks don't have purple twisted growths and sponges etc to have any die off it will be from the sand and given enough time that will settle. That sand should be rinsed totally clean before starting ideally, but if not just given some settling time the proteins causing the spike will finish degrading and the rest will settle back into the sandbed layers

 

[Jack Eskay]

Ok, I'll test later tonight when I get home and let you know all the parameters. Do you think it should all be fine and done it's "mini cycle" by next Friday? I have two clowns and blenny and a shrimp in a 10 gallon and a sand sifting starfish in a bucket.

 

[Jack Eskay]

It's still cloudy/waste from partial rinse so yes some ammonia can come from that. The rocks won't lose bac all they have to do is be kept wet. The rocks don't have purple twisted growths and sponges etc to have any die off it will be from the sand and given enough time that will settle. That sand should be rinsed totally clean before starting ideally, but if not just given some settling time the proteins causing the spike will finish degrading and the rest will settle back into the sandbed layers

I plan to put the starfish in once the ammonia dies down to a safe level unless there's no ammonia.

 

[brandon429]

I bet it will be ok by then but remember the options to make it ready today, same day, as cycles are predictable 100% and sandbeds cause the mini cycles not the rock...

Use all new water

Clean sand 100% not partial so that a fill of the tank is cloudless

Then it's ready now

Waiting for the items to settle out works too but they can just be stirred up again, and when you relight this tank algae might be an issue...the ideal clean approach handles all that

Nano reefers always like this ultra clean skip cycle mode cuz twenty gallons is easy to change out a tank 100%

A big tank like that isn't as practical agreed, but the full skip cycle option is avail and it's fun to detail

 

[Jack Eskay]

I bet it will be ok by then but remember the options to make it ready today, same day, as cycles are predictable 100% and sandbeds cause the mini cycles not the rock...

Use all new water

Clean sand 100% not partial so that a fill of the tank is cloudless

Then it's ready now

Waiting for the items to settle out works too but they can just be stirred up again, and when you relight this tank algae might be an issue...the ideal clean approach handles all that

Ok I'm not going to be home today so I'm just going to go with option two and set everything up when I have time this weekend and everything is settled. I'll check the Params tonight and if nothing's toxic I'll add the starfish. Then wait till this weekend to add the fish.

 

[Gravityreefing]

Hi all. I have a question regarding cycling also. I had my dead rock cycling in saltwater for about I'd say 8 ro 9 months. I just put them in my tank about a week and half now. I put 200 lbs of live sand in my tank..poseidons feast 3000 copepods to tank and sump.ben testing water so far everything is going well so far. As for as me cycling my rocks for 9 months in a brute container with heat and saltwater. will my tank cycle quicker is what am asking..

 

[Jack Eskay]

Hi all. I have a question regarding cycling also. I had my dead rock cycling in saltwater for about I'd say 8 ro 9 months. I just put them in my tank about a week and half now. I put 200 lbs of live sand in my tank..poseidons feast 3000 copepods to tank and sump.ben testing water so far everything is going well so far. As for as me cycling my rocks for 9 months in a brute container with heat and saltwater. will my tank cycle quicker is what am asking..

It will most likely cycle faster than most or just have a "small" cycle with smaller less dangerous spikes. There will still be die off from the rock being moved and the sand though. But to answer your question, it most likely will.

 

[Gravityreefing]

Thanks jack Eskay. Am checking it everyday n still nothing. End of next week will be week 3. See what happens..

 

[Jack Eskay]

Thanks jack Eskay. Am checking it everyday n still nothing. End of next week will be week 3. See what happens..

I'd personally say if it's been 2 weeks and there hasn't been a spike at all, then your probably good to go. You can play it safe and wait another week if you want, it will only do good. But that's just from my experience, all my cycles have typically taken 2 weeks or so.

 

[Gravityreefing]

I just tested water again today.
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 5
Salinity 35= 1.025
I didn't measure calculator bc am doing a water change today. What do u think

 

[Jack Eskay]

Did the nitrates just occur to be 5 or have they been that high?

 

[Jack Eskay]

I just tested water again today.
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 5
Salinity 35= 1.025
I didn't measure calculator bc am doing a water change today. What do u think

^^

 

[Gravityreefing]

Just happened today. I see brown diatoms all over the rocks and some on sand

 

[Gravityreefing]

I tested it twice to make sure..

 

[Gravityreefing]

It was about two yesterday from what I measured. Am just going to do water change. Should I be concerned jack Eskay??