Do I need to cycle?

dvu · 08/29/2009, 03:22 AM

Do I still need to cycle a new 10g tank if I'm using existing water,live rocks, and live sand from an existing 65g already cycled reef tank? Thanks in advance for any answers.

cloak · 08/29/2009, 03:29 AM

How long has the existing tank been running?

I'd say no.

dvu · 08/29/2009, 03:49 AM

The tank has been running for about 2yrs now.

ReefingMadness · 08/29/2009, 03:49 AM

There will be a small cycle any time that you take LR or sand out of tank. The cycle should be small and quick if it was only a brief period. Testing is the only answer.

cloak · 08/29/2009, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefingMadness
There will be a small cycle any time that you take LR or sand out of tank. The cycle should be small and quick if it was only a brief period. Testing is the only answer.

Not really.

I've set up an identical tank with just a foam pad that was in the, "seasoned tank" before. No problem.

ReefingMadness · 08/29/2009, 03:58 AM

I am almost certain of it. Any time you take LR or sand out of a tank air is introduced. When air is contacted with the air PH and temp, swing dramatically killing bacteria, pods, and other critters. Anytime time you have death you have ammonia, which in essence is starting a mini-cycle.

cloak · 08/29/2009, 04:00 AM

I think your thinking to much.

It's a good thing though...

ReefingMadness · 08/29/2009, 04:01 AM

LOL... I wish someone would tell my wife that.

I mean I think it would be safe, it would be no more than adding a few fish to the tank at the same time.

cloak · 08/29/2009, 04:05 AM

If I move a few rocks from an "old" tank into an icechest, a pump, a heater, etc, why would there be a cycle? All your doing is moving it from here to there...

dvu · 08/29/2009, 04:06 AM

Wouldn't it work when your using everything from an existing tank but only moving it into a smaller one. Everything should still be balanced because nothing new was added to the system.

ReefingMadness · 08/29/2009, 04:11 AM

Nothing new was added to the system. The dead organisms in the rock and sand that is not available to be exported will decay. Ammonia will increase and hence a mini-cycle. I am not saying this would be detrimental, I am only saying that I would not put my SPS in until I tested out fine.

dvu · 08/29/2009, 04:20 AM

Thanks for all the help and info guys. really appreciate the knowledge.

MrHarvard · 08/29/2009, 07:42 AM

You may see a small cycle or maybe none at all. If you are moving the sand from one tank to another you may stir up some unwanted waste from the sand and even cause a cycle in the tank you are taking it from as well as the new one...The only sure way to tell is just test your water. I have a buddy who did the same thing and never had any spikes at all...Good luck!

bphelps81 · 08/29/2009, 08:48 PM

i think you should be fine because you are using already establsihed water

Sk8r · 08/29/2009, 10:34 PM

maybe a 3-5 day cycle, and mild at that. No problem for most corals: watch your fish for problems, test for ammonia every 4-6 hours, and have a bottle of amquel on hand just in case something inside a rock died..

SaltyFishUs · 08/29/2009, 11:30 PM

I say no reason to wait for a cycle since you should not have die off from your live rocks. The only thing you might have is from shifting the sand but even then it should be only a day or two.

08/29/2009, 03:22 AM	#1
dvu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gilbert Posts: 351	Do I need to cycle? Do I still need to cycle a new 10g tank if I'm using existing water,live rocks, and live sand from an existing 65g already cycled reef tank? Thanks in advance for any answers.

08/29/2009, 03:49 AM	#4
ReefingMadness Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Benton, MO Posts: 413	There will be a small cycle any time that you take LR or sand out of tank. The cycle should be small and quick if it was only a brief period. Testing is the only answer. __________________ Ain't no fun when the rabbit has the gun. Current Tank Info: Oceanic BioCube 29, 40 lbs. LR, 20 lbs. LS, Maxi-Jet 1200 return pump, Radion xR30w Gen. 3, MP10, and ReefLink

08/29/2009, 03:58 AM	#6
ReefingMadness Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Benton, MO Posts: 413	I am almost certain of it. Any time you take LR or sand out of a tank air is introduced. When air is contacted with the air PH and temp, swing dramatically killing bacteria, pods, and other critters. Anytime time you have death you have ammonia, which in essence is starting a mini-cycle. __________________ Ain't no fun when the rabbit has the gun. Current Tank Info: Oceanic BioCube 29, 40 lbs. LR, 20 lbs. LS, Maxi-Jet 1200 return pump, Radion xR30w Gen. 3, MP10, and ReefLink

08/29/2009, 04:01 AM	#8
ReefingMadness Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Benton, MO Posts: 413	LOL... I wish someone would tell my wife that. I mean I think it would be safe, it would be no more than adding a few fish to the tank at the same time. __________________ Ain't no fun when the rabbit has the gun. Current Tank Info: Oceanic BioCube 29, 40 lbs. LR, 20 lbs. LS, Maxi-Jet 1200 return pump, Radion xR30w Gen. 3, MP10, and ReefLink

08/29/2009, 04:11 AM	#11
ReefingMadness Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Benton, MO Posts: 413	Nothing new was added to the system. The dead organisms in the rock and sand that is not available to be exported will decay. Ammonia will increase and hence a mini-cycle. I am not saying this would be detrimental, I am only saying that I would not put my SPS in until I tested out fine. __________________ Ain't no fun when the rabbit has the gun. Current Tank Info: Oceanic BioCube 29, 40 lbs. LR, 20 lbs. LS, Maxi-Jet 1200 return pump, Radion xR30w Gen. 3, MP10, and ReefLink

08/29/2009, 03:29 AM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	How long has the existing tank been running? I'd say no.

08/29/2009, 04:00 AM	#7
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I think your thinking to much. It's a good thing though...

08/29/2009, 04:05 AM	#9
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	If I move a few rocks from an "old" tank into an icechest, a pump, a heater, etc, why would there be a cycle? All your doing is moving it from here to there...

08/29/2009, 04:06 AM	#10
dvu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gilbert Posts: 351	Wouldn't it work when your using everything from an existing tank but only moving it into a smaller one. Everything should still be balanced because nothing new was added to the system.

08/29/2009, 04:20 AM	#12
dvu Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gilbert Posts: 351	Thanks for all the help and info guys. really appreciate the knowledge.

08/29/2009, 07:42 AM	#13
MrHarvard "ship it" Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa/Westchase Posts: 2,951	You may see a small cycle or maybe none at all. If you are moving the sand from one tank to another you may stir up some unwanted waste from the sand and even cause a cycle in the tank you are taking it from as well as the new one...The only sure way to tell is just test your water. I have a buddy who did the same thing and never had any spikes at all...Good luck! __________________ "You gon learn today!" Current Tank Info: SPS Dominant 29g BB Rimless Bio Cube lit by 2x AI Primes, IM desktop Reactor, Tunze ATO, Tunze. 9001 skimmer ........ 40g Breeder with 20g long sump/refugium. ATI 4 bulb T5s....Mixed reef stock heavy on SPS.

08/29/2009, 08:48 PM	#14
bphelps81 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cleveland Posts: 267	i think you should be fine because you are using already establsihed water

08/29/2009, 10:34 PM	#15
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	maybe a 3-5 day cycle, and mild at that. No problem for most corals: watch your fish for problems, test for ammonia every 4-6 hours, and have a bottle of amquel on hand just in case something inside a rock died.. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/29/2009, 11:30 PM	#16
SaltyFishUs Moved On Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 21	I say no reason to wait for a cycle since you should not have die off from your live rocks. The only thing you might have is from shifting the sand but even then it should be only a day or two.