Quick starting a Nem tank overnight

Garin fisher · Dec 4, 2019

Hey guys, so I recently was invited by a buddy of mine who got a table at our LFS's upcoming frag swap to vend and bring some anemones. I have a small 7 Gallon lifegard already set up but its pretty established and is stocked so I took this opportunity to justify a new tank purchase! Lol there's always a reason for new tanks!

What I bought was a pretty sleek looking updated almost peninsula style version of the older full view model made by lifegard. What really drew me to this design besides it being extremely affordable on black Friday (picked it up for approximately 85.49$ as opposed to the now 113.99$ which still isn't too bad) is the clean cut 45 degree angles that appear to be seamless. I hope its little details like this that sets me aside from the competition!

Aquariums, Stands, and Tanks

Bulk Reef Supply - Saltwater Aquarium Supplies for Reef Tanks

www.marinedepot.com

Here are my thoughts, I drain some established water from my reef tank and set it up using that water. I have two more tanks that are established but would it be foolish to mix different tank water for a combination of diverse beneficial bacteria or would it be counterproductive by prolonging the cycle period?

Is bare bottom or a sand bed more ideal for this build? I was thinking bare bottom just because of how many times I'd be draining and filling it. Let me know what you guys think!

I'll post pics of the build when the tank comes in tomorrow, swap is on Saturday!

LiveWire · Dec 4, 2019

There is not much free floating bacteria in your water it lives on the surfaces of the rock work and suck in your system. If it were me and you have enough time I would place a new out of the packet sponge one with nothing added to it just a regular sponge or some filter floss in the sump of one of your other system and it will get populated with beneficial bacteria over time (the longer the better).

If you need to get it done overnight use the filter that has been in your current system as it will have plenty of bacteria in it as long as you did not just change it out. Then you can use that sponge to jump start the frag tank. I would leave it bare bottom also. You can also use some Dr Tim's one and only or another high quality bacteria to get things going. When you are ready to go to the frag swap you can take everything just make sure your parameters are the same as your current system that houses your anemones so you don't stress them out when you place them in the frag system.

Garin fisher · Dec 4, 2019

LiveWire said:
There is not much free floating bacteria in your water it lives on the surfaces of the rock work and suck in your system. If it were me and you have enough time I would place a new out of the packet sponge one with nothing added to it just a regular sponge or some filter floss in the sump of one of your other system and it will get populated with beneficial bacteria over time (the longer the better).

If you need to get it done overnight use the filter that has been in your current system as it will have plenty of bacteria in it as long as you did not just change it out. Then you can use that sponge to jump start the frag tank. I would leave it bare bottom also. You can also use some Dr Tim's one and only or another high quality bacteria to get things going. When you are ready to go to the frag swap you can take everything just make sure your parameters are the same as your current system that houses your anemones so you don't stress them out when you place them in the frag system.

Very helpful! I have some pretty gnarly filter floss in one of my tanks that I could totally use!! I don't know why I didn't think of it but I'm glad I posted here!

LiveWire · Dec 4, 2019

Happy to help out @Garin fisher. You can check Peter and Jeremy @ReefNewsNetwork 2 part episode The Fraggers Guide To The Galaxy. Great Podcast and this two part episode special will give you a TON of information all about prep, transport, setting up and everything else for frag swaps.

RNN080 - The Fragger's Guide to the Galaxy Pt. 1 (2019) - Reef News Network

Not your mother’s lemonfish, the mysterious deep sea, and Fragger’s Guide to the Galaxy, ANYWHERE you go this is how you show. Jeremy is working out the final details on his built rockwork structure that will be a Zoa garden and have some cool dimension, and ordered some goodies. Peter is making...

reefnewsnetwork.com

Garin fisher · Dec 5, 2019

Update: tank is running well, the stock return pump in it was not that great. It didn’t allow the chambers to have that waterfall effect so the bio balls that it came with were just floating back there. I swapped it out for a sicce micra return and it works like it’s supposed to now keeping the media in its own chamber.

I have two nems in there right now that have been looking good for the last 3 hours. Gonna let them sit over night before I add the other. Pardon the heater in the way I’ll be able to hide it once I take the floss out of the first chamber like I have it but this is what it looks like so far! Couldn’t be happier with the set up!!