Moving a filter between tanks

[Bloopie]

I have a small, 16 ltr aquarium that contains 5 goldfish for a little over a month now (Yes, I've come to realize that this is too little for them and am soon going to find a bigger home for them).
Back then when I got the tank, I had no idea what cycling means, so I just filled the aquarium with tap water, put the fish inside a small bag in the aquarium for about 25 minutes and let them in. I guess the water was filled with chlorine and chloramine, not to mention not cycled... I also had a plecostamus (big mistake) in the tank with them for about 2 weeks, after which he died. This could have been for a number of reasons. I may well have misfed it, as back then I thought the algae it was eating was enough for it, also the temperature was not suited for it.
Inside this aquarium, been running for over a month now, is an internal filter that also sprays oxygen which I bought for something like $15.

Now just thie wednesday I got a new aquarium, 25 gallon in size, and am planning to start pure ammonia cycling on Sunday. I was wondering though if it would be a good idea to put in the filter from the old tank inside the new as it may have good bacteria already on it? keep in mind that the old tank contained goldfish while this one is intended to be stocked with tropical fish.

So, would it work? any reason I shouldn't try this?

Thanks.

 

[Bloo]

Well done for taking some steps and looking for advise how to make things better for your fish !

The best thing you can do, is to take some of the filter media (a piece of the sponge - even if you have to cut it) and add it into the new filter. That will most certainly help the process along. Though keep in mind that you currently only have a very small tank, so taking a bit of that media isn't going to instantly cycle your new tank. Though in conjunction with the ammonia, should start it off nicely.

Just putting the filter from the small tank into the new tank for a few hours or so is not a good idea and this will help nothing at all.

Have you bought yourself some test kits for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite and also pH ? That's the only way really to know when they tank is ready for the fish.

 

[Bloopie]

Well done for taking some steps and looking for advise how to make things better for your fish !

The best thing you can do, is to take some of the filter media (a piece of the sponge - even if you have to cut it) and add it into the new filter. That will most certainly help the process along. Though keep in mind that you currently only have a very small tank, so taking a bit of that media isn't going to instantly cycle your new tank. Though in conjunction with the ammonia, should start it off nicely.

Just putting the filter from the small tank into the new tank for a few hours or so is not a good idea and this will help nothing at all.

Have you bought yourself some test kits for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite and also pH ? That's the only way really to know when they tank is ready for the fish.

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How do I go about adding a piece of the sponge to the new filter? I thought I should be adding it to the tank? (Sorry for being a bit clueless)

I will buy the test kits in a day or two. (is there a kit that tests for ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and pH together?)

Oh and one more thing, what temperature should I set my heater to when starting the cycle?

Thanks once more

 

[Bloo]

It depends what type of filter your new filter is - what sort of media does it have ? sponges / filter floss / ceramic donuts etc. ? Any of that from your old filter would help if you somehow add it to the new filter.

The vast majority of the beneficial bacteria resides in the filter - therefor it would be significantly better if you could actually add some of the old media directly to the new filter - instead of just putting it in the tank.

I can highly recommend API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) which are a liquid type test you have to do in a tube (it's very easy) and are by far superior to the paper test strip types which sort of test for everything in one go.

I'd say to have the temperature around 26 (around 79F) while cycling and there are no fish in there. But if you are going to put your goldfish in there, the tank water should then be anyting between 50 - 68 F. But if it's going to be for other Freshwater tropical fish, then you can keep it around 77F or so.

 

[Bloopie]

It depends what type of filter your new filter is - what sort of media does it have ? sponges / filter floss / ceramic donuts etc. ? Any of that from your old filter would help if you somehow add it to the new filter.

The vast majority of the beneficial bacteria resides in the filter - therefor it would be significantly better if you could actually add some of the old media directly to the new filter - instead of just putting it in the tank.

I can highly recommend API (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals) which are a liquid type test you have to do in a tube (it's very easy) and are by far superior to the paper test strip types which sort of test for everything in one go.

I'd say to have the temperature around 26 (around 79F) while cycling and there are no fish in there. But if you are going to put your goldfish in there, the tank water should then be anyting between 50 - 68 F. But if it's going to be for other Freshwater tropical fish, then you can keep it around 77F or so.

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My new filter works on ceramic donuts... How exactly do I add the media from the old filter in the canister?

 

[Bloo]

Well not knowing exactly which filters you have it's impossible to say - so if there is any way whatsover you can shove in some media anywhere - it would help

 

[@ombomb]

If the worst comes to the worst and there is no way to fit the old media into the new media, put it in a mess bag / old stocking or something and leave it in the tank. It will still help seed the new filter.