Tank Transfer Question

[Cliff]

Ok so here is a question for you guys.
I am setting up my new tank. I will going from my 135 to a 220. I have a foam/rock wall with about 100 lbs of rock in my 135 now. That wall will be transferred to the new tank hopefully; and all the current rock in my tank will be used either in the sump or in the display.
Now for the tricky part LOL I have about 80 pounds of dead rock that is going to be my main rock work in the new tank. I will cycle it and make it live in a separate tank for about a month and a half. Now what do you think will happen when I add that to my display? The rock will be cured but I am expecting a cycle. How bad of a cycle do you think it be? Here is a pic of the rock work I will b adding (it's only a rough prototype)

 

[Poseidon]

you'll get a cycle either way, it may be small but i definitely wouldn't put corals through it, i think i read in a different thread that you had all your stuff in your frag tank?
so you should be good to go to weather out a small cycle lol

 

[Kman]

The new rocks will be an eye sore for a few weeks as algae start to cover the rocks but after a few weeks they will start to match the other rocks. I would not bother cycling them in a separate tank as this is unnecessary extra work if they have not been previously used. As you already have plenty of rocks that are cycled i myself would just work them into the new rock structure. As the needed bacteria and food web will soon colonize the new rocks quite quickly. This is how I do it and have never had any issues. If the new rocks were say fresh live rock that needed to be cured then you would have to cycle them. Since the are dried base rock it doesn't need it.

With that being said were the base rocks used previously then dried? If so I would cycle them as they could still contain organics from the previous setup. If not no need to cycle in a separate tank.

 

[Kman]

How are you going to attach that rock structure that is in the pic? Are you going to use epoxy and super glue? I would keep the rocks cable-tied for at least a week after if you glue and epoxy to may sure it is cured properly. You might want to drill some small holes and use some acrylic or plastic dowels for added support. Once you add coral the weight starts to add up as they grow. That rock structure you have has lots of weak points that need to be shored up before you add weight. Check out this live framing link below for some ideas.

http://www.grsykes.com/pdf/Live-Framing.pdf

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Cliff]

Actually once it is together I am going to use epoxy and foam and then cover it with sand it will be extremely strong when I'm done but unfortunately it will mean I will have to add it as one big piece

 

[AdInfinitum]

The new rocks will be an eye sore for a few weeks as algae start to cover the rocks but after a few weeks they will start to match the other rocks. I would not bother cycling them in a separate tank as this is unnecessary extra work if they have not been previously used. As you already have plenty of rocks that are cycled i myself would just work them into the new rock structure. As the needed bacteria and food web will soon colonize the new rocks quite quickly. This is how I do it and have never had any issues. If the new rocks were say fresh live rock that needed to be cured then you would have to cycle them. Since the are dried base rock it doesn't need it.

With that being said were the base rocks used previously then dried? If so I would cycle them as they could still contain organics from the previous setup. If not no need to cycle in a separate tank.

+1

 

[Kman]

Actually once it is together I am going to use epoxy and foam and then cover it with sand it will be extremely strong when I'm done but unfortunately it will mean I will have to add it as one big piece

better then it being weak.