When upgrading to a bigger system, how cycle new tank?

[n8harp]

Set up new system plumbing, fill with live sand and fresh saltwater, transfer live rock from smaller system into bigger sysyem, then add more rock. Let biology take its course? Or supplement with bacteria to help more rock in new bigger system get going?

Going from 26 cube to 80g total system

 

[Project1004]

Are you adding dry rock or live rock? Theres big difference.

I would transfer everything from the 26 to 80 and allow it to settle before adding the new rocks to the tank. You are pretty much increasing water volume by 3 fold. Which is the reason I’ve upgraded from 24 to 48. So I my dosing regimen is down to half. (Ex. 10ml’s a day to 5mls a day).


I would use least some of your current sand from the nano to seed the new sand.

I won’t add any bacteria since they will compete with your current tank’s bionom for dominance. Maybe needed if your current tank is not doing well?. Adding activated carbon will help with catching organic debris in the water column after transfer. Adding new rocks after tank has settled maybe the best way. Could’ve within few days or few weeks….

If your nano is a mature tank, I would add dry rocks with the transfer.

 

[BubbleAlgaeFarmer]

While people say not to, when i upgraded my tank, i used my old sand. I rinsed the heck out of it with the tank water from the old system. I never experienced a new cycle in the larger tank.

 

[n8harp]

Are you adding dry rock or live rock? Theres big difference.

I would transfer everything from the 26 to 80 and allow it to settle before adding the new rocks to the tank. You are pretty much increasing water volume by 3 fold. Which is the reason I’ve upgraded from 24 to 48. So I my dosing regimen is down to half. (Ex. 10ml’s a day to 5mls a day).


I would use least some of your current sand from the nano to seed the new sand.

I won’t add any bacteria since they will compete with your current tank’s bionom for dominance. Maybe needed if your current tank is not doing well?. Adding activated carbon will help with catching organic debris in the water column after transfer. Adding new rocks after tank has settled maybe the best way. Could’ve within few days or few weeks….

If your nano is a mature tank, I would add dry rocks with the transfer.

Noted thank you. I will be using dry rock. For the new tank. So you recommend adding my old tank water and rock to new tank, let it settle, then add dry rock? My rock in my current tank is 4 years old. Or can I add everything at once? And let it settle before adding new fish

 

[Project1004]

Noted thank you. I will be using dry rock. For the new tank. So you recommend adding my old tank water and rock to new tank, let it settle, then add dry rock? My rock in my current tank is 4 years old. Or can I add everything at once? And let it settle before adding new fish

You can chose whichever method you choose but you know your tank better than others. If your tank is mature, I think it’s better to add them together. If your tank is not mature, it’s probably better to wait for the tank to settle before adding. I would use all the water and rocks. I would rinse the sand really well in fresh saltwater and reuse em.

As for the fishes, it depends if the filtration can handle the extra loads (fish will produce excess nutrients) without stressing the tank should be considered. Most of the time, it’s best to add them slowly over time. When I upgraded from 24 to 48, my tank was able to handle 3 extra fishes added right away. Make it 9-10 fishes at the time. So having a mature tank helps.

 

[Jamie814]

Cycle the new rock separately with some bacteria first, then when you do the move, it will be ready to go.