Question?

lwillis22 · 09/13/2013, 10:59 AM

I am getting some coral from a fellow reefer for a great deal. My only problem is that my new tank is not cycled yet so the only place I have to keep the corals are in a tank that I have with some live rock in it. This has a simple 2 bulb T5 light over it and just wondering if this tank will be ok to hold these corals for a little while? It's a great deal but not so great if I lose it all.

Fizz71 · 09/13/2013, 11:04 AM

You say it's not cycled but you say there is live rock in there already...does that mean it's in the middle of a cycle and reading ammonia? The corals will not survive very long with ammonia in the system.

What are your readings right now?... Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate.

Also two T5s might not cut it either depending on the type of coral.

lwillis22 · 09/13/2013, 11:18 AM

I am sorry I wasn't very clear. The new tank has cycled rock in it, just started it last night so haven't even tested it yet. I have a seperate tank that has been up for a while that has just live rock in it. I was hoping I could put it in there and hold it for a while. I too am a little hesitant on the 2 bulb but I thought if I kept it close enough to the light it might be better. The corals are mushrooms, candy cane coral, long tentacle plate coral, open brain, acans, pagoda cup with eagle eyes and favia. Thanks for your input.

thegrun · 09/13/2013, 11:23 AM

If the rock in the seperate tank is fully cured (cycled), then yes you can safely place your corals in it assuming you have proper water flow and heating. In the T-5 fixture it will help if both bulbs are daylight bulbs (not actinics) as your lighting is going to be marginal.

Fizz71 · 09/13/2013, 11:25 AM

If you have live rock in a system with no ammonia or nitrite there is nothing to cycle. Taking one tank and splitting the LR into two system will not need a "cycle". You might get a flash of ammonia from die-off in transit but that's it.

Cycling is the process of essentially growing bacteria to reach a population that is large enough to process ammonia/nitrite nearly instantly. If you already have live rock teaming with bacteria, there is nothing to cycle just because you put it in a different box.

Like I said...you may get a "spike" of something when you move, but it should be gone in under 48 hours if the rock is healthy. I've had spikes gone in under 24 hours.

And some of those corals might be hard to keep high. Only time will tell, but it's certainly not "ideal" for corals.

lwillis22 · 09/13/2013, 11:28 AM

Oh well that is good news. So, because this rock is from a fully cycled tank it will not go through another cycle in the new tank? I guess I just assumed it would.

chicagoreefer20 · 09/13/2013, 11:58 AM

A rock from a fully cycled tank has bacteria on it already. Corals also have minimal bioload so that is in your favor.

Fizz71 · 09/13/2013, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwillis22

So, because this rock is from a fully cycled tank it will not go through another cycle in the new tank?

Correct. Only things that die in transit (if any) will cause a spike as they decompose that may or may not reach readable values. Technically we cycle rock...not tanks.

09/13/2013, 10:59 AM	#1
lwillis22 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 303	Question? I am getting some coral from a fellow reefer for a great deal. My only problem is that my new tank is not cycled yet so the only place I have to keep the corals are in a tank that I have with some live rock in it. This has a simple 2 bulb T5 light over it and just wondering if this tank will be ok to hold these corals for a little while? It's a great deal but not so great if I lose it all.

09/13/2013, 11:04 AM	#2
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	You say it's not cycled but you say there is live rock in there already...does that mean it's in the middle of a cycle and reading ammonia? The corals will not survive very long with ammonia in the system. What are your readings right now?... Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate. Also two T5s might not cut it either depending on the type of coral. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

09/13/2013, 11:25 AM	#5
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	If you have live rock in a system with no ammonia or nitrite there is nothing to cycle. Taking one tank and splitting the LR into two system will not need a "cycle". You might get a flash of ammonia from die-off in transit but that's it. Cycling is the process of essentially growing bacteria to reach a population that is large enough to process ammonia/nitrite nearly instantly. If you already have live rock teaming with bacteria, there is nothing to cycle just because you put it in a different box. Like I said...you may get a "spike" of something when you move, but it should be gone in under 48 hours if the rock is healthy. I've had spikes gone in under 24 hours. And some of those corals might be hard to keep high. Only time will tell, but it's certainly not "ideal" for corals. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

09/13/2013, 11:18 AM	#3
lwillis22 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 303	I am sorry I wasn't very clear. The new tank has cycled rock in it, just started it last night so haven't even tested it yet. I have a seperate tank that has been up for a while that has just live rock in it. I was hoping I could put it in there and hold it for a while. I too am a little hesitant on the 2 bulb but I thought if I kept it close enough to the light it might be better. The corals are mushrooms, candy cane coral, long tentacle plate coral, open brain, acans, pagoda cup with eagle eyes and favia. Thanks for your input.

09/13/2013, 11:23 AM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	If the rock in the seperate tank is fully cured (cycled), then yes you can safely place your corals in it assuming you have proper water flow and heating. In the T-5 fixture it will help if both bulbs are daylight bulbs (not actinics) as your lighting is going to be marginal.

09/13/2013, 11:28 AM	#6
lwillis22 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 303	Oh well that is good news. So, because this rock is from a fully cycled tank it will not go through another cycle in the new tank? I guess I just assumed it would.

09/13/2013, 11:58 AM	#7
chicagoreefer20 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 199	A rock from a fully cycled tank has bacteria on it already. Corals also have minimal bioload so that is in your favor.