How To Cycle A New Tank With Material From Existing Tank

[TommyCalifornia]

Hello,

I have been running two 10G freshwater tanks for over a year now. I just bought a new 30G long, to replace one of the 10G that is currently stocked with neon tetras, red minors, and skunk corys. The new 30G long has all new parts, including plants, and gravel. What is the best method to cycle it, and move all the fish from the 10G over to the new one?

Can I use some of the existing 10G water/gravel to speed up the cycling?

Thanks, Tommy

 

[afishdude]

no, move the filter over to the new one.

you cycle the filter not the tank.

1% of the good bacteria lives in the gravel.

 

[rdd1952]

Since you probably have a new filter for the new tank, simply put the media from your existing filter into the new tank rather than moving the old filter. It would be instantly cycled for the fish currently in the 10 gallon. There isn't any benificial bacteria to speak of in the gravel unless you have an under gravel filter. Probably not even .5%. And none in the water either.

Moving the water may not be a bad idea though s you could move it over along with the fish and then simply top off the tank as long as your tap pH and tank pH are within about .5 of each other. Otherwise, you may have to spend some time acclimating the fish to the new water. If you do a 50% WC the day before you move the fish, there shouldn't be that big a difference between and you should be able to just top off the tank.

 

[sfromsf]

don't mean to hi-jack this thread but..

if you wanted to add a new tank AND keep an existing tank going as well, what is the best way to cycle the new tank using media from the old, without having to recycle the old on as well?

 

[stiffler69]

Squeeze the sponge onto the new one instant bacteria transfer however it will still need a short cycle

 

[Inchworm]

Squeeze the sponge onto the new one instant bacteria transfer however it will still need a short cycle

That might add a few bacteria but most of them are clinging to the media itself. It would be much better to transfer the entire media from your old filter to the new one. Don't rinse or clean it at this time. It will continue to support the same fish it does in your old tank. Just give it a couple of weeks to settle before adding any new fish and test your water to be on the safe side.

There is some beneficial bacteria in the gravel but not very much. Most of it is found in the top 3/4" or so where it gets the most water circulation. If you plan to reuse it, you might as well clean it before adding it to the new tank. There is hardly any free floating bacteria in the water itself, but I like to fill 1/4 to 1/3 of the new tank with old water because it seems to reduce the number of air bubbles that form when setting one up.

This process is known as "cloning" a tank.

_____

if you wanted to add a new tank AND keep an existing tank going as well, what is the best way to cycle the new tank using media from the old, without having to recycle the old on as well?

Hi sfromsf

I would move part of the filter media and keep part in the old tank. Then I'd move a proportionate number of fish. After a week or so both tanks will be ready for you to gradually add a few more fish at a time. The bacteria will increase in numbers to support the stock, but take your time and test the water as you go along, just to be sure.

 

[biensurmacherie]

Hi,

I'm trying to do the same thing. We had a big accident and the old tank is cracked. The old filter is under-gravel and we just want to transfer the entire thing to the new tank (can't afford new equipment!) as it works well. The only thing I'm worried about is whether the old filter will be useful since it's been dry for 2-3 days. As I said, the old tank cracked so there is no water on the old filter right now. It's all switched off, obviously, but will it drying out kill the bacteria? The old gravel is still on top of it and may still be damp.

Also, how long should I wait for the tank to cycle to add my fish, if I use the old filter?

I was going to put my blue gourami and molly in first, follow them with my silver shark, then my scissortail and harlequin rasboras. If you can advise on timing that'd be great. They're in a very much less-than-ideal tank now, which is small, has no heater and I really just want them out of it as soon as I can.

Thanks so much!

Emma

 

[ellena]

If you've let it dry out and the bacteria have been without food for a few days, they'll certainly have started to die. Where are the fish now?

 

[biensurmacherie]

If you've let it dry out and the bacteria have been without food for a few days, they'll certainly have started to die. Where are the fish now?

They're in a smaller tank (maybe 20-30 litres instead of the 80 they're used to) with some of the gravel from the old tank, and I'm doing water changes instead of moving the filter as it's undergravel and I didn't think that was a good idea. Like I said, it's not heated either so I'd like to move them quite soon.

There is still algae on the old gravel and it's damp to the touch, so I'm not sure if the bacteria are without food.