Transfering Fish

I am going to be transfering fish from their 46 gallon to the new 90 gallon. If I take 1/2 the water from the 46 and put it in the 90, will it cycle OK. Or, do I have to go thru the whole cycling process before I put them in there ?
And how long do I have to wait before putting them in there ?
I actually only have 2 fish, the rest are a sea urchin, yellow goby, a couple of sand diggers and snails and crabs. Oh, and a brown brittle starfish who keeps losing his legs.

Thanks....

 

are you using the same rock? I would use new water and let it cycle, since you have the 46 running.

there could be a few reasons why the star is losing it's legs. pH or salt fluctuations or high nitrates

 

It's a better idea to let the new one cycle if that's an option. If not, you can move the rock and water over in one day with minimal loss. You'll probably need new sand though.

 

Yes, I'm using the same rock. And buying new sand. How long does it usually take to cycle ? I'll get some green chromis.

 

If you're taking all the LR from your 46 and putting in your 90, I think with newly mixed saltwater, you'd be ok to move everything. That's a mighty small bioload, and you have enough "starter" bacteria on the LR to prevent any ammonia spike in the 90.

That's just an opinion. I think you'd be safe moving all the livestock, all the LR, mixing new water, and pouring new sand.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

 

I have 50 pounds of live rock in the 46 gallon. It's been running for about a year and a half now. I was going to put a couple of the rock in the refugium. Than buy more for the 90 gallon. I found this place that has rock with plants on them. I want some of them in the 90 gallon. Wonder if the fish will eat the plants.