New cycle when upgrading tanks?

46FiatYamaha · 11/19/2008, 05:14 PM

I'm trying to understand if I take everything from my smaller tank, being all the live rock and all the sand plus fish and soft corals, and directly put it into the larger tank with it being out of the water for less than a minute, would that create another cycle in the larger tank, or would it be ready to hold the same amount of livestock as the rock and sand were used to?

Slakker · 11/19/2008, 05:17 PM

There will likely be somewhat of a cycle from mixing up your sand bed. Depending on how deep it is, there are different types of bacteria at different depths in the sand, and those bacteria perform their function best at those levels. Mixing it up will disrupt that.

46FiatYamaha · 11/19/2008, 05:24 PM

I wonder if it would be too significant since the upgrade tank is more than three times the volume of the smaller one.

deejeff442 · 11/19/2008, 05:30 PM

i moved from my 90 to a 150 .i had cc in the 90 and used new ls and some plain sand in the 150.
put the lr from the 90 plus another 50 lbs new.
i didnt have a cycle but had an algea breakout for a couple weeks now gone.
stirring up the sand can cause a problem so i used new.

Rae C. · 11/19/2008, 05:31 PM

Are you adding new sand as well? i would think it would be a very small cycle if at all. JMO

I am jealous that you get to upgrade!

svb57 · 11/19/2008, 05:34 PM

I went from a 125g to a 300g and lost nothing. Not sure if I had a "cycle" or not as i didnt check. The transfer took almost 8 hours. Put rock in one tub with water and the corals in another.

Jim Mc

46FiatYamaha · 11/19/2008, 05:40 PM

I'll need a lot more sand, mostly dry and some live. Maybe I won't use any of the old sand if that can cause problems.

BigH55 · 11/19/2008, 05:41 PM

When i transfered tanks, I went from a 75 to a 110. I didnt lose one thing to cycle issues. I did lose a coral because i forgot what rock it was on and it ended up behind all the rock. You could add a bottle of bacteria to it for safe measure.

46FiatYamaha · 11/19/2008, 05:51 PM

Thanks for all the info, cleared it right up for me

11/19/2008, 05:14 PM	#1
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	New cycle when upgrading tanks? I'm trying to understand if I take everything from my smaller tank, being all the live rock and all the sand plus fish and soft corals, and directly put it into the larger tank with it being out of the water for less than a minute, would that create another cycle in the larger tank, or would it be ready to hold the same amount of livestock as the rock and sand were used to?

11/19/2008, 05:17 PM	#2
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	There will likely be somewhat of a cycle from mixing up your sand bed. Depending on how deep it is, there are different types of bacteria at different depths in the sand, and those bacteria perform their function best at those levels. Mixing it up will disrupt that. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

11/19/2008, 05:31 PM	#5
Rae C. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 916	Are you adding new sand as well? i would think it would be a very small cycle if at all. JMO I am jealous that you get to upgrade! __________________ Rae C It's 8:30, kids. Turn off the tank and go to bed! Current Tank Info: 65 gal, softies, 1 mandarine, 1 clown

11/19/2008, 05:24 PM	#3
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	I wonder if it would be too significant since the upgrade tank is more than three times the volume of the smaller one.

11/19/2008, 05:30 PM	#4
deejeff442 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: fort worth Posts: 106	i moved from my 90 to a 150 .i had cc in the 90 and used new ls and some plain sand in the 150. put the lr from the 90 plus another 50 lbs new. i didnt have a cycle but had an algea breakout for a couple weeks now gone. stirring up the sand can cause a problem so i used new.

11/19/2008, 05:34 PM	#6
svb57 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Romeoville, Ill Posts: 1,907	I went from a 125g to a 300g and lost nothing. Not sure if I had a "cycle" or not as i didnt check. The transfer took almost 8 hours. Put rock in one tub with water and the corals in another. Jim Mc

11/19/2008, 05:40 PM	#7
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	I'll need a lot more sand, mostly dry and some live. Maybe I won't use any of the old sand if that can cause problems.

11/19/2008, 05:41 PM	#8
BigH55 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Shiloh,IL Posts: 992	When i transfered tanks, I went from a 75 to a 110. I didnt lose one thing to cycle issues. I did lose a coral because i forgot what rock it was on and it ended up behind all the rock. You could add a bottle of bacteria to it for safe measure.

11/19/2008, 05:51 PM	#9
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	Thanks for all the info, cleared it right up for me