Cycling my nano

handbanana

handbanana

Member
Hi everybody
I setup my nano this weekend with all the coral skeletons and bio balls it had when I bought it. Just because the lady I bought it said that the LR (really dead coral) is established. The tank is crystal clear without a trace of anything so I highly doubt it. But I did find a tiny brittle inside a dead coral.

Im wondering if I take LR, LS and water directly from my established 55, put it in the nano would that create a mini cycle? Of could I transfer my livestock over?
I would get rid of the bio balls and put rubble down in that little area.
I really appreciate any input. I should know the answer to this question but I dont.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
The bacteria that cycle your tank live in LR, some substrate, filter media, etc. There is next to no aerobic bacteria in the water itself---so using water from an established tank will not cycle a tank.
 
handbanana

handbanana

Member
Thanks,
But Thats not what I ment, and I know.
Sorry,
I mean can I put LR,LS and water from my tank and just transfer all my livestock over to my nano?
The water is so the fish don't experence anymore stress than needed. Going from one set of params to another.
Thanks again.
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
I would take the bio balls out now if you plan to take them out. I would not put any live rock in that chamber, use it for Purigen - Cahmeipue Elite or other such chemical filtration.
If you take live rock from the 55 it will contain biofiltering bacteria. If you are going to have a sand bed I would suggest you purchase some dry aragonite, rinse it real well, add it to the tank. Then take a cup or two of the sand from you 55 trying to get just the top layer nothing from underneath and add it to the new tank.
At that point I would wait a week while doing a little ghost feeding and checking for ammonia and nitrates. If you don't see any ammonia spike then I would start adding critters slowly.
Doing the above should avoid any mini cycle and give you a well established biofilter.
 
handbanana

handbanana

Member
Many Thanks Spanko!
Would you take the bio balls out?
Ive read many different ideas for that section in the back. I like the purigen idea.
Any reason not to put LR back there?
My new plan is to buy about 30 lbs of new LR and a bag of aragonite and seed it with a little bit of crushed coral from my sump. I figure I should take a piece of the dead coral out for every new piece of LR i put in?
I hate coral skeletons is all and dont want them in the tank but have been told they are "established"
Can this be?
Thanks again whomever decides to respond...!
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
Originally Posted by Handbanana
http:///forum/post/3267547
Many Thanks Spanko!
Would you take the bio balls out?I would because I do not like the added maintenance of them.
Ive read many different ideas for that section in the back. I like the purigen idea.
Any reason not to put LR back there? Same as not having bio balls and that they would be even harder to maintain.
My new plan is to buy about 30 lbs of new LR and a bag of aragonite and seed it with a little bit of crushed coral from my sump. I figure I should take a piece of the dead coral out for every new piece of LR i put in? If you don't like it aesthetically, by all means.
I hate coral skeletons is all and dont want them in the tank but have been told they are "established"
Can this be? Yes it certainly can have a good population of bacteria colonized on it if it has been part of a setup.
Thanks again whomever decides to respond...!
You are welcome.
 
fishtaco

fishtaco

Active Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3267552
You are welcome.
Spanko, I have had LR in the first chamber of both my nano's for well over a year and have never taken it out, is that a bad thing? I occasionally take out a flashlight and look at it, but it seems very clean in there.
Fishtaco
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
I think you would be surprised at the amount of gunk at the bottom of the chambers. Don't get me wrong either of the methods are very good at doing what they do and that is to house nitrifying bacteria, which we know will convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. If you are removing the nitrates from your system then good for you. However more often than not folks will see a build up of nitrates that they cannot get a handle on and the bioballs and or rock in the chambers can be a source of the nitrates if not maintained.
This coupled with the relatively small amount of rock that can be put in the chamber leads me to my opinion that the space is better utilized by some chemical, mechanical filtration. To me leave the biofiltration to the hard surfaces of rocks, sand, glass, etc. etc in the display.
JMO>
 
fishtaco

fishtaco

Active Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3267566
I think you would be surprised at the amount of gunk at the bottom of the chambers. Don't get me wrong either of the methods are very good at doing what they do and that is to house nitrifying bacteria, which we know will convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. If you are removing the nitrates from your system then good for you. However more often than not folks will see a build up of nitrates that they cannot get a handle on and the bioballs and or rock in the chambers can be a source of the nitrates if not maintained.
This coupled with the relatively small amount of rock that can be put in the chamber leads me to my opinion that the space is better utilized by some chemical, mechanical filtration. To me leave the biofiltration to the hard surfaces of rocks, sand, glass, etc. etc in the display.
JMO>
Thanks for the input, if I start seeing a spike that I can't explain I will have an idea where to look.
Fishtaco
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Just a few thoughts, nitrifying bacteria live on exposed surfaces of your LR. There is not guarantee that your live rock houses nitrifying bacteria in the amounts to handle your bio load when transferred.[QUOTE ]I occasionally take out a flashlight and look at it [/QUOTE]Henry has been know to do this also but there also is a magnifying glass involved
 
handbanana

handbanana

Member
So, you took out the sponge between the skimmer center section and the return? Do you have any micro bubbles from the skimmer?
It appears I have a Grated "floor" in my inlet chamber that I cant remove. there is another inlet underneath it that takes water from the bottom of the tank. What can I do about this? It seems like wasted space underneath the grate.
And Ive been thinking about that as well Joe. Is there any way to determine if my bacteria can handle my Bioload when its in my nano? And how much LR should I have in a 12 gallon anyway? I thought maybe 30 lbs.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/3267587
Well looky there, I was wondering where that went!

The King of visuals is in the building
And Ive been thinking about that as well Joe. Is there any way to determine if my bacteria can handle my Bioload when its in my nano? And how much LR should I have in a 12 gallon anyway? I thought maybe 30 lbs
not at the home hobbyist level, just monitor and have a product like prime on hand and water ready for a water change
 
handbanana

handbanana

Member
Good stuff. thanks Joe.
And Spanko----> Nice illustration.
Funny story. the first biocube I saw set up was a 29 gal at my LFS. there was a very mature clown peeking out from the Min/Max water level indicaton window in the return chamber. No one in the store could get him out they said.
It was sad and funny at the same time.
Thanks everyone!
 
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