cycling qeustion

[Joker79]

I am wanting to start a new transfer tank. Its been a while since i started a new tank lol
I am wondering if i use bagged wet "Live sand", water from my established tank and dry rock if there will be a cycle?

Thanks for looking!

 

[11f150]

If you are using rock from an established tank you should be fine. Just watch for a small mini cycle, check ammonia. If you are just using a small amount of rock form an established tank and adding other live rock and sand I would definitely watch for ammonia. Either way, it will be alot faster than a full cycle.

 

[Mike J.]

OP stated dry rock. The live sand will help somewhat in supplying some bacteria. It will also most likely have some dead matter in it. IMO, the way you stated, you're going to have to cycle the tank. The water will also help just a little. The bacteria that we want for the nitrogen cycle grows on hard surfaces and is in small amounts in the water.
Any time a change is made you need to constantly check on ammonia

 

[Joker79]

I am wanting to cycle my 24 gal aquapod. If I were to add some live rubble rock to the back filtration area would that benefit a reduced cycle if any?

 

[Mike J.]

The water, the live sand, the rock rubble all will help to introduce beneficial bacteria. The question is will the amount of bacteria will be sufficient to handle your bio load. Nitrosomonas and nitrospira bacteria are slow reproducers.

 

[Joker79]

Would you suggest adding a bottle of "Bacteria" to assist?

 

[Joker79]

I might add that this tank will be set up for a temporary housing of my corals and 2 clownfish. I am needing the area where my existing tank is setup at for my new tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think that setup will need to cycle, but the use of the live sand will speed the process.

 

[Joker79]

Would adding a bottle of cycle fast help?

 

[Mike J.]

I don't know what to say about that. Many people use Dr. Tim's and praise it; I'm not one of them. But I'm an old guy.

 

[Joker79]

I don't know what to say about that. Many people use Dr. Tim's and praise it; I'm not one of them. But I'm an old guy.

LOL I'm not against being patient. How long after a cycle is complete would coral be safe to add?

 

[Mike J.]

You can add corals after ammonia and nitrites are zero and you've done sufficient water changes to get nitrates below 10 at most. So pretty much right away. Fish should be added slowly 1 at a time a couple weeks apart. Personally, I waited six months before my first fish.

 

[beaslbob]

Yes the tank will "cycle" but the real question is whether or not there will be ammonia/nitrIte spikes during that cycle.

IMHO the best thing to reduce those spikes is to add macro algaes to consume the ammonia directly while the bacteria builds up.

my .02