moving clams, sps and other corals to a new tank....how long should tank be setup?

[redhanded77]

im gonna be switching over to a new tank and i will be moving my clams, sps and sofites, BUT i wont be using any of the existing live rock, except for a few small ones to help seed the tank. how long will i need to let the new tank run before i can move over my corals and clams?

ill be using natural sea water that i have been using in my existing tank. i wont be using any of the current live rock because of aiptasia getting out of control and other pests. thanks in advance!

[Vapour1ze]

until it is fully cycled, if your using small amounts from your tank now that is cycled, and non cured rock from another source your going to have a longer cycle, if its all already cured rock, it shouldnt take to long, just make sure all the levels are right, keep an eye on everything. but once everythings good. I would give one or two more weeks and then go for it.

[crvz]

I'd wait until it's fully cycled and then some if you're using all new and uncured live rock from the LFS. This will be just like any brand new setup, and I would take to adding things as slowly as you did with the initial establishment.

[maroun.c]

I would also transfer things one at a time Vs all in one go this way at least yo uget to assess if your corals are happy in the new tank or if you still have to wait a bit more. This might prove a bit more expensive as you will need double lighting, filtration, dosing expenses...

[redhanded77]

80% of the rocks going in, are clean dried up fiji rock. the other 20% is cured live rock coming from my other tank.

i was going to finish a cycle, however small that may be, and then wait another week before i start putting my sps (about 25 frags), clams (3), and my zoas (about 15 colonies). do these corals and clams have a bioload? im sure they do, but i would think there bioload would be very minimal.

as far as the stress from moving goes, im going to try and keep it as low as i can. ill be using 99% identical water (calcium, mag, alk, PH and salinity) being that i use the same natural sea water all the time. also, move and air time will be minimal since i plan on having the 50g already scaped and ready for the move.

now i need to figure out how to move the clams which are stuck on some good size live rock that i no longer want, lol

[tkeracer619]

If 80% of the rock is dry you are going to have a large cycle. It is best to cure the rock outside of the tank.

[crvz]

Originally posted by tkeracer619
If 80% of the rock is dry you are going to have a large cycle. It is best to cure the rock outside of the tank.

if it's really dry, there won't be anything to cause a cycle. the cycle is a result of dying live material rotting in a tank. if it's dry, and been that way for some time, everything has rotted away already.

in any case, I agree that curing it outside the tank would be wise if you transfer everything over, as it will take some amount of time before it's ready to sustain marine life in an aquarium.

[redhanded77]

please dont think this as me not trying to listen advice, but wouldnt it be the same thing if i let it cure outside compared to if i set the rocks up in the aquarium and let it cure there?

if it is the same thing, i would much rather set the rocks up in the tank and just let it run til its ready. the rocks are very very dry with no life whatsoever. im not in a rush to move everything over and i will have the 50g which im planning on moving to, up and running in a matter of a few days.

i just wanted to double check on how long the tank should be running because i always hear people saying you shouldnt do corals or clams until you have an "established" tank. keep in mind ive heard all kinds of explanations on what established means. im hoping that as long as my tank fully cycles, i would be ready to start moving things over.

thanks for the input

[m2434]

When I set up my 29, after cycling for ~3 months, I moved two SPS frags, that were thriving in my 20g to it. Shortly after I noticed STN that continued for another month or so even though all parameters tested perfect. There are many parameters that we do not test for that can cause problems and often tanks just need time to stabilize. Some people seem to luck out and do OK with a new tank, but it's a flip of a coin IMO.

[m2434]

I also used probably 20-30% established LR, and an established skimmer, GFO and chaeto right off the bat...

[crvz]

Originally posted by redhanded77
if it is the same thing, i would much rather set the rocks up in the tank and just let it run til its ready. the rocks are very very dry with no life whatsoever. im not in a rush to move everything over and i will have the 50g which im planning on moving to, up and running in a matter of a few days.

It's mostly the same, I'd just rinse the rocks off well before adding them to the tank. That's the rationale I'd use towards curing it in a separate container, to allow anything that has gotten on it in the time it's been outside. If you're in no rush, I'd wait a number of months (4-5?) before transferring everything over.