cycling question

[ken2588]

hey guys, i recently set up a new 20 gallon fish tank with a 20 gallon sump/refugium (also with a 2Inch sandbed). The thing is, I cycled the rocks in a garbage can and some were from my established tank.
Do i still need to go through the cycling process inside the 20 gallon fish tank?

 

[ken2588]

anyone?

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by ken2588
http:///forum/post/3292609
anyone?

Yes. The purpose of cycling a tank is make sure there is enough of the good bacteria to break down the ammonia critters give off. That is why folks use a fish (not nice) or frozen shrimp (best way) to get things going.

 

[ken2588]

can i use the water in my garbage can to cycle the tank? Its all nitrate in there.

 

[meowzer]

UM....if the rock is cured....which cycling it in the trash can should have done....then IMO....you should be able to put it right in the tank with no issues
I am guessing you already have the sand and sw in the 20G

......add the rock....let it circulate for a day...and test...
I would not use the water from the trash can

 

[ken2588]

thanks meowzer, the thing is, my 20gallon fish tank isnt cycled. But i have added a sandbed and a few rocks from my established aquarium in it. Do i still have to cycle my 20 gallon fish tank? if yes, can i just dump in the water from my trash can thats full of nitrate and no ammonia or nitrite? or would my cured rock have enough beneficial bacteria already?

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by ken2588
http:///forum/post/3292648
can i use the water in my garbage can to cycle the tank? Its all nitrate in there.
No, nitrate is the last part of the cycle, you still need a colony of good bacteria, very little good bacteria is in the water itself. Good bacteria is formed on the sand, the rocks and filter pads. The colony only matches the bio-load, with no fish or frozen shrimp for the colony to feed on and grow, nothing much can happen.
This why you only add one critter at a time, it gives the system time to catch up to the now extra critters waste to deal with and break it down to harmless nitrate.

 

[ken2588]

thanks flower. So i should take my yellow tang, and two corals out and recycle the tank?

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by ken2588
http:///forum/post/3292668
thanks flower. So i should take my yellow tang, and two corals out and recycle the tank?

I am sure this is a joke

 

[ken2588]

LOL NO IT ISNT MEOWZER!! what should i dO!! i have fish and corals in there already!

 

[meowzer]

Originally Posted by ken2588
http:///forum/post/3292686
LOL NO IT ISNT MEOWZER!! what should i dO!! i have fish and corals in there already!
A tang????? in a 20G??????
If that is the truth...then GET IT OUT.....
If you cycled the rock in a trash can...it should be okay......BUT GET THE TANG OUT

 

[dc2mlbsm]

take them out
P.S. Tangs don't belong in a 20g (I would know I have a 20g)

 

[flower]

I am answering three people on cycling..So be nice..If you have an established tank..Why ask such a basic question??? You know how to cycle a tank and know if it is cycled already.
Any NEW set up must go through everything for a new system. Unless everything, the sand, rock, and filters are from the established tank. If it is from an established tank, I would use one half new saltwater and one half old water from the first tank or can as the case may be.

 

[ken2588]

THANKS everyoone. The tang is still very small. I didn't want to put it into my 200 gallon tank yet, it might get attacked by the other agressive fishes.