Instant Cycle - Switching tanks?
 

So I figured this week I would like to finally bring my new tank up to the living room and use it! Its been re-siliconed and looks good, and has now officially passed my leak test.

My current DT is 30ish gallons, new one is 65ish with sump. I really do NOT have the room to keep them both running at the same time. However I can keep the 30 running for a few days beside the 65 while it settles. I also have a canister attached to the 30 that I can transfer over to the 65 so it can share its bacteria (really no media inside it, its more of a pod fuge and some itty bitty bits of rock rubble) My goal is to be able to return it before my dates up on the receipt.

I will be adding more live rock to the system and using most of my current rock. I'm worried about getting a cycle from the new rock. Is there anything I can add that will instant cycle the tank? I have a few different bacteria type supplements. I know I should keep the rock cycling in its bin longer to avoid these questions and issues, but its a matter of space at this point, though if its the only option I guess I will have to.

Only fish in the 30 are a Azure Damsel, Grumpy female clown, and some type of algae eating blenny. My biggest concern is the blenny and not having enough for him to eat in the new tank (though hes super fat so hes probably got a fair reserve to live off...) And all my coral, the anemones, mostly lps, only sps are 3 types of monti.

So its not a far move, I will be using 100% new sand, but some rock from another source ( currently circulating with heater in a large bin in the basement ) I dont want my fish or coral to die. Never transfered tanks before, Help!

If you really want to be safe, I would pick up ProdiBio Startup; I've used the product and cannot say enough good things about it.

Many site sponsors supply it, as well as local fish stores carry it.

+1

+2 works like a dream.

Sounds like a pretty simple tank transfer to me. Only thing that might give you some greif is using 100% new sand. As for the rocks just put in one new rock per week until they're all in there and you should'nt have any cycle nor spikes at all. Theres alot of threads on tank transfers that you can search and all are very informative. Or if you want just put a bunch of chemicals in your tank that are not necessary. Good tip is to not put anything in your tank that you can not test for.

Just going to chime in here to educate the original poster rather than frighten them away with BS dogma.

Prodibio Startup is not synthetically & chemically derived; its comprised two different products in one package that Prodibio markets.

1.) Biodigest consisting of all natural cultures of bacteria in a concentrated suspension.

2.) Stop Ammo Start consisting of all natural plant extracts

http://www.prodibio.com/start-quickl...cal-filtration

Coasting, this is a completely safe product; don't let old school reefers frighten you away from advanced and safe products.

Ocean Aquatics in your area has this product in store.

Well nobody can talk me into using my old sand bed, might use a scoop or 2 to help things along but its deep and its grungy, I over feed so I know theres lots of nastys deep in the sand that I dont want to release.
Plus I still have a few new bags in the basement I bought as extras when I set up the 30....

I dont see the ProdiBio on J&L's site. Ocean Aquatics is a little way past farther then I want to go for anything.... Unless somebody from around the tri-cities is going and would pick some up for me and I can pay them back ;)

I have a bottle of Seachem stability and a full bottle of Instant Ocean Bio-Spira.

Some good advice here from the other posters, I would like to add that your on the right path using new sand versus reusing the old sand and disturbing the anaerobic culture leading to a tank crash. Recently I have tore down a few tanks and started a few new ones up. Even tho they have been bare bottom the tanks shared water and rock from existing systems and all o the newly set up tanks went through a cycle. You will mostdefinately experience an algae outbreak within the 2 week mark of moving tanks.

Don't be scared as this is natural, if I was you I would make sure the new system is fully operational and running with no leaks in the lines, sumps and plumbing. Run it with fresh first and when satisfied that it's safe for the move drain it and prepare to fill.

The obvious first step would be to rinse the new sand and have it in the tank before the move, you could use the freshwater fill and test to your advantage to save time and hassle.

The next step while the 65g is empty with new sand is to scape the rock work from existing set up and also the recently purchased rock in the bin. Putting all the rock in at the same time to me makes the most sense and would be the way I would do it.

Then the last step would be transferring the livestock and water into the new set 65g.

I would make sure to have a garbage can with new SW prepped aswell so that you can dilute and mix with the old tank water, essentially like doing a water change but instead of replacing...adding new water. Take your time to fill the system adding 5-10g every other day and slowly your system will be filled and running.

I hope what I wrote made sense as I was just balling the thoughts out, you never mentioned a skimmer in your new set up. Hope you have one!

Yes theres a skimmer!

The tanks actually sitting in the basement right now filled with Fresh water, I wanted to make sure my Silicone job was 100% before bringing the tank upstairs.

I was actually hoping to do what I did with the 30 and add my sand, add my water, then add salt and mix it in the tank itself. I dont have the space to house garbage bins full of salt water. Leave enough room for the rock of coarse, scape it, then leave the tank for a few days to settle then transfer everyone over.

I dont intend to add any new fish for bit, But I want to make sure these 3 make it through as well as all my coral and anemones. I know the clown and damsel are tough, they will both actually end up in my nano tank, but food supply for the blenny concerns me.

In my mind this is like setting up an initial tank so I do worry about the cycle and how you're supposed to wait then add your CUC then Wait then fish/coral.

I dont mind algae, its not like I dont have lots allready...

I was hoping some type of bacteria supplement would help things along and keep everyone safe.

What do you guys think of..
http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/zv...3+-+250ml.html
Or can you point out any other starter bacteria supplements J&L Has you would recoment, or will my Bio_spira/stability be okay?

Do I understand that you would like to migrate the contents of one tank into another including live stock immediately?

I.e. you do not have time to complete a full / mini cycle?