Source
r/ReefTank•
text12

Tank transfer time! Will I get hit with a cycle?

I just finished mk2 of my diy 20 gal all in one. This one is much nicer than my first try. My old one is about 4 months old now and is past the initial cycles and firmly in the "sporadic cyano" stage of a young tank. If I move all of my live sand / rock and my nano skimmer will I be able to avoid a cycle? Would I be better off with new sand and rock and just transferring my live stock after a whole new nitrogen cycle is established?

Posted May 8, 2017, 6:52 AM UTC

13
vigg-o-rama•

no new cycle if it all stays relatively wet.

You might get a little diatom bloom, get a little dusting of brown on your rocks for a few days.

if the rock does not dry out, the ammonia cycle will not happen in your transfer.

I have moved tanks before and even gone so far as to hose off the rock with tap water and still had no issues with ammonia cycling.

2
Alyross8•

I would use all the live rock and only like 2 cups of the live sand. Or you could replace all the sand with new live sand. You shouldn't have much of a cycle.

1
PM_ME_UR_FTS•

Youll be fine. 4 months old is still a relatively new tank. Here's what I would do. Move all rocks into a bin. Use old tank water to rinse the sand, then vacuum the filthy water out. Move sand to new tank. Add rocks. Fill tank with FRESH saltwater. This way you're transferring cleaner sand, the same rocks, and filling it with clean water. Should be good to go.

1