Reusuing Tank Water

[vgames33]

I'm setting up a tank (22g planted) that will either house female bettas, tetras, or some black moor goldfish (I love the googly eyes). I have a male betta in his own 10g, and he tends to leave a lot of uneaten food laying round, so I clean the tank quite often. I was wondering if I could use some of this waste water to start cycling my new tank. I plan to take the net that slows the filter for rufus (it hangs in front of the outlet) to the new tank to start the bacteria colony.

I think I've asked this before, but how many females could fit in there (with 4 inches of substrate, so probably only 17g of water....).

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Unfortunately the tank water itself really won't contain much bacteria at all. The filter intake covering might have some bacteria on it, but how much really depends a lot on how much surface area the "net" has for bacteria to grow on.

 

[LuckyCricketMafia]

Can't you just add some of the media from your established filter?

 

[vgames33]

I know I can move bacteria from the filters, but I was wanting to use the old water to feed my bacteria and plants while I decide on fish.

 

[vgames33]

I've also discovered that a coffee filter over my filter's mesh seems to work pretty well in filtering out the sand dust (from filling up the tank) without plugging up my new cartridge.