setting up tempoary tank for corals

lacrosseboss18 · Mar 8, 2016

I am in the process of putting together/upgrading a new tank 225 gallon. Its coming along slower then i originally wanted. Currently have a 60g. Hopefully getting it plumbed this week so it won't be ready for live stock for 1-2 months.

I found a bunch of corals at the LFS that i would love to put into the big tank once its ready. I really don't wanna pass up on some of these corals. My current tank is pretty much stocked and don't have room for anything new.

My question is: if I purchase a small AIO tank, JBJ 20 gallon, JBJ 45 or an AIO frag tank would i be able to get the corals and put them in there without a cycle? I can use water from my current tank. I would have it bare bottom and no LR. If adding LR would be best i can add some from my 60 and get some LR from a friends established tank. Corals I'm looking to add are large elegance, jack o lantern leapt and maybe from my current tank a large frogspawn colony.
Thanks

Kershaw · Mar 8, 2016

Do you have a sump you can put some coral in there if ou have a light. Or you can plumb another tank to you current one. For a while. Just set it higher then your sump or display some flexibal pvc drain from it into your sump.

lacrosseboss18 · Mar 8, 2016

Those are great ideas but I unfortunately can't hook up another tank to my current 60 due to space/location. Also sump is super cramped but would have definitely have done that. I'll actually keep that in mind for my 225 if I need to in my refugium.
Thanks kershaw

Kershaw · Mar 8, 2016

If you get a small tank and take live rock out of your 60 and a little from another tank. And start with water from your 60. The cycle should be minimal. You can also use prime to detoxify the ammonia. But there will be a small risk. with just coral bio load should be low.

Kershaw · Mar 8, 2016

I would also use some nite out bacteria or something similer

lacrosseboss18 · Mar 8, 2016

How do people set up frag tanks with nothing in the tank except for just coral frags or do they have LR in the sump?

Kershaw · Mar 8, 2016

I'm not sure. Same way people have fish only tanks with no live rock. Never had either of those. But I will be following to find out.

jamie callard · Mar 8, 2016

If everything comes from an established system then yoi should not need to worry about the cylce.
Elegence i think need to be in a sand bed
Frag tank for show is limited and can be done with out liverock
Frag tank for grow needs bioload conaideration and should have rock and other life.