Transferring Biomedia but not Live Rock?

[PugsAndFish]

I just moved 10 minutes away and set up a new tank. I am going from a 25 gallon to a 20 a gallon tank. The 25 gallon was up for about 2 years. I am starting with a fresh scape (Marco rock) that is completely new. I had a bag of Seachem matrix in the old tank. What do you think about discarding all of the old live rock and just throwing the Seachem matrix in instead? I have corals and 3 fish (damsel, royal gramma, 6 line). I am limited in space so I want to discard the live rock if possible.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

I just moved 10 minutes away and set up a new tank. I am going from a 25 gallon to a 20 a gallon tank. The 25 gallon was up for about 2 years. I am starting with a fresh scape (Marco rock) that is completely new. I had a bag of Seachem matrix in the old tank. What do you think about discarding all of the old live rock and just throwing the Seachem matrix in instead? I have corals and 3 fish (damsel, royal gramma, 6 line). I am limited in space so I want to discard the live rock if possible.

I would keep on eye on ammonia, as your tank will likely cycle, regardless if you add the old rock or not. But doable.

 

[shwareefer]

I just moved 10 minutes away and set up a new tank. I am going from a 25 gallon to a 20 a gallon tank. The 25 gallon was up for about 2 years. I am starting with a fresh scape (Marco rock) that is completely new. I had a bag of Seachem matrix in the old tank. What do you think about discarding all of the old live rock and just throwing the Seachem matrix in instead? I have corals and 3 fish (damsel, royal gramma, 6 line). I am limited in space so I want to discard the live rock if possible.

That will work but will need time to fully establish the marco rock. You'll likely have a mini-cycle as a result.