storing water

kevin254 · 02/18/2008, 09:07 AM

If I take water out of a established tank and store it in closed buckets at room temperature for 5-7 days will it still be good to use for a new tank and keep it from a starting major cycle?

Kevin

drillsar · 02/18/2008, 09:15 AM

It should be.

dsn112 · 02/18/2008, 09:21 AM

Id heat it if you could, keep it at 80 degrees.

mikeatjac · 02/18/2008, 09:24 AM

I like to put an airstone in it as well.

fatrip · 02/18/2008, 09:56 AM

you need to have the water moving by a pump or power head. if you dont the water will go stagnent and produce bad bacteria kinda like water sitting out in a puddle. also you need to heat it as well. then you should be ok, this will not stop a cycle tho. the best way to stop this is to put cured established rock in the tank, and even then there is some die off so i would wait atleast a week or 2 to put fish in.

Absint Reefer · 02/18/2008, 10:58 AM

If you really want to keep the water I'd get a few brute trash cans with air stones, power heads and a heater. Used water will not help you cycle faster though

Aquarist007 · 02/18/2008, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fatrip
you need to have the water moving by a pump or power head. if you dont the water will go stagnent and produce bad bacteria kinda like water sitting out in a puddle. also you need to heat it as well. then you should be ok, this will not stop a cycle tho. the best way to stop this is to put cured established rock in the tank, and even then there is some die off so i would wait atleast a week or 2 to put fish in.

i would agree 100 per cent and don't keep the lid on the container. the water still has to exchange gases to support the life that is in the water

fatrip · 02/18/2008, 11:57 AM

opps forgot about writing that...didnt remeber that he was putting a top on it...

kevin254 · 02/18/2008, 02:53 PM

I'm moving and I would like to move my livestock a few days before the main move. I'm going to put my livestock into a 30 gal tank for a few days until I get my 90 gal back up and running. I don't have time for the 30 gal to do a cycle until I have to put the livestock in. I'm saving water from water changes and putting it into the 30 gal with some live rock from my established system, a heater and powerhead. This should keep it from a major cycle when I throw the fish in later right? I'm throwing out the closed bucket idea.

Aquarist007 · 02/18/2008, 03:28 PM

It will probably cycle a bit--simply because you will have disturbed the number of bacteria on the rock by moving it

do not use the existing sand--keep one cup of it for seeding and buy new substrate. Using the old sand could be a problem with nitrates etc.

I would set the new one up and leave it for a couple of days--check the ammonia and then add the fish back--they will be all right long as you don't feed them

02/18/2008, 09:07 AM	#1
kevin254 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 64	storing water If I take water out of a established tank and store it in closed buckets at room temperature for 5-7 days will it still be good to use for a new tank and keep it from a starting major cycle? Kevin

02/18/2008, 09:21 AM	#3
dsn112 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,139	Id heat it if you could, keep it at 80 degrees. __________________ I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!! Current Tank Info: Fluval Edge w LED freshwater. Looking at doing a 20-40g long penninsula fowlr soon

02/18/2008, 09:24 AM	#4
mikeatjac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Posts: 2,433	I like to put an airstone in it as well. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 525 - BK 160- G5 Blue - GHL

02/18/2008, 09:56 AM	#5
fatrip Yup That Stuff Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: , ny Posts: 4,317	you need to have the water moving by a pump or power head. if you dont the water will go stagnent and produce bad bacteria kinda like water sitting out in a puddle. also you need to heat it as well. then you should be ok, this will not stop a cycle tho. the best way to stop this is to put cured established rock in the tank, and even then there is some die off so i would wait atleast a week or 2 to put fish in. __________________ Vince "We learn from history that we never learn anything from history." Hegel

02/18/2008, 11:57 AM	#8
fatrip Yup That Stuff Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: , ny Posts: 4,317	opps forgot about writing that...didnt remeber that he was putting a top on it... __________________ Vince "We learn from history that we never learn anything from history." Hegel

02/18/2008, 09:15 AM	#2
drillsar Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: West Orange, NJ Posts: 2,838	It should be.

02/18/2008, 10:58 AM	#6
Absint Reefer Reefer Madness Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dayton baby Posts: 5,042	If you really want to keep the water I'd get a few brute trash cans with air stones, power heads and a heater. Used water will not help you cycle faster though

02/18/2008, 02:53 PM	#9
kevin254 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 64	I'm moving and I would like to move my livestock a few days before the main move. I'm going to put my livestock into a 30 gal tank for a few days until I get my 90 gal back up and running. I don't have time for the 30 gal to do a cycle until I have to put the livestock in. I'm saving water from water changes and putting it into the 30 gal with some live rock from my established system, a heater and powerhead. This should keep it from a major cycle when I throw the fish in later right? I'm throwing out the closed bucket idea.

02/18/2008, 03:28 PM	#10
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	It will probably cycle a bit--simply because you will have disturbed the number of bacteria on the rock by moving it do not use the existing sand--keep one cup of it for seeding and buy new substrate. Using the old sand could be a problem with nitrates etc. I would set the new one up and leave it for a couple of days--check the ammonia and then add the fish back--they will be all right long as you don't feed them __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock