changing filters

[moneywastedonfish]

hi due to filter malfunction i have two filters running in my tank, a small one and a new large one. Both filters have been running for about a week and a half.
Just purchased a new tank.

I was wondering if i take out enough water( from old tank) to fill my new tank and swap the small filter which has a good bacteria colony to the new tank will i need to do a cycle?

 

[Tolak]

Probably not, but I would let the new filter run in a bit longer. As long as the bioload in the new tank is no more than half of the tank you are running both filters on now you should be fine.

Tolak

 

[parker313]

It would help if you can get a bit of gravel from the old tank and use it in the new tank. If you don't want it in there permanently, put it in the toe of a pantyhose and set it on the bottom. That's basically like re-creating your larger tank. Then after a little while you can take your gravel pantyhose and put the gravel back in your other tank.

 

[moneywastedonfish]

thanx tolak, parker

good suggestions didnt even think about the gravel. That should help speed things up nicely.

 

[gixer]

one more thing..

the water is useless... i wont help at all..all water contains is waste.

 

[leanne]

I second that one - water contains very little bacteria and possibly a lot of waste. If you transfer as much gravel as you can and your small filter you can probably get away with stocking half the fish you orginally had. Alternatively you could just transfer it across and stock as much as you wish. If you monitor ammonia/nitrite/nitrate daily you can keep your levels safe by doing just water changes - it shouldn't take that long to mature your tank as you have a resonable amount of bacteria already... Just don't let your nitrites get to high as they inhibit the growth of nitrite converting bacteria.