5.5gal AIO Pico Reef

[Eddiecorrea]

So over the past few days I have been building a 5.5gal AIO Pico Reef. You can see the tank I based it on here. So I finally got it filled with sand, water and LR last night. I took all the sand, water, and rock from my 55 gallon reef that has been up for 9 months or so.

I'm just wondering what you guys think about the cycle. I have tested and I dont show any traces of anything right now. And I dont think I will. Do you guys think it will cycle or will I totally skip it because I used everything from an established tank? Just curious what you guys and gals think.

 

[Fishieness]

You may get a nitrate spike, as most of the bacteria that oxidizes nitrogen live in the sand bed, and disturbing it can often kill it, but nothing serious. You probably wont get any ammonia. I have to move my tank every few months back and forth to school and I usually don't get anything more than a few nitrates, and your "move" was much quicker, minus the disturbing of the sandbed.

 

[Eddiecorrea]

Ah so you must be a teacher. Thats cool.

Ya it literally went through the suction hose straight into the 5.5 AIO. Then I grabbed the rock and had it out of the water for at most 5 seconds. Althought the crappy heater I bought at Wal-Mart is not working for anything. It says the preset is 80 but its at like 75 degrees. Not super cold and wont hurt anything but Im gonna go pickup a Visi-Therm Stealth tomorrow. How long do you think I should wait to put stuff it in? I only want a Cleaner Shrimp and a Clown Goby. And then a bunch of softies and the like. But the coral cant go in until I get my new light which should be next Friday.

 

[Fishieness]

Ah so you must be a teacher. Thats cool.

Student. But good guess
I would wait a week just to be on the safe side. I am pretty confident that nothing bad will happen if that is the case, but a week or two should be enough to play it safe. Just test everything and make sure things are steady and aren't going downhill.

 

[Eddiecorrea]

Ya I will wait a week. Unless they happen to have a Clown Goby at the LFS. Which would be very unlikely. Or if they have something amazing at Petco when I am getting a new heater. Which again will be unlikely. Although they do get good stuff sometimes.

 

[newportjon]

Let's see some pics, Eddie!