I want to set up, today, a 5.5 gallon tank I have as a QT tank. I have a filter (HOB), heater, 13w Actinic Catalina light and about a half inch of black/white sand (not live). I was going to add about 1/2 gallon of tank water, a scoop of live sand from my reef and fill the rest off w/ new saltwater. Will that work? Will it cycle? I need to get some frags in there ASAP. Suggestions? As my wife says "I'm working with a budget here people"...so I want to use existing equipment I have. Will this be enough to get those corals in tonite (after running about 8 hours or so)? The corals I want to move in there are: a large frag of Encrusting Gorgonian, GSP, Xenia, Misc. Zoas (to grow out), Pink Carnation frag, and some shrooms.

I also wanted to add a fish (Goby) to this at some point.....but am going with a shrimp and some inverts.

Thanks in advance. Derek

TTT

no live rock?

you can get your corals in today, i've done many 100% water changes during soft cycling of various tanks, as long as the water is well mixed, aerated and the corals acclimated, many hardy corals will do fine and look happy with fresh-mixed water...

but that's not gonna be a viable long-term setup, and it's gonna cycle. also, if there's no live rock you're going to have problems with that cycle in terms of nutrient processing - your hob wont do anything for denitrification, and your sandbed needs to mature. if it's just for QT for a few days it'll be ok though.