On the road again

[spacemonkey]

well, i got a job in a different city and looks like i'm going to have to move. I'm thinking of setting up a new tank at my new place and leaving my tank with my roomates until it's ready. My question is... the city i'm moving to (back to my hometown actually) is right on the bay of fundy, eastern seaboard. I was wondering if i just went down to one of the beaches, could i fill my tank with that water and would it be cycled and ready to put fish in once it reached temp? it would make the move a lot easier for me if i didn't have to set up and cycle another tank cause if i do i have to buy a new filter and the works... just a thought... i might be crazy... but genius borders on insanity! tks

 

[tangman99]

In short, No. The water is not what makes a tank cycled. It is the presence of bacteria that breaks down waste. This bacteria needs to form on some medium such as bioballs, live rock, etc. The collection of ocean water will not do anything but give you tank water. Sorry.

 

[spacemonkey]

so.... your saying i'm crazy?? lol, just a thought, well, i've still got some planning to do, but thats one question i've put to rest. I'll just have to do it the old fashioned way with... yuck... patience!
thanks for the reply.

 

[jarvis]

How much live stock are you moving?

 

[spacemonkey]

well, i have
1 gold striped maroon clownfish
1 blue damsel
1 coral beauty
1 blood red shrimp
1 skunk cleaner shrimp
8 snails
6 or 7 hermit crabs
1 feather duster
4 anenomes
60 lbs of live rock
i think thats it

 

[lionstorm]

in my saltwater book I have they only recommend collecting sea water if you have a boat and can get it from out in the ocean AWAY from the polluted beaches. And TangMan is right, it is the bacteria you want to preserve and that cycles a tank...not the water.
I moved a 75 gallon that was previously set up a few months ago. We saved all the water and didnt rinse the live rock or crushed coral, set it up in my house, and it went through a mini cycle and now its doing great. HTH
(but that's a lot of water so make sure if you do this you bring a LOT of containers as we couldn't save all the water.)

 

[spacemonkey]

Yeah, I was concerned with the pollution as well, Saint John is a heavy industrial city, and i doubt in some way or form the bay is not affected by that. I think i'll just bottle as much of the water as possible, and try and move as quick as possible. hopefully none of the boys go belly up... thanks for your reply