Maybe a dumb question....

[RYOUNVS]

K... so months ago when I set up this 125 gallon tank, I didn't use RODI water. It went through it's cycle, and I've had fish and LR and corals in it.

I'm changing tanks now to my 100 gallon rimless with a sump.

My question is this: If I was to set up this new tank with brand new RODI water and salt, and take my liverock and fish and corals and put them into it... will it begin another cycle, or would I be fine?

If I can't do that, would I be best off running 2 aquariums for a while, setting up the new one with RODI water and some LR and letting it cycle?

 

[davesolo29]

how long have you been using ro/di for on this tank now?  I would think that with several water changes over the last few months you should be fine just to transfer most of the water from your current tank to the new one.  it will eventually work itself out.
besides that, all the impurities from the tap water would be in the live rock and substrate anyway.  so there really is no reason to start with just fresh rodi water

half new, half old is what i would do.

 

[TORX]

Moving the substrate is a big no no if you were planning on moving it as well. With all the crap that has worked its way down, you could poison your tank with the substrate that is not stirred.

I would just use the same water. New water will cycle again, you most likely will have a small cycle no matter what you do. Just the movement of rocks and new substrate will cause a mini cycle.

 

[davesolo29]

i have done both,, new substrate and "very well" rinsed substrate with no issues.  I agree with torx and would not just move substrate as is.

 

[RYOUNVS]

Ok, I like the idea of 50/50 fresh RODI and current water in it.

Torx, are you suggesting that I throw the substrate in the garbage and start fresh with the substrate?

 

[davesolo29]

He is. 
Personally,  I wouldnt.  I would take your 50% water that you plan on using out.  take your rock out.  and spend some time stirring the sand in the remaining 50% water.  Let it settle,  drain the water, fill it up a bit again with fresh rodi water,  stir/rinse again,  drain, repeat, and move to the new tank.

 

[Jewel]

I used to rinse the sand when ever I started a new tank but now it's new every time, Yes you can get all the fish crap rinsed but you won't get the Phosphate out of it. Anytime you move rock from one tank to another, You'll get a cycle and I would use 50 percent of the water.

 

[Jewel]

I know, I'm probably late with the answer but I also wanted to say there are no dumb questions. Often I'll read a thread from a Newbie and say oh ya I forgot all about that or it reminds us about something stupid we did.

 

[pulpfiction1]

jim is right,no dumb questions,only dumb results from not asking when in doubt

 

[RYOUNVS]

jim is right,no dumb questions,only dumb results from not asking when in doubt

Cool, thanks gents! I haven't 'moved in' yet. I'm still with my 125 tank. I have been super busy with work and haven't had the time to get the plumbing for sump done, and I still haven't got a protein skimmer yet. Ugh, I hate those things, pricey! And so many differing opinions on what to use.

Anyways, thanks again!