Trigger Happy
Reefing newb
I have read the information on cycling and on setting up new systems but find myself a little confused on a some specific decisions I am facing in regards my biological filtration.
My new tanks and sump should be set up within a couple of weeks I want to transfer my reef directly into the new reef tank.
Q 1: Live rock
I have about as much live rock as would fit in a large milk crate in the existing reef display and I have bought 6 kilos of live rock that is being maintained at my LFS and which I can transport with no more "out of water" time than moving it from their tank into salt water filled buckets and then into the tank here. If I keep the "out of water" time to an absolute minimum, like less than a few minutes, can I consider this rock live and not likely to cycle?
Q 2: Live Sand
This is where I really feel out of my depth. I currently have 7cm of deep sand bed that has been undisturbed for 12 months, but has all that live rock sitting on it. 12 months ago it got stirred somewhat when the tank was moved but at that time we didn't have a cycle bad enough to kill anything off.
The DSB will move to the sump but the reef will need some sand, right? Do I use the existing sand or new sand alone (and if so do I expect a cycle) or do I get new sand now and "seed it"? Do I use the existing DSB and transfer it to the sump or start that with new sand? Do I use egg crate under the rock in the display and put sand "around it" to eradicate those dead spots I've read about?
If I don't put any sand in to begin with but just live rock, can my clownfish, mandarins and blenny move with it? If I do that can I put in new sand later?
I have another alternative, I can QT them but that will just be water and I expect they would be quite unhappy.
Thank you for any help you can give me.
My new tanks and sump should be set up within a couple of weeks I want to transfer my reef directly into the new reef tank.
Q 1: Live rock
I have about as much live rock as would fit in a large milk crate in the existing reef display and I have bought 6 kilos of live rock that is being maintained at my LFS and which I can transport with no more "out of water" time than moving it from their tank into salt water filled buckets and then into the tank here. If I keep the "out of water" time to an absolute minimum, like less than a few minutes, can I consider this rock live and not likely to cycle?
Q 2: Live Sand
This is where I really feel out of my depth. I currently have 7cm of deep sand bed that has been undisturbed for 12 months, but has all that live rock sitting on it. 12 months ago it got stirred somewhat when the tank was moved but at that time we didn't have a cycle bad enough to kill anything off.
The DSB will move to the sump but the reef will need some sand, right? Do I use the existing sand or new sand alone (and if so do I expect a cycle) or do I get new sand now and "seed it"? Do I use the existing DSB and transfer it to the sump or start that with new sand? Do I use egg crate under the rock in the display and put sand "around it" to eradicate those dead spots I've read about?
If I don't put any sand in to begin with but just live rock, can my clownfish, mandarins and blenny move with it? If I do that can I put in new sand later?
I have another alternative, I can QT them but that will just be water and I expect they would be quite unhappy.
Thank you for any help you can give me.