new tank questions = need help

[m1a1fixer]

I'm taking Dakar's suggestion and posting this question we have been PMing about. As some of you may know I'm planning on setting up a tank next month. I now have a source for established live sand, LR, clean up crew (50+snails, 30+ crab, and a couple of shrimp), a few corals and a couple fish ( a guy is down sizing). I was thinking about setting the tank up 1/2 full of new water, adding the sand, wait a few hours for the big stuff to stop snowing in the tank, adding the rock along with whatever water I can get from his tank. Would it be OK to add the other livestock after the water has mixed and heated back up or should I wait a while? The only concern I have is that it's an hour drive from his place (along with a couple hours to empty the tank), then a few hours to get the sand, rock and old tank water in the tank and up to temp, is that too long for the livestock to be out of the heated tank? Dakar was concerned that there maybe an ammonia spike with the established sand being dumped in the new tank. The sand is only about 9 month old with a descent sized clean up crew so I don't think that there should be too much crap in the sand. What do you guys think about this idea? any input is greatly appreciated.

[m1a1fixer]

Hey Dakar
As far as the ammonia spike goes, what if I used those ammonia absorbing rocks (in the sump) to take care of the spike. I haven't ever used them, but they would prevent, or buffer against, any rise in ammonia. Thus, reducing the stress on the livestock. What do you guys think? :?:

[dakar]

Think you missed my point, since your tank will not yet have been cycled, you will NEED the ammo to be present to begin the nitrogen cycle and start populating your tank with the beneficial bacteria, so there will be little in the tank when you transfer the LR and such in the only nitrifying bacteria that will exist in your system will be brought in, which by my guessing will not be enough to handle any die off AND the bio load you are looking to add at the same time. That's why I suggested to snag the LR while you can and fully cycle the tank properly before trying to populate it with livestock. Cycling the tank is always the hard part... it just needs the time to be done properly or you place your livestock in harms way.

If you truly have a month, then I'd say get the tank filled, get your sandbed in, toss in a couple pieces of LR and a raw shrimp and get the cycle started... maybe you can get lucky and it will be complete in time to add the rest of the LR and coral you have in that package deal.

[m1a1fixer]

Sorry, I wasn't think about that part of the equation. Unfortunately, I won't be able to set the tank up until mid May (when the girlfriend is on vacation). It's a suprise for when she gets back :mrgreen: I guess that means I have a month to figure out the details.