SW tank new setup

Question
hi there got a few questions about my setup...
I have a 20 gal tank with 30lbs of LR that has been in my setup since Feb5. I am now starting to get green hair algae forming on my rocks, I got some seachem phosphate remover and now my levels or very low but it still seems to be growing...My levels are
0 free NH3
0.15 total NH3
0 Nitrites (doesnt change colour at all when I add test drops
15 Nitrate

Now I just got another 50 gal setup and just mixed the salt and just added 40lbs of Caribsea live sand.

What I want to do is move the LR from the 20gal to the 50 then use the 20 as a spare tank.

Tank is still really cloudy since I added live sand
Will I be alright to move the LR to the new tank?

Also not really sure if I'm done cycling or not, think I still havent had any spikes yet and I believe the LR was cured (was from a local pet shop in town, he gave me a slimy green piece of LR too said would start my cyling)

Thanks for helpin in advance

Jeff the noob  

Answer
Hey Jeff the NOOB.  (heheh, i envision a group of guys all yelling back at the same time, 'Hi Jeff'!)  heheh

Thanks for asking these questions.  I think it is important to 'clarify' the term and need for 'cycling' a tank. To address your question first... Yes, it is okay to move your rock over to the new tank...


It is important to understand for this discussion and in most cases in reefing discussions, 'cycling a tank', or just plain 'cycle' is important and I appreciate your trying to think this through, but, a cycle is not a something, it is a process, or a period of time.

this means, that now that you are cycling, things are happening.

It is important to understand what is happening and why, as this will happen everytime you add, subtract or change things in your aquarium/system.  The process is important as it is the key to how 'reefers' think of our FILTER.  WE call it a 'biological filter' or biological filtration.

The filter/filtration is not the rock, or the sand.  It is what is in and around the rock and sand.  It is the microbes and THIER process of digesting/converting 'nutrients' / detritus.

When we start a tank, there isn't enough biology to support much, so the fish would be excreting and processing more waste then the biology can handle.  This waste would turn into ammonia and would be like swimming in a toilet bowl that doesn't flush.

If you have the correct amount of microbes and animal life in the rock and sand, the waste and left over food stuff will get processed into nitrates and we would handle the nitrates by diluting the water with 'Water Changes'.  Now it's like swimming in the toilet bowl but letting some fresh water in frequently enough to not let us choke.

But, whenever we change things, maybe subtract the amount of fish/bioload, then we have too much biological life, and they wont have enough to digest and will starve, and in the process put decay / detritus and not so good things back into the water, *which would feed the remaining biological life, and there is the 'cycle'.

Back and forth.

But, like a pendulum, the cycle gets smaller/gentler, and eventually settles down to something 'stable', hopefully.


In your situation, you have basically stored rock in the smaller tank for a period of time, maybe the tank has fully cycled, but without a bioload, no fish, the rock isn't fully ready to maintain life.  If you are going to move the rock you will stir up some detritus or decay, and the new tank, may cycle again.

I would suggest performing nitrite tests for one week, and see if you get a rise/elevated levels.  I would also check ammonia levels.  I would not bother with phosphates for a while.

IT is normal to get some algae blooms and such when setting up a tank during the first year.

After moving the rock, and after you have zero nitrites an zero ammonia, i would start, slowly adding fish, and letting the biological filter build up. Continue adding things slowly, (every two weeks or slower).

During this time I would recommend testing for ammonia and nitrates.  If you get ammonia, stop adding stuff. and wait till zero ammonia and then wait another month. then try again.


Please let us know how things work out for you, and if you have any questions about what we discussed here.


Good luck



Mr. Bill