Upgrading to 55... Cycle tank again?

[i lik fish]

Hey guys, I will be upgrading my 29 gal reef to a 55 gal. I will use the same light but this time I will have a sump instead of a Marine Land Penguin 350 filter. I will be using the same water with 40 gal of new water and will be using the same live rock/dry rock in my 55 that was in my 29. I will put one piece of live rock in the sump along with sand, chaeto, and maybe some marine pure blocks. The rest of the dry rock in the main display, maybe even the same sand. The question is... will I have to cycle my tank again?

 

[redfishbluefish]

First off, do not use your old sand. In the process of pulling it out, you disrupt all the detritus that's been rotting away. It will cause a major spike in nitrates and phosphates.

As far as the transfer, if anything, it will be a mini cycle which should be handled by the bacteria in your current rock. You should be good to go....but use new sand.

 

[i lik fish]

Thanks for the info!

 

[brandon429]

I just changed out my full sandbed within one hour last nite, for the fresh 2018 start. Agreed use new sand, and pre rinse it so it cannot cloud don't rely on just the included clarifier gel

To have a cloudless, brand new sandbed is amazing, you can scoop it move it flip it and nothing bad happens. Diaper change for the reef.

 

[Gil03]

You will have a cycle and likely will have to go through the uglies again like diatoms. Don't use the same water from the other tank and get new sand.