Downgrading & Transfering

Hey everyone, I need some advice on transferring my systems. I'm downgrading from a 55 to something smaller like a 30g. I want to reuse my live sand and rock and place them in my new tank. Would this make my 30g kinda "fully cycled" or will I have to recycle it? Also, how do I get the sand out of my display? Would scooping it and adding it to my new tank cause an ammonia spike because of stirring?

 

It could cause an ammonia spike. But that wouldn't matter if it was cycling. The cycle would be significantly shortened if you used both live rock and sand.

 

How would I transfer my livestock? I'd like to break down the 55. Would I have to wait awhile for it to fully cycle again?

 

I think ideally, you would set the 30g up, use a combination of live sand from your 55g and some new sand. Then move most of your live rock and wait for a cycle. In the mean time leave a few peices of live rock (For coral to sit on etc) and replace the rest with just a lot of PVC pipe for fish to hide in etc. Then transfer all your fish and coral over to the 30g.

It would be way way easier than trying tear down and rebuild really quick.

 

You can soft cycle the tank.

As suggested I would get some newer sand, add the new sand take a cup full of the old sand (top layer) and seed the new sand.

Myself I would move all the rock over and corals with well prepared and mixed water.

Test for Ammonia and Nitrites as you would for a new tank during an initial cycle. Keep some freshly made up SW handy. Consider getting some Prime and or MB7 for worst case scenario.

IMHO the tank may have a slight mini cycle. I would not disturb the old sand bed, other than to take a cup to help establish the new tank. A 30 gallon tank does not take that much sand.

This is the way I have cycled many a nano.

 

+1 to all of the advice you've received. I reinforce the idea to get rid of the sand bed and start new with a small amount to seed.