tank cycling

[ams153]

if i were to add the water from a smaller tank to a tank about 50g's bigger with the fish and everything would my tank have to cycle all ver again and would it be a bad one for the fish?

 

[reeftank27]

how many gallons from the last tank are you using?

 

[jcrim]

The water doesn't matter. The bacteria lives in sand beds, liverock and filters. You can avoid a cycle by using "used" sand.

 

[mitzel]

yes iif your wanting to try to skip the cycle use the old filter and media and try to use the sand and live rock too.

 

[dme]

You will still find that your tank will go through a cycle period, not as long depending on the upgrade in gal, but nevertheless, you will have a cycle.

 

[mitzel]

Oh yea I agree. It just won't be as long or as drastic.

 

[ams153]

ok and i would be adding 50 new gallons water.. so you think for the most part the fish will be ok? b/c unless i put them in with my shark which wouldnt be good then i have nowhere else to put them.. and so if i used my old filter and protein skimmer at first.. i could just add my new one on later on? im actually thinking about getting a canister filter and using my old hang-on-back and the canister both.. not sure yet.

 

[ams153]

oh sorry one more question.. i know carbon is bad to run in filters.. but it comes with the canister filter i got.. is there anything i could run instead? or should i just not run anything in its place?

 

[jcrim]

Do you have an established sand bed and liverock? If so, just transfer them over. I did this when I upgraded with no problems and no noticeable ammonia/nitrite spikes.

 

[ams153]

well then ill give it a try and see what happens.. hopefully things go well!

 

[cartman101]

Originally Posted by jcrim
The water doesn't matter. The bacteria lives in sand beds, liverock and filters. You can avoid a cycle by using "used" sand.
You should of told me this 6 months ago