new tank cycle

[angelgirl]

I recently moved across the U.S. I took my live rock and sand in buckets it has taken me about a month to set up my 50 gallon tank again. I have a plenium with a DSB, I am sure that I have quite abit of die-off. I have not cycled a tank in quite afew years, since the old damsel days, I am trying to cycle it with the sand and rock and am wondering if anyone knows about how long I can expect this to take. It has been alittle over a week and I am begining to get a diatom bloom, but no rise in ammonia yet. I am also looking for any and all suggestions, since I have never attempted to cycle a tank this way...
Thanks
Angelgirl

 

[fixitdude2001]

Hi, If everything has been in buckets for a month ,I believe its not in tempature controled water with current correct? if its in dry buckets all will be dead . The only way I can see you rejuvinating the LR and LS would be to seed it . At least 10% live sand with your rinsed now dead sand. As for the LR you will need wich is now just rock will have to be seeded with actuall LR. I am not sure what you have but this is what I am thinking is the case....fixit

 

[angelgirl]

Originally posted by fixitdude2001:
<STRONG>Hi, If everything has been in buckets for a month ,I believe its not in tempature controled water with current correct? if its in dry buckets all will be dead . The only way I can see you rejuvinating the LR and LS would be to seed it . At least 10% live sand with your rinsed now dead sand. As for the LR you will need wich is now just rock will have to be seeded with actuall LR. I am not sure what you have but this is what I am thinking is the case....fixit</STRONG>
sorry to confuse you I moved everything in buckets with the water from my tank.
Angelgirl

 

[fixitdude2001]

Well I am still confused. Moveing the sand and live rock with the tank water is a great way of doing it but what confused me was that you said it has taken a month to set it up. Has it been up and running all this time or has it been siting in your tank water in buckets? ..fixit

 

[mr . salty]

Chanses are pretty good that the bacteria in the rock and sand is still alive.Therefore you may not see a cycle at all.You should try putting a large piece of fresh(cocktail type)shrimp in there and watch for ammonia.I would think that if there was a significant dieoff from the move you would be seeing massive ammonia after a week...Maybe you got lucky...Stranger things have happened...

 

[angelgirl]

Originally posted by fixitdude2001:
<STRONG>Well I am still confused. Moveing the sand and live rock with the tank water is a great way of doing it but what confused me was that you said it has taken a month to set it up. Has it been up and running all this time or has it been siting in your tank water in buckets? ..fixit </STRONG>
When I moved i took large rubbermade buckets then I put my sand and rock into them, then I covered everything with old salt water. The move took us 6 days, then I just put the buckets on the back porch until I could get to my aquarium, this took about a month, I had other boxes to unpack first. I just kept topping off the water and stiring everything around, until I could get my aquarium back together.
Thanks for the help
Angelgirl

 

[clowning around]

hey old yeller...I see that clown tang you have in that picture...have you had any luck with those beauties...not for nothin' I had one and it got attacked by one of my larger hermits...???

 

[angelgirl]

Originally posted by Old Yeller Tang:
<STRONG>Hi Angelgirl, nice to see you here again. Chances are you might still have some life in them. Did you have a powerhead in your buckets to keep circulating the water? Remember, I too had lr and ls in buckets for well over a month and had no cycle when I set up my 200g. Since you've gone a month without your tank, I'm sure you can wait another week to see where the levels are then just to make sure. Obtw, remember this guy?

</STRONG>
Hi Old Yeller, thanks for the help I started a powerhead when we got here, but had nothing for almost a week before we got here, but I do know there is some life left atleast in my sand i noticed last night that i have some worm holes in the new sand that I put in the middle of my LS. Thanks for the pic I see Cosmo (yes I name my fish) looks as fat and healthy as ever.
Thanks again, looking forward to talking later
Angelgirl

 

[angels_bubbles]

Hi there Sis,
Cool pic of Cosmo. Hey, isn't that "Bubbles" chasing right behind? Glad they are happy in their new home. null