Will my tank cycle?

[JMLewis]

So currently I have a 20g sps tank and a brand new 66g setup that just got water last night. All the rock and sand was dry.

My plan is to put the live rock from the 20 into the refugium section of the 66 and move all the coral at the same time.

The tank will be fishless for another 3 weeks until they're done in the QT. And at that point it'll just be a small blotched anthias and 2 small clowns.

I've been throwing a couple pellets of fish food once a week into the 20 to keep the bacteria alive.

Am I safe?

 

[Salty1962]

With everything being dry, I would wait on the transfer until you cycle your 66. What do you have to move? Is the new rock cured? When you don't have ammonia or nitrites during a bio load, you'll be good to go with your transfers. No sense in transferring if it is all going to die

 

[brandon429]

Post a full tank shot of what you'll transfer


The liability is specifically live sand not moving the rocks and coral, no cycle there

If you isolate the sensitive animals before you disassemble the old tank it can be done. It's a tank transfer thread.

 

[JMLewis]

Sorry don't have a fts and lights are off atm.

I forgot to mention that the 20g is bare bottom so won't be transferring any sand just about 15 lbs of rock that's been in the tank about a year, and about 12 sps frags.

No bio load besides a couple pellets of fish food I put in to keep the bacteria alive since the fish are in a quarantine tank.

 

[Tahoe61]

I have made the straight over transfer a few time with positive results, no noticeable cycle. A couple considerations though.

1. Take whatever mechanical filtration and move it un washed into the 66 at time of transfer. If you do not have floss or foam, then get some and start the seeding process.
2. With regard to sps, if you are running an alk in the range of 7-9, then chances are good that the new water in the new set up will have a higher value, the swing from the old system alk value and the new set up can stress the sps to the point of STN.
3. Plan on having more water then you'll think you need for the transfer.
4. Make a plan, get everything you need gathered together.
5. Consider the use of products such as MB7 (microbactor7).

 

[143MPCo]

I agree with the above ^^^!

Also consider taking as much water (water change) from the old system and using that to partly setup the new one a week or two before hand.

 

[rayn]

Does the new tank have new dry rock or old used dry rock? The old used dry rock will most likely have die off and could create a mini cycle. Your current cycled rock may or may not have enough bacteria to prevent any issue. Another smart addition here is seachem stability. It will help along with the cycled rock.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Am I safe?

yes.

Also consider taking as much water (water change) from the old system and using that to partly setup the new one a week or two before hand

do that

I have made the straight over transfer a few time with positive results, no noticeable cycle. A couple considerations though.

1. Take whatever mechanical filtration and move it un washed into the 66 at time of transfer. If you do not have floss or foam, then get some and start the seeding process.
2. With regard to sps, if you are running an alk in the range of 7-9, then chances are good that the new water in the new set up will have a higher value, the swing from the old system alk value and the new set up can stress the sps to the point of STN.
3. Plan on having more water then you'll think you need for the transfer.
4. Make a plan, get everything you need gathered together.
5. Consider the use of products such as MB7 (microbactor7).

Nail on the head + SPS wont like the nutrients about to be stirred up.

Does the new tank have new dry rock or old used dry rock? The old used dry rock will most likely have die off and could create a mini cycle. Your current cycled rock may or may not have enough bacteria to prevent any issue. Another smart addition here is seachem stability. It will help along with the cycled rock.

+1 MB7 Prime and stability all bacterial supplements to stop ammonia spikes and eat nutrients.

If you isolate the sensitive animals before you disassemble the old tank it can be done. It's a tank transfer thread.

Consider this to keep the SPS healthy. A 10 gallon on craigslist or bucket really a powerhead heater and any light for a week. (they do travel from Indonesia in a box for a week) or keep the other tank full of water if you can. I couldn't on the transfer I did a couple weeks ago.