New sandbed but old rock/ cycle?

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I don't think sand needs very long to become repopulated with bacteria. After all, its very easy & open for the bacteria to move around and bacteria reproduce exponentially. Rock would take much longer, but a sand bed or crushed coral over a plenum should be faster.

Anthony

[Doug]

Originally Posted by MitchM

Plenum, eh?

I like it how sometimes the old becomes new again.
I think I last bought an ammonia kit in 1979.
After a while I find that patience and observation makes a great test kit.

Mitch

I think thats around when I owned one last also. I have wanted to set up a tank like this for years. Although my former attempt was ok, I have done several things different this time. I know of some long term systems still running, although much larger tanks than my 50g. Unfortunetely thats all I can get in my little office/fishroom, so 6in. of sand & plenum space and 12in. of tank. Guess my 4 bulb t-5 should light it up good.

I,m going to start a journal thread on it, so more detail there and how it progresses I guess.

Originally Posted by Skimmer King

Doug if you need some Salt water used come on over and get 15 gal of mine ...to help you out.. and some live sand too... from my refugium to seed it ok.

I may take you up on that offer bud.

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

I don't think sand needs very long to become repopulated with bacteria. After all, its very easy & open for the bacteria to move around and bacteria reproduce exponentially. Rock would take much longer, but a sand bed or crushed coral over a plenum should be faster.

Anthony

Thanks Anthony. I,m hoping it goes that way. I do have a worry about using older crushed coral but the price was right and I wanted at least a 5mm sized material for the first couple inches. Hoping that the good rinse and lots of Phosban will do the job.

Plus I going to be running the large SWC hang on skimmer thats rated for a much larger system.