Can I more then 2 fish?

dannyab84 · Oct 14, 2013

So I am currently combining my two tanks into one 55 gallon. I'm putting my Pico (4 gallon) and my 20 gallon into it with all the rock and fish. I bought about 80 pounds of rock which was cooking in my garage and the persons that I bought it from for about month or so. Before that all the rock was in a 200 gallon reef tank. In the garage it has had no light but, it did always have a skimmer and filter on it. The filter was actually clean after I took it out not even a mark on the pad.. However from my 20 I have 3 fish my flame angle, bi color blenny, and a chromes Along with my clownfish from my pico in the sump. I already added to the tank about 5 corals and a stripped cardinal fish. They are doing great and don't show signs of any stress. They have been in there for 2 days now and ammonia has seemed to jump up to somewhere between a 0-0.25 but, I think that's because there is no light on one side of the tank where my rock from the pico has gone and there is a little die off. I am using my other AI Vega for that side and have to wait till all my corals are in before I take it off my other tank. For the nitrate its between a 5-10. So my question is can I add all my other fish and coral's from my other tank now or should I wait? I would be moving the rock that is in that tank as well over and wanted to know if that would help push back the cycle of the tank. P.S. I used all new sand too. Thank you for anyone who comments and let me know if you need anymore info!

Coraloliseffect · Oct 14, 2013

Wait wait. Wait.

Just like you would wait for smoke To clear before breathing from a fire.

Wait for ammonia and nitrite to go away before adding any other life.

If you have a decent cycle bacteria present. Ammonia and nitrite should drop soon.

a large water change may help the current inhabitants

eliramos · Oct 14, 2013

Coraloliseffect said:
Wait wait. Wait.

Just like you would wait for smoke To clear before breathing from a fire.

Wait for ammonia and nitrite to go away before adding any other life.

If you have a decent cycle bacteria present. Ammonia and nitrite should drop soon.

+ 1

dannyab84 · Oct 14, 2013

well the thing is that, the ammonia was 0 yesterday. And the lack of a light is what's creating the ammonia. I can wait just thought if I could get everything in and move my light over it would stop the ammonia from coming. Also the tank might be at a zero too. I just can't tell. My eyes are not all the great lol. But, if it come back down to 0, and ill test it again. Will the bio load have to reset even with my rocks coming from my other tank coming with it?

DSP · Oct 14, 2013

Lighting does not have anything to do with ammonia.ammonia is produced by decaying matter

dannyab84 · Oct 14, 2013

would living bacteria dying from not having light be known as decaying matter though?

dannyab84 · Oct 14, 2013

I know iv let my lights be off for a few days before to kill bacteria but, never really thought if it created ammonia or not... maybe you could shine some light on that because I'm just a little lost now lol.

dannyab84 · Oct 14, 2013

ok, besides the matter I tested it 3 times now and had my buddy next door verified for me that it is at a 0 on ammonia. He thought I was a little crazy because it was obvious to him but, yellows and greens blend for me haha!

Tahoe61 · Oct 14, 2013

dannyab84 said:
would living bacteria dying from not having light be known as decaying matter though?

No.

When you say bacteria are you referring to Cyanobacteria.

The bacteria that go into cycling a tank are called denitrifying bacteria, aerobic they are found all surfaces of the tank and anaerobic in areas/locations without abundant oxygen. Lighting does not really factor into the biological filters ability to complete the nitrogen cycle.

The reason you're seeing an ammonia value is because the waste produced by the fish and the feedings are greater than the biological can handle, you're seeing a cycle.

dannyab84 · Oct 14, 2013

Ah that's good to know! thanks! But, like I said it is at a zero. Now the question is if I transfer all the fish will the new tank be able to handle the bio load? And like I said the rock that is in the tank it coming with the fish

Tahoe61 · Oct 14, 2013

It's possible that you may not see much of a cycle if the rock was truely live cured rock. You should still proceed slowly and reducing feeding after introducing the fish to the new tank. Have already mixed SW ready to do water changes as need indicated by detectable ammonia, have Prime available. Also consider that fish moved into a newly set up tank regardless of quickly it cycled are at risk for developing symptomatic Cryptocaryans (Marine Ich). I would feed the newly set up tank like it had fish in it (ghost feed) continue to test and give it more time before moving the fish over. Just because you do not see ammonia now does not mean the tank is stable enough to handle that bioload.