Starting a new tank from an old one

[nordy]

I want to set up a new very small tank in the office at my new job and have a question about getting it started and cycled-would it work to use some LR, sand, and water from my long established 55gal reef tank to "seed" the new tank? I am thinking of doing something like a 10 gal nano tank and could bring some LR, sand, and all the water (using water pulled from my 55 gal during a weekly change) I would need to the new tank (only a 5 minute drive from my house) and then start it up. After temps get stabilized I would then start with maybe one small fish and a few snails and hermits and then add a few corals when it has been going for awhile.
Please share your thoughts on this plan
Thanks!
John

 

[blaze98]

I set up a 10 gallon nano in my office. First I set up the tank and added new sand. I then used about 8 gallons of water from my 75 and added that to the tank. I waited a few days and added about 20 lbs of lr from my main tank. I threw some mysis in for a couple of days and tested for 2 weeks, no ammonia spike whatsoever. I just started to add some corals now that things have been running for a while. I have a clown goby, a small clown and 2 hermit crabs in there.

 

[nordy]

Thanks for the reply. Sounds like what I am planning on doing-taking advantage of an established tank so the cycle can be pretty much eliminated. I am going to bring some sand as well when I set up the new tank.
It will give me a chance to do some aquascaping in my 55, transfer some inhabitants, and get some new corals.

 

[prk543]

another good way is to run the filter media for your new tank in your new tank. So if you have a hang on filter for your new nano, run it on your 55 for a few days, it will give a chance for some of the beneficial bacteria to form in the filter.

 

[nordy]

The new tank has a built in filter system (actually I haven't even opened up the box yet!) but running the new tank with the good water and LR from my 55 gal tank should do the same thing. I will open the box tomorrow and will see if I can place the new filter media in my sump for a few days until I can get the new tank and stand assembled and ready to go in a few days.