Mixing bacteria when cycling

[mtraylor]

But won't that cause the pests from that tank to come to my tank? If not, then I will take old ceramic media from several tanks and add them to mine. And the bacteria will eventually find its way to the display tank from the sump right? How long might that take? Any idea or is that a dumb question -_-

Let me tell you a secret that most people wont tell you. Oh I think the secret is out after reading the posts here. LOL There is no such thing as not getting pests in your tank. What you try to do is limit what kind of pests enter your tank. Also it depends on your definition of pests. Most people just say pests and have not idea what they are or what to look for. They are just scared from the posts and really have never lived through any of it.

The days of big pests are pretty much over because its hard to find real live rock shipped from the ocean to your LFS to your house with all kinds of biodiversity. It was real common to get pistol shrimp and mantis shrimp with your rock back in the day. Rock crabs,etc. That is not too mention all the small pests that could cause problems.

Anyway. Some of the things people are scared of today are aiptasia, worms, etc. Most of which you will get anyway with your corals if you are buying any. Allot of this stuff is microscopic so you cant see them when they enter the tank. You can start with dry rock and bottle bacteria and you are most likelly going to get it. Some people will say I dont have this and that, but they probably havn't seen it or have a fish or something that ate it.

So if you decide to get some live rock rubble. Just inspect each piece and scrub it with brush if needed and remove anything unwanted that you can see. You will not get everything, trust me. I high salt solution soak will dislodge most of everything. I think there is no better thing than having some real live rock with bacteria on it to seed a tank. this is Just my opinion. YOu can have a great tank without it I'm sure, but for a young dry rock tank. I think its a good way to get a head start if you do it right.

 

[reefinginBD]

Let me tell you a secret that most people wont tell you. Oh I think the secret is out after reading the posts here. LOL There is no such thing as not getting pests in your tank. What you try to do is limit what kind of pests enter your tank. Also it depends on your definition of pests. Most people just say pests and have not idea what they are or what to look for. They are just scared from the posts and really have never lived through any of it.

The days of big pests are pretty much over because its hard to find real live rock shipped from the ocean to your LFS to your house with all kinds of biodiversity. It was real common to get pistol shrimp and mantis shrimp with your rock back in the day. Rock crabs,etc. That is not too mention all the small pests that could cause problems.

Anyway. Some of the things people are scared of today are aiptasia, worms, etc. Most of which you will get anyway with your corals if you are buying any. Allot of this stuff is microscopic so you cant see them when they enter the tank. You can start with dry rock and bottle bacteria and you are most likelly going to get it. Some people will say I dont have this and that, but they probably havn't seen it or have a fish or something that ate it.

So if you decide to get some live rock rubble. Just inspect each piece and scrub it with brush if needed and remove anything unwanted that you can see. You will not get everything, trust me. I high salt solution soak will dislodge most of everything. I think there is no better thing than having some real live rock with bacteria on it to seed a tank. this is Just my opinion. YOu can have a great tank without it I'm sure, but for a young dry rock tank. I think its a good way to get a head start if you do it right.

I see. Thanks a lot for taking your time and explains this to me! Btw if take two bags of bio media and keep it in someone’s established tank and then use that for my new tank, don’t you think that would work out well, if not better? Also I am assuming if I keep bio media in someone’s established tank, then when I bring it back after a month or two there will be tons of copepods. Do you think those copepods will survive the cycle afterwards if I add ammonia? Also I will have to feed the copepods with phytoplankton during this time right?

 

[mtraylor]

That is an excellent idea. You will get all the goodies you want and I'm sure some surprise you may or may not see. Lol. Had to throw that in there. You will get copeppds and amphlipods if they have them. Snails etc. There will be eggs and deposits all over that media when you get it back as well as bacteria.

Don't introduce that media to your tank until after the cycle is over. That way you keep most of the goodies alive.

 

[mtraylor]

Your bottle bacteria will cover your cycle with no issues

 

[reefinginBD]

That is an excellent idea. You will get all the goodies you want and I'm sure some surprise you may or may not see. Lol. Had to throw that in there. You will get copeppds and amphlipods if they have them. Snails etc. There will be eggs and deposits all over that media when you get it back as well as bacteria.

Don't introduce that media to your tank until after the cycle is over. That way you keep most of the goodies alive.

Ok thank you so much! I can’t cycle the tank with this already seeded bio media as well right? I will just risk losing most if not all the microorganisms. Do you they would be able to survive?

 

[mtraylor]

You can cycle the tank with the seeded bio media too. Your established pods etc will get depleted some, but just a little bit of media is not going to cut it by itself. Its not like taking a whole tank of real reef rock. You are only introducing a minute amount, but some should survive. Depends on how long you want too wait as well. The best methods are mentioned in the thread. That is why I said just do cycle with the bottled stuff then add that after cycle. Good luck

 

[reefinginBD]

You can cycle the tank with the seeded bio media too. Your established pods etc will get depleted some, but just a little bit of media is not going to cut it by itself. Its not like taking a whole tank of real reef rock. You are only introducing a minute amount, but some should survive. Depends on how long you want too wait as well. The best methods are mentioned in the thread. That is why I said just do cycle with the bottled stuff then add that after cycle. Good luck

Ohk thank you so much for the help!