Can I cycle LR, Sand with water in a seperate tank

[fishykid9212]

Hi, I have a 92G tank with cichlids. I bleached the rock and it's in the cichlid tank now. I'm going to convert it to salt. Can I move some of this rock with new live rock as well as sand in another tank (40G breeder) and throw some damsels and crabs in and then after a few weeks put it in the 92G. After I drain it of course. Then I'll add more salt water and will I be able to add fish a week or so after that? Will this work? Thanks

[benzreef]

How long has the rock been in the cichlid tank? Once it's dried, it should be OK. I've done this with a few rocks (lace rock) with no ill effects. Hold off on the fish for a few weeks to give the new rock time to reach an equilibrium with the established LR and LS. If it was just bleached and sat in the tank for less than a few weeks, it should be A-OK to use with saltwater, definitely give the addition of new fish a few weeks regardless.

[fishykid9212]

The live rock was bleached and has been in the cichlid tank for a little over a year

[lordofthereef]

In general, it is ill-advised to cycle with fish in the saltwater world. A small piece of live-rock and a chunk of seafood (people generally use table shrimp) does you just fine. If your idea is using seeded rock from the ciclid tank, that isn't going to work (as live rock). The bacteria is completely different and will all die in the saltwater, effectively just producing a large and sudden bioload. You can probably use the rock from the cichlid tank (not knowing more I don't want to say for sure), but the bacteria colonizing that rock will not be beneficial (but not to say detrimental).

[zigzag1]

Different bacteria from fresh to salt. And, I bet the rock would be loooooaded with phosphates. :)

[hollister]

There wouold be die off that would cause a re cycle. I would re dry the rock and rinse off before adding to the salt water tank.