upgrade with rock "new AND old"

[JVH]

This week my 68g Cad Versa reef tank arrives!!

I have been buying dry rock to add to the new tank to mix in with my rock from the old tank.
I plan on adding some water change water over 2 weeks of 2 water changes. I also have 2 new bags of live sand.
I was told to add some nitrifying bacteria once set up and then add the fish..
No cycle necessary!
I know the new tank will still probably go through a mini cycle with the new rock. I'm concerned about transferring the fish!
Will it be enough to assume 20g of water and 20lbs of rock from the original tank into the new 68g with new rock and water will be ok so I can add the bacteria and the 4 fish I have in the old tank?
Then keep an eye on the Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate?

Side note;
Rinsing the new dry rock then adding to tank..

 

[saltyphish]

There I no way to guarantee how this will play out. Depending on the old rock and what condition the old tank was in. If you want to be safe don't add the fish or livestock until you are certain your tank is ready. I have seen some tank swaps like this go terribly wrong unexpectedly and some with no trouble at all.

 

[JVH]

Ugh! So you would recommend tracking it and waiting for it to cycle? Though with so much rock from my tank I'm not quite sure what that will look like...

 

[saltyphish]

Yes I would wait for it to cycle personally. I would not want to risk any of my livestock. However, the cycle should be shorter.

 

[melypr1985]

I will say that I just did this myself during my upgrade. I was scared to death of losing my fish and corals. I had to take down the old tank and put the new one in it's place. I used most of the rock from my old tank and a lot of "reel reef rock" that is already cured. I used all the old water from my old tank along with new water to fill in the rest. I also had the bottled bacteria. I have only had a light dusting of diatoms, which are gone now (lasted about a week)
I put all my fish in a bucket with an air stone until the new tank was set up and ready.... meaning we had all the sand, rock and water in and had the system running. Then I just drip acclimated the fish like I would normally. It worked really well and I haven't had a loss yet. Its been over 2 weeks now. (knock on wood)

I'm with saltyphish though. if I could have, I would have let the new tank cycle completely first.

 

[JVH]

I will say that I just did this myself during my upgrade. I was scared to death of losing my fish and corals. I had to take down the old tank and put the new one in it's place. I used most of the rock from my old tank and a lot of "reel reef rock" that is already cured. I used all the old water from my old tank along with new water to fill in the rest. I also had the bottled bacteria. I have only had a light dusting of diatoms, which are gone now (lasted about a week)
I put all my fish in a bucket with an air stone until the new tank was set up and ready.... meaning we had all the sand, rock and water in and had the system running. Then I just drip acclimated the fish like I would normally. It worked really well and I haven't had a loss yet. Its been over 2 weeks now. (knock on wood)

I'm with saltyphish though. if I could have, I would have let the new tank cycle completely first.

Thanks for the HOPE! Lol. Its good to know that it all worked out. Especially with minimal diatoms.. I have so many things to figure out! I'm thinking I may just let it cycle since using old rock and new live sand will help it along. I really want to do this as close to right as possible!