cycle? yes or no

[eSoteric]

Im sure many of you read my post about my brothers tank splitting, im wondering if today when i move his sand bed from the old tank to the new tank if it will casue a spike. I have to put his corals back in there (since im keeping the halides off on my tank so i dont kill his corals which are used to 3x65w PC). his fish will hang in the fuge till there readsy to return. anyhow. cycle..yay or nah?

 

[Mini4x]

Won't it stir up all sorts of nasties?

From my understanding won't you be better off using new sand and just seeding it with some of the old stuff?

I lost a fish during a recent tank move and the general consensus was it was because I disturbed the sand too much and released stuff out of the sandbed that was nasty for my fishies..

I am more asking than telling, trying to educate myself too.

 

[ReeferMedic]

I would take the oppurtunity to change the sand. Old sand has the tendency to cause problems with nitrates, phosphates, and other nasties. IME at least........

 

[~Flighty~]

Definately go with new sand.

 

[eSoteric]

sand is less than 2 months old. he already owes the store 300$ , plus proably another 150 after today. since he has to buy a new 55. so buying new sand isnt in the cards im afriad. i should have mentioned the sand wasnt that old. wonder if that helps

 

[~Flighty~]

You can try it, but I bet you'll get an amonia spike from the sand critters that die in the sand when you move it. I don't think enough nasties would have developed in three months to throw it out, but watch out for a bad rotten egg smell

 

[ScottM]

take it out in layers then replace it the same way you took it out. i use rubbermaids to seperate the layers.
i use a seperate container for each ~1- 1 1/2" inches. the less you mix it/stir it, the better.
i have moved several tanks and had minimal issues doing it this way.

also be cautious about using chemical additives for removing excess amonia. I am not clear how to remove the chemical once the amonia binds to it, other than large water changes; but they do work.
IMO using chemicals to rush into things and solve water problems is always a recepie for disaster.

 

[SteveDola]

id buy a bottle of fritz turbo start to make sure. It works great and you'll have minimal ammonia spike. its like 14$ for a small bottle and ask Mark from fishy business...he'll tell ya that stuff is like gold when you have to move tanks and do quick setups.

http://www.fritzpet.com/turbostartmain.html

 

[eSoteric]

cool. thanks for the advice. Its just a shame i have to put his softies back in there...actually, they would be ok under 40watts of lights in the fuge for a few days right?

he has shrooms,zoa's,green tree,sinularia,glove and star polyps. what ya think fuge it and just put the LR and sand back into the new tank with all his water, toss the mag on it and wait to see?

 

[ScottM]

josh,
if you need it, there are the dual 175's at the store on the fuge in the sump room.
your welcome to borrow them if you need to. just let joe know.

 

[eSoteric]

thats the thing, they dont need halide. my brothers tank is softies, under 3x65w pc. I have my MH off today so i dont burn them. I was wondering if i put them in the fuge for a few days if they will be ok, i have 2 20w t12 over it.

but thanks for the offer. the 300 is really starting to look good to!

 

[ScottM]

thats the thing, they dont need halide. my brothers tank is softies, under 3x65w pc. I have my MH off today so i dont burn them. I was wondering if i put them in the fuge for a few days if they will be ok, i have 2 20w t12 over it.

but thanks for the offer. the 300 is really starting to look good to!

there is also a 36" strip light and t5's back there if you wanted to add more light.

but they will be fine for a day or 2 in the fuge. it would be ideal if you could match the light output to reduce stress.

 

[eSoteric]

perhaps ill take the t5's if thats ok with you.

 

[ScottM]

cool; just let joe know.

 

[eSoteric]

will do. he is coming buy to drill the drain in the new 55.

 

[eSoteric]

wow, NO cycle at all! tank went back up last night. was clear this morning, we put his LR back in and there were a few smaller tree frags on one rock, they have all opened back up

only snag we hit was when we felt the water this morning it was rather cold. then it danwed on me that the heater is in the sump, and his tank wasnt running off the sump yet until i was sure we had no spikes. haha. so im heating the water back up and will be opening his tank back up to the system! I moved the sand just like you sggest scott. worked dam well id have to say! thanks.

 

[ScottM]

wow, NO cycle at all! tank went back up last night. was clear this morning, we put his LR back in and there were a few smaller tree frags on one rock, they have all opened back up

only snag we hit was when we felt the water this morning it was rather cold. then it danwed on me that the heater is in the sump, and his tank wasnt running off the sump yet until i was sure we had no spikes. haha. so im heating the water back up and will be opening his tank back up to the system! I moved the sand just like you sggest scott. worked dam well id have to say! thanks.

hey, and you didn't have to buy new sand.
NICE.

Speaking of sand, does the store have the caribsea sand that doesn't cloud in stock? i need to add some to a full tank....