Just "switched" tank size is there a half cycle?

[PJtree23]

Hey,

I had a 29g setup with a 10g sump running for about a year.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/Der_photo_file/photo.jpg

I had battled algae but won :celeb3: when I purchased a 4 stage RODI unit instead using tap water, yuk!


So anyway, I drilled and converted the 29g to a sump, and set up a 75g.

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/Der_photo_file/54a77d93.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/Der_photo_file/0ddcc00b.jpg

I used all of my old water and new marine water and sand. About two weeks into this I get a diatom bloom:

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/Der_photo_file/0241bfd7.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/Der_photo_file/eb2a570f.jpg

This is where it stands now and here are the water parameters:

Nitrite: 0.0
pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0.0
Nitrate: 7.5 ppm
Phosphate: 0.0
"Normal" alkalinity

Salinity: 1.023

So just wait it out or should I do a water change?

Light: 1 x 250W HQI Hamilton Belize Sun + 2x 23w T5 (actinic)
Photo period: 11 hrs

Thanks,

PJ

[cjrudy]

I will be doing the same thing upgrading from a 29g to a 90g, I have no advice but I will be watching this thread

Sent from my Android using Tapatalk

[thegrun]

You're not seeing a new cycle in the classic sense (I don't think you are seeing an ammonia or nitrite spike), but going through "new tank syndrome". As bacteria colonize the new sand and/or rock, you will see various bacteria and algae blooms just like a newly cycled tank.

[SoLiD]

You should also have an ammonia and nitrite spike.... aka mini cycle, be careful not to go too fast.

[Virtuoso]

You're not seeing a new cycle in the classic sense (I don't think you are seeing an ammonia or nitrite spike), but going through "new tank syndrome". As bacteria colonize the new sand and/or rock, you will see various bacteria and algae blooms just like a newly cycled tank.

I agree. As long as the rock was not out of the water long you should not see an ammonia / nitrite spike. That is just the algae taking advantage of the new nutrients on the new sand and live rock. I would think it would be a good idea to stock your tank like it is a 29g for a bit, though. Give the bacteria some time to grow.

[PJtree23]

Should I start a 7% water change?

[thegrun]

You should stay with your regular routine of water changes unless you see a spike in ammonia. As long as you follow Virtuoso's advice and hold off on new fish additions for a couple of weeks, I doubt there will be any spike in either ammonia or nitrites.

[sjwitt]

NICE upgrade. I wouldn't sweat the diatoms. As thegrun said, stick to your regular routine and keep an eye on your parameters. You must be really stoked about that upgrade huh?

I would be!! :)

[purge43]

11 hour photo period???? does that mean your mh light is on for 11 hours straight??? thats way too much. search for light cycle/period and see what others say.

[PJtree23]

11 hour photo period???? does that mean your mh light is on for 11 hours straight??? thats way too much. search for light cycle/period and see what others say.

I did, I am trying to grow my corals! I've gradually increased the photo period of the course of a few weeks.

[PJtree23]

Happy Holiday's Haha

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/Der_photo_file/3ac268b1.jpg

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/Der_photo_file/1f576cfd.jpg

Today I added my old 10 gallon sump as a tank for ato. Right now it has clean RODI water in it ~ 4 gal

PJ

[con999]

nononon wayyyy to long most ppl like me run theirs for 6 hours a day. u can start to bleach your corals

[PJtree23]

You should stay with your regular routine of water changes unless you see a spike in ammonia. As long as you follow Virtuoso's advice and hold off on new fish additions for a couple of weeks, I doubt there will be any spike in either ammonia or nitrites.

I will hold off on new inhabitants but what can I measure to be sure my tank is good to go?

[thegrun]

I did, I am trying to grow my corals! I've gradually increased the photo period of the course of a few weeks.

7 hours a day is the optimum photoperiod for your MH if you want maximum growth. You can keep the actinics on for 10-12 hours, but it is better to limit the MH to 6-7 hours.

[capecoral]

When you move rocks to a new tank don't parts of it die off (lack of flow, light) and make ammonia?

[PhilsAquatics]

just a newb but i would embrace the diatom bloom you just made a drastic change 29 to 75, 49 gal total to 104 total again just a newb but i think u had a complete new cycle and in only two weeks im suprised and as far as the ro water i think its great but i just had a diatom bloom in my newly cycled tank and i used tap water and my diatom bloom was no where near as visable as yours, and im not saying buy no means my water quality is or was as good as yours but what i am saying is that the diatom is usally the first sign of life in good water and i personaly have never seen a full cycle without a diatom bloom.
again just a newb.

[PhilsAquatics]

i would throw a cuc in its path or you can let it go away on its own but like all things that die off it will make good breeding grounds for cyno if you dont stay on top of water quality when its dieing off

[FearTheTerps]

the diatoms are most likely from adding new sand, which i assume you did switching to a larger tank. The sand will contain silicates which the diatoms consume, once all (most) of the silicates are consumed the diatom bloom will start to fade. Nothing to worry about, its just part of a new tank.

[PhilsAquatics]

the diatoms are most likely from adding new sand, which i assume you did switching to a larger tank. The sand will contain silicates which the diatoms consume, once all (most) of the silicates are consumed the diatom bloom will start to fade. Nothing to worry about, its just part of a new tank.

please explain more, dont want to hijack thread but my tank is bare bottom and i had diaton bloom on bottom glass as well as sides is there silicates there for them to feed ?

[b0bab0ey]

Just about every time I have moved an existing setup (rocks, sand, water, etc.) into another tank, something "bad" happens. A mini-cycle, algae issues, something dies, etc. The good news is it doesn't last long and eventually everything gets back to normal.

[PJtree23]

Okay updated parameters:

Nitrite: 0.0
pH: 8.0
Ammonia: 0.0
Nitrate: 40-80 ppm (spike!)
Phosphate: 0.0

"High" alkalinity 2.9-3.6

Salinity: 1.023

Is this a good sign? Algae has decreased, but I had to remove all of the fish for copper based treatment of ich.


Also what how does the removal of the fish effect the cycle?

Thanks,

PJ

for the click haha

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w214/Der_photo_file/CarreraGT.jpg