Instant Cycle 600 litre tank?

[reefinginBD]

Hey there, I will be setting up a 600 litre reef tank hopefully in December or January, latest February. So, I was wondering if I buy two bags of Maxpect Bio Balls and then keep that in someone’s established tank’s sump for around a month or two, and then when I set up my tank just add that to the sump, will it instantly cycle my tank? I am asking this because within a month or two most if not all the bio media will be covered in bacteria. So, technically I should be able to add some hardy fish like mollies right? Also if I put the bio media in someone’s sump, there will be many microorganisms like copepods and amphipods brought to my tank, will those survive the cycle? Ok so this part may seem dumb but if I use the already cycled bio media and put it in my sump, the bacteria will find its way up to the display tank eventually right? Will this be a problem, since there won’t be a my bacteria in the display tank in the beginning when I add fish? Or will it be ok? Also should I add some of the bio media to the display tank to help the bacteria spread faster? Or there is no need? Please let me know, thank you! And will two bags of Maxpect bio balls be enough for a 600 litre tank? Do let me know, thank you in advance!

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

I wouldn't count on an instant cycle. All of the rock and sand should be colonized with bacteria as well, and that would take some time. Even with lots of live rock in the display, you generally can't expect less than a two week cycle. Some people will advocate for bottled bacteria, but I am suspicious if it really works. Adding the bioballs would help to get the cycle over quickly however, within 3-4 weeks. I'd add a few pounds of live rock from someone's display or the ocean to the main tank, if you want to make the cycle as fast as possible. I hope that this helps!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

sure its a good idea to add established bacteria to the tank, but no such thing as immediate in this hobby, the tank still needs time to cycle. Be patient before adding fish.

 

[reefinginBD]

I wouldn't count on an instant cycle. All of the rock and sand should be colonized with bacteria as well, and that would take some time. Even with lots of live rock in the display, you generally can't expect less than a two week cycle. Some people will advocate for bottled bacteria, but I am suspicious if it really works. Adding the bioballs would help to get the cycle over quickly however, within 3-4 weeks. I'd add a few pounds of live rock from someone's display or the ocean to the main tank, if you want to make the cycle as fast as possible. I hope that this helps!

I see thanks! Would you say I phantom feed the tank to add ammonia or use a different source? Also do you think that the copepods and amphipods would survive the cycle? And do you think that getting some pests from that tank into a new one would be a big problem? Because in the end we all end up with pests no matter how hard we try. It is impossible to keep them out.

 

[reefinginBD]

sure its a good idea to add established bacteria to the tank, but no such thing as immediate in this hobby, the tank still needs time to cycle. Be patient before adding fish.

Okie thank you! But I am more concerned about the copepods and amphipods here. Will they survive the cycle? Please let me know. Also do you think that I could get pests from that old tank to the new one? Will this be a big deal as we all end up with pests in the tank anyways. Also will the bests even be able to survive in a sterile tank like this? Let me know. Thank you!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

they can stand a bit of ammonia. There might be die off, but I think no matter what, a few will always live, they are like cockroaches, they just don't die.

But if the tank is sterile, they will eventually die of hunger. You can feed some phytoplankton though, that will feed them and encourage them to reproduce.

 

[reefinginBD]

they can stand a bit of ammonia. There might be die off, but I think no matter what, a few will always live, they are like cockroaches, they just don't die.

But if the tank is sterile, they will eventually die of hunger. You can feed some phytoplankton though, that will feed them and encourage them to reproduce.

Yeah I plan to feed the tank with phytoplankton for the copepods. But for the pests that may come with the seeded bio media like bristle stars, aptasia and all. Do you think they will cause a problem. Will they survive in a sterile tank like this? Is there any way to prevent getting these pests while getting all the bacteria and the microorganisms like copepods and amphipods, without dosing bacteria or pods?