Cycling second tank..

[Voorhee]

I bought a used Rena xp2 filter for my 65gal cichlid tank.. my 75gal planted tank has a fluval 404 running it.. which would be better for my new non-planted tank? 65 with xp2 or 404.. (its going to be aggressive cichlid tank)

was wondering if i can connected it to my 75gal mature tank and let it run for a few weeks? would the bacteria build in the filter that way? also im running the powerhead 402 with quickfilter(nice and dirty) in the 75gal that will be transfering over =)

then set up my 65 and add 20% water from other tank and filter.. would that help? i also can grab a big rock from the mature tank and move it aswell..

just wonder my best course of action.. for a speedy cycle..

right now im doing aquascaping in the empty 65gal lol.. trying to get a somewhat natural feel..



any thoughts on this.. and is a few weeks enough for the filter to get bacteria??

Thank you all!!

 

[rvm]

Whenever I have set up a new tank, I make sure one of my existing filters has plenty of biomedia in, then when I get the new tank, I just transfer a load of biomedia into the new filter along with some new bio, and mechanical filter media, and replace what I've taken out of the old filter with new. I then add fish the day I set up the tank (with all new water there is not a great deal of benefit to adding water from the old tank!!) and I've never lost a fish like this.
I have had a mini cycle on one tank that I set up like this, but it was very minor and didn't cause any problems.
As for the filter to use. If you're going with Cichlids, either one of those filters will do a 65g on their own, but I would add a second filter if you can afford it, another XP2 or eheim equivalent would be ideal!

 

[smithrc]

as above.

I run a filter in an existing tank for a few weeks (if time is that nice to me)
or i swap some media from established filters and put in the new filter and off I go.

 

[Voorhee]

ok this is what i did..

i set up 65gal..

added rocks, powerhead 402 and quickfilter and added 1 full tray of bio-max rings from fluval 404 from my 75gal to my new xp2 filter.. i hope that speeds up the cycle lol..

i want my fishies!!

 

[Voorhee]

well i did all i said i would.. add added 3 giant danios from my 75gal tank to it.. and poof day 2.. .3-.6 ammonia..

i guess it needs to cycle again

i wonder if it will be faster now tho..

 

[smithrc]

ah...

if its done that - you'll have to start over.

it might be faster - either that or the good bacteria died.

did you leave teh system running without anything in the tank for a while?

 

[NickT]

cold water can kill the bactria on the mature filter media so use your heater in the new tank till it hits the temp you want.... also a nylon stcoing with mature gravel can help the process... dont expect it to fully cycle your aquarium but it does make the cycle faster.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I just take foam from an old filter and put it in the new. Fill up half with old water, half with new and add fish straight away.

 

[JustinSane]

I just take foam from an old filter and put it in the new. Fill up half with old water, half with new and add fish straight away.

Um, the nitrfication bacteria are sessile, meaning that they live attached to various different surfaces; the filter media, substrate, rocks, plants etc. Very small amounts of them can be found floating free in the water. So cycling it really won't help, but using the old water to some extent may prevent stress caused by a too fast change in the water parameters.

So if you really want to kickstart a new tank without long cycling, you throw in as much decor from the old tank as possible. The more total area it's got, the better. (filter media & substrate being the best because they are so porous, offering lots of growth space for the bacteria)

 

[Voorhee]

like i said.. I grabbed a hole tray of bio-max rings from my Fluval and moved it to the new filter.. ans well i grabbed 2 cubs of gravel and spread most of it around the intake nozzel of filter.. i added rocks from old tank to new tank.. big rocks too..
i also added Java moss.. from older tank..

i guess i have to start all over... will pull out danios and do fishless..

oh well lol..

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Um, the nitrfication bacteria are sessile, meaning that they live attached to various different surfaces; the filter media, substrate, rocks, plants etc. Very small amounts of them can be found floating free in the water. So cycling it really won't help, but using the old water to some extent may prevent stress caused by a too fast change in the water parameters.

Um, I don't know if you noticed but I said I take filter foam from an old filter? I know that old water does not aid cycling but I am not cycling when I do that (as it's the filter that cycles, not the water), it is only for acclimitisation.