Can I cycle a tank without a return pump

Like dumb@!@! I sold my tank and didn't completely setup the new tank. The few fish that I kept I put them in my office tank, which is too small long term.

The new tank has a sump but no return pump and a couple of vortechs for circulation. The temporary tank has the return pump I plan on using.

Is it possible to cycle a tank like this?

 

With only the Vortechs I would seed the tank with bacteria if you have the live sand and live rock already in there. Or you can use the temporary tank and transfer the rock and water into the new tank and use the temporary return pump until you get the proper pump. I suggest you transfer the fish slowly over depending on what size is the new tank to the temporary tank you have now.

 

Brilliant! I can transfer of the rocks and sand to the new tank. Thank you for the great idea. Once ammonia reaches zero I will transfer one fish at a time.

 

But do it every two weeks. You don't want the bio load to fail on you and stress or worse case loose your fish.

 

Thank you, I will.

 

I don't see a problem either way. To get things moving, I've often set up tanks before the sump was ready. Just put all the rocks and everything in it, and fill it up lower than the overflow... If your rocks and sand are in the display, then there is nothing in the sump that will cycle anyways.

 

+1 to this