Gravel to aragonite theory

[backslashdot]

I had a thought this evening that I was curious about input.
Currently I have a course gravel in my 55g tank. It has been in for a couple of years and is established by the previous owner. In my previous posts, I have stated that I am converting to a fine crushed aragonite. There is no livestock as of yet.
THEORY:
Supposing I remove all of the gravel and put in my aragonite. Would it be beneficial to place some of this established gravel into a large tupperware bowl and sink this onto the surface of the aragonite? My thought is that the growth in the gravel will help turn the tank a bit quicker. What I don't know is if I SHOULD do this as opposed to cultivating a new fresh field of microorganisms or will my theory hold water (sorry for the bad pun) and assist in the cycling process? I would then remove the tupperware with the gravel still in it.
I am all ears!! Any ideas? Am I way off base? Should I quit and get a dog?
Thanks
-T

 

[thomas712]

It can be done as you say. Many in the past who have had substrate like crushed coral and switched to sand have used nylons to make balls of CC and place them in the tank to help seed it and not loose all of the bacteria base that they had. Just an idea
Thomas

 

[dreeves]

Sharpei's are cool dogs...

 

[ackermsb]

Im thinking of doing something very similar to my tank however there is fish in it and it is already established. Originally, I was going to remove about 1/4 to 1/3 of cc at a time and replace it with sand. Would it be possible if I removed all of the CC and replaced it with sand at one time and then put a bunch of nylon filled CC balls into the tank for a few weeks. It would be about 350-400lbs of southdown and 50-100 lbs of live sand.
Would this cause to big of a cycle for my fish? Or do I absolutley have to get them out of the tank while I cycle