Can you avoid a cycle by mixing water from an established tank with new water?

Neowind · 07/18/2006, 10:41 AM

Lets say you were doing a water change on a 120g tank and you took 15 gallons of that tanks water and mixed it with 5 gallons of freshly mixed saltwater and started a 20g reef. Would you avoid having to cycle the tank? Would this mean you could start adding corals immediatly and fish?

pufferpoison · 07/18/2006, 11:09 AM

The answer is no, the problem there is the ammonia / nitrite eating bacteria aren't free swimming,they colonize - they are attached to your LR, Filter Media etc... all your going to do is add dirty water to a new system, there might be some floating around but not near what you need. Plus if your bigger tank has any disease / parasites you just infected the new tank also. Don't use water from that tank. Getting some cured live rock would help.

xtrstangx · 07/18/2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pufferpoison
The answer is no, the problem there is the ammonia / nitrite eating bacteria aren't free swimming,they colonize - they are attached to your LR, Filter Media etc... all your going to do is add dirty water to a new system, there might be some floating around but not near what you need. Plus if your bigger tank has any disease / parasites you just infected the new tank also. Don't use water from that tank. Getting some cured live rock would help.

Correct.

socalreefer73 · 07/18/2006, 11:32 AM

And perhaps some nitro-bacter product or the like should help a bit. Using a cup of Live Sand from a well established, healthy quarium will help too...

RichConley · 07/18/2006, 11:35 AM

If you really want to be able to move fish over, use LR from the old tank.

AquaReeferMan · 07/18/2006, 12:41 PM

Or just cycle the tank like you would normally do. I just dont think its worth it to rush. Now like stated above you can speed it up a little with some "cured" LR and some LS or some bio-spira or something along those lines. Nothing is going to help you avoid a cycle there is still going to be a small one.

akrimmel · 07/18/2006, 01:35 PM

like you avatar puffer if that is who i think it is, any info on the new tour with a new lead singer????

sloshesv · 07/18/2006, 01:54 PM

Lane Staley never rushed a new tank. Good things come to those who wait.

akrimmel · 07/18/2006, 01:58 PM

yeah he sang to it and it never cycled due to the awsomeness of his voice--what!!!!!!!!!

sloshesv · 07/18/2006, 02:09 PM

"I'm the fish in the box!"

Neowind · 07/18/2006, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the replies. I am glad I ask first

akrimmel · 07/18/2006, 02:15 PM

yeah here comes the reef's oh yeah, no he aint gonna die.

akrimmel · 07/18/2006, 02:17 PM

oh come on neowind you have to enjoy it a little bit.

07/18/2006, 10:41 AM	#1
Neowind Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 702	Can you avoid a cycle by mixing water from an established tank with new water? Lets say you were doing a water change on a 120g tank and you took 15 gallons of that tanks water and mixed it with 5 gallons of freshly mixed saltwater and started a 20g reef. Would you avoid having to cycle the tank? Would this mean you could start adding corals immediatly and fish?

07/18/2006, 11:09 AM	#2
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	The answer is no, the problem there is the ammonia / nitrite eating bacteria aren't free swimming,they colonize - they are attached to your LR, Filter Media etc... all your going to do is add dirty water to a new system, there might be some floating around but not near what you need. Plus if your bigger tank has any disease / parasites you just infected the new tank also. Don't use water from that tank. Getting some cured live rock would help. __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

07/18/2006, 11:35 AM	#5
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	If you really want to be able to move fish over, use LR from the old tank. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

07/18/2006, 12:41 PM	#6
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Or just cycle the tank like you would normally do. I just dont think its worth it to rush. Now like stated above you can speed it up a little with some "cured" LR and some LS or some bio-spira or something along those lines. Nothing is going to help you avoid a cycle there is still going to be a small one. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

07/18/2006, 01:54 PM	#8
sloshesv Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ft myers, fl Posts: 723	Lane Staley never rushed a new tank. Good things come to those who wait. __________________ It's just sloshesv, your Honor Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef, 20 gal seahorse and leaf fish

07/18/2006, 11:32 AM	#4
socalreefer73 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Diego, Ca. Posts: 821	And perhaps some nitro-bacter product or the like should help a bit. Using a cup of Live Sand from a well established, healthy quarium will help too...

07/18/2006, 01:35 PM	#7
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	like you avatar puffer if that is who i think it is, any info on the new tour with a new lead singer????

07/18/2006, 01:58 PM	#9
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	yeah he sang to it and it never cycled due to the awsomeness of his voice--what!!!!!!!!!

07/18/2006, 02:09 PM	#10
sloshesv Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ft myers, fl Posts: 723	"I'm the fish in the box!" __________________ It's just sloshesv, your Honor Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef, 20 gal seahorse and leaf fish

07/18/2006, 02:14 PM	#11
Neowind Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kingsport, TN Posts: 702	Thanks for the replies. I am glad I ask first

07/18/2006, 02:15 PM	#12
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	yeah here comes the reef's oh yeah, no he aint gonna die.

07/18/2006, 02:17 PM	#13
akrimmel Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: HAZELWOOD, MO Posts: 2,260	oh come on neowind you have to enjoy it a little bit.