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Rpoliah · Mar 23, 2020

Hey everybody just joining the forums .
Just upgraded from a 15 gallon tank to a 50 gallon. Currently trying to get the bigger tank to start to cycle . I just filled the bigger tank with water today and I added some bio spira bacteria starter I Also took out some live rocks from the 15 gallon tank and placed in the 50.Any idea when I can start to move over the fish I have in the 15 gallon tank ? It’s only a clown fish , damsel and anemone

rastareefs · Mar 23, 2020

Hi welcome to the forums! Best way to know is test the ammonia and nitrate levels in the 50 gallon.

rastareefs · Mar 23, 2020

I should explain a bit more, if you don't have any detectable reading of ammonia and trace amounts of nitrates then you know your cycle is complete and livestock is safe to be added.

nereefpat · Mar 24, 2020

If you are wanting to cycle the new 50 gallon, you will need to add a source of ammonia to it.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 24, 2020

Silverfish · Mar 24, 2020

Hi! Welcome. Your in the right Place!

Ruben's Reef · Mar 24, 2020

!!! Welcome to R2R !!! Just get a Seachem Ammonia Batch and will tell you the ammonia level right there. Also, if you add some rock from your current running tank you don't need to add any ammonia because you already have the bacteria on that rock. You can probably move the fish one at a time.

Rpoliah · Mar 24, 2020

nereefpat said:
If you are wanting to cycle the new 50 gallon, you will need to add a source of ammonia to it.

So should I put the fish in the tank ?

nereefpat · Mar 24, 2020

Rpoliah said:
So should I put the fish in the tank ?

No, because the new tank isn't cycled. If you want to cycle it, you have to add ammonia, or fish food, or a cocktail shrimp, or something.

Rpoliah · Mar 24, 2020

nereefpat said:
No, because the new tank isn't cycled. If you want to cycle it, you have to add ammonia, or fish food, or a cocktail shrimp, or something.

Just added some shrimp

AllSignsPointToFish · Mar 24, 2020

Mr_Knightley · Mar 24, 2020

Welcome to Reef2Reef! I you can't detect any nitrite or ammonia in your tests, than it's safe to say you should be good to move your livestock.
Good luck and God bless!

Rpoliah · Mar 24, 2020

Wait so I set up this tank yesterday , if what you guys are saying is correct . If a test the water right now and the tank cycled I’d have no ammonia and nitrates ? So far I’ve put live rocks from my other tank and two bottles of the tank starter bacteria and now some shrimp . Just trying to understand the process

Mr_Knightley · Mar 24, 2020

Oh if you set it up yesterday, definitely wait a least 3 more weeks (6 is better) before you move anything! Sorry it slipped my mind to ask how long it had been set up.
Good luck!

nereefpat · Mar 24, 2020

Mr_Knightley said:
I you can't detect any nitrite or ammonia in your tests, than it's safe to say you should be good to move your livestock.

Or if you never added any Nitrogen, you would also test zero for nitrite and ammonia.

I see you posted again below.

ScottB · Mar 24, 2020

There are a couple potential cycling methods and some take longer than others.

The quick way is to move EVERYTHING over from the old tank. Rock, sand (after a good rinse in salt water), media, sock, filters -- everything that has bacterial film on it that is necessary to convert ammonia into nitrite, and nitrate into harmless nitrate. Even move over some/most of the water as it has a small amount of bacteria in it. Top it off with the bottled bacteria and move the fish. Monitor ammonia closely.

The slower way is to add the bottled bacteria, add a food source and confirm that the system is able to process ammonia back to 0, nitrite to 0, and into nitrate. Can take a few days to a few weeks.

Fred2482 · Apr 15, 2020

Welcome!!

I would definitely cycle a bit more. Add bacteria, add ammonia source, watch ammonia go down and repeat. When you can add ammonia source and there is enough bacteria to counter it you are ready!