New 120 - how soon to move livestock in?

[Fishhead89]

After a few months of aquisitions, I've finally got my 120 off the ground.

Measurements are 48 x 24 x 24, with a 35 gallon sump, and a 25 gallon fuge. Fuge coming soon) built into the wall. Hardest part of this whole thing has been cutting the hole in the wall bigger. On this one, I made the call the have the tank flush with the wall, not indented. It's looking SWEET!

Running an 8 bulb TEK (various lights), an octopus in line skimmer (rated for 300 gallons), Rock is all from my old 75 gallon system, and rock from Veron's old system. (probably 170 pounds of rock)

Been running for 1.5 days now, corals and fish are going to be moved in soon.. (going to do some water tests soon, but it's all looking good) Skimmer is still breaking in, but running my old TUNZE.. which is completely underated for this system. Figured I'd run both for a while.

I'm not sure what to expect in terms of cycling, as the rock is all old and well seasoned, I used 80% of the water from my old system.  Substrate is new, and old that was washed, with a bit of old unwashed thrown in.

What do you think.. should I move my livestock in soon? How long should I wait? (ultimately water tests will decide.)

Pics to follow.

[Vincenzo.]

u have 2 choices..

1) go all out and move everything one shot.... and keep doing heavy water changes, i mean heavy. like every 2-3 day.

2) wait it out for a month or so, then add slowly...and with decent water changes. every 5 days.

personally id go with option 1. but first and for most make sure parameters are flawless.

[Hookup]

As you say, ultimately water-tests will decide.

If I was to gamble... based upon your post... you'll not have much, if any, cycle.  You're using 100% cured and cycled rock... assuming there was no reason for die-off (like being left out of water for hours and hours on end, etc.. ) I do not see why it would cycle at all.  I'd give it a full 7 days, testing on days 2 4 and 7... I bet all tests will be 0ppm, and then I'd move everything over... well, i'd move 2 pieces I didn't like over and see what happened for the next week ...   then move the rest...

my moneys on no cycle time for you...   Though I bet you will get cynano's and diatoms on the new-sand...

[Fishhead89]

I did some tests - 0 nitrates.

I believe i'm good to go. Plus I have all of 4 fish going into this right now.

I'll keep you posted, and once done aquascaping will post pics.

Thanks too veron for the rock - picked up about 70 lbs off of  him, of some 6 yr old cultured DIY rock to add to the 100 pounds I had here.. it's going to look great!

[Hookup]

PIC's rule the world!

[Rybren]

Remember...

No pics = it didn't happen 

[Fishhead89]

from a photo from my Iphone.. haven't done the aquascaping yet, but there is probably 150-170 lbs of live rock in there.

[Fishhead89]

[Rybren]

Coming along nicely!

Remember to go slowly when adding bioload - give the system a chance to adjust before adding more.

[Hookup]

looks like a good start on a big system... looking forward to seeing the aquascaping when its done.

[Fishhead89]

Fish are added! This is now my TANG tank;

tangs - yellow, kole, powder blue, royal blue, pair of clowns,

[93GTCANADA]

Looks good. How come the heater is not in the sump ?

[Fishhead89]

its my first big system, and I'm nervous about having my main heater in my sump. I'll move it down eventually. I would have a secondary back up heater in the main tank anyways....

[Hookup]

its my first big system, and I'm nervous about having my main heater in my sump. I'll move it down eventually. I would have a secondary back up heater in the main tank anyways....

??

what's got you worried?

[Fishhead89]

Well.. i think it's a water flow thing.. I have a 120, a 25 tall refugium with a heater in it, and a 33 gallon sump with return pump.. It just makes sense to me to have the big heater in the big tank. I would have a little backup heater in the main tank regardless...