Starting new nano tank

[musicman980]

If I use used fully cured life rock and sand from a veteran tank would there be a cycle in a new 6 gallon nano tank?
If there would be a cycle could I use water from the veteran tank? Say half old water and half new water to achieve no cycle?

I would like to start the 6 gallon nano with just 1 sun coral or dendro in it, and MAYBE a yellow gorgonian. While feeding it/them 3 to 4 times a week, how often would I need to do water changes?
It doesn't seem like this nano tank would be too hard to keep, especially if I use a skimmer with it along with target feeding the sun coral, do you guys think the same way?

[duncantse]

Depends on how much dieoff the LR have.

Getting water from their tank will not help you speed up the cycle.

[musicman980]

Why would the LR have dieoff? If I put it in a new system with a sun coral producing waste what difference will it be to the piece of LR?

[jwolcott]

You can never tell, I've been very careful and had tanks cycle and been real careless and had no cycle. All you can do is test. Good luck

[x3thelast]

i did this with my 1 gallon. used cured rock and some water from my established tank. started stocking it in two days. then did a water change a week later.

[merritt32]

i would say a minimum cycle at most

[mushlbh]

Hi Everyone,

After referring to this site for the last couple of years when making any decisions regarding my tank I have finally decided to join in on the conversation. I have been running a Biocube 29 for about two years now and like everyone else it's time for me to upgrade. Right now I am running stock everything on the tank except for a Hydor Koralia 240. I have the heater in the tank, the horrible Oceanic skimmer in chamber one with Algone, stock drip tray, Roaphos, Pura filtration pad, and live rock in chamber two, stock sponge, pump, and UV sterilizer (which I do not want to continue to use) in chamber three.

For fish right now I have a yellow accessor, randall's goby tiger pistol shrimp pair, and a sunburst anthias, the only fish I plan on adding is a possum wrasse. CUC is a tiger conch, assorted hermits, and a bunch of margerhita snails. I have had some great success with a few of my corals but at this point I am ready to take it to the next level.

These are my plans:

Chamber 1: AquaticLife Internal Mini Protein Skimmer 115

Chamber 2: InTank Media Basket with floss, purigen, and chemipure elite. InTank Fuge with live rock rubble, cheato, and maybe mangroves. For fuge lighting considering either one or two 10w underwater leds, or the JBJ Nano fuge light, any thoughts anyone??? I also would like to use the fuge to raise a copepod colony.

Chamber 3: MaxiJet 1200 pump and heater.


Lighting: I agonized over the decision on what to do for lighting. I am no electrician at all and many of the DIY kits seemed a little to technical for me. Also keeping my stock fans and moonlights working were very important. I decided on going with a very simple DIY LED kit that I found on ebay of all places. It consists of 20 3watt bridgelux leds, with the blue lighting, and daylight on seperate dimmers for light cycles. I spoke with the seller, who also builds the kits, and he seemed very knowledgeable and provided me with exact lighting specifics, The light covers all necessary nm, and with this kit the reflector can stay. I hope it is not garbage and I will keep you posted.


Any and all info or suggentions would be extremely appreciated. Below is a picture of my tank. I know I am a beginer but I have spent the last year or so learing about he hobby. My tank just doesn't reflect that yet:

[nanolover80]

Hello ... wow! nice set up. Why cant my tanks ever look like those on RC ..