new 50gal tank

[andyt_uk]

so new tank arrives on wednesday - yay!
if i transplant a handful of gravel and a small potted plant how quickly can i expect it to cycle?

 

[CFC]

When transplanting you need to add food for the bacteria to feed on for the bacteria to survive.
I personally take 1/4 of the filter media from a existing tank and fill the foot of a pair of tights with some substrate and transfer them to the new tank (filter media inbetween the sponges of the new filter), and then add a few fish straight away to feed the transplanted bacteria. Fish can then be added a few at a time after a week or so as would be with a tank cycled in the usual manor.

(BTW this is not what is known as fishless cycling, if done properly you will never see a ammonia or nitrite spike)

 

[slagmi]

Yes it works!

In your case I would use all the used filter media from your 7.5
Don't let it get cold or dry out and don't rinse it. Add more media as needed for your larger filter.

Once the water chemistry and temp are stable you should be able to immedaiately add about the same number of fish your 7.5 was supporting.
Beyond that add slowly a fish a week or 3 every couple of weeks for example.

Congrats on the new tank!