Seeding a new saltwater tank

[paws03]

Is it possible to seed a new saltwater tank with a filter from a mature freshwater tank? If so, should the cycling process take longer than seeding with a filter from a mature saltwater tank? Has anyone had any experience with this? Thanks in advance for your response!

 

[William]

Hi, I don't have a saltwater tank, but I am 99% sure that you can't seed a saltwater tank with bacteria from a freshwater tank. I am sure they are different species. The ones living in freshwater will have a lower solute concentration inside them (otherwise water will osmose in causing them to burst) and the ones living in saltwter will have a higher solute concentration (to preven water loss by osmosis) in general and also be tolerant of the saline conditions. The cycling process in a saltwater tank is different as I belive the live rock should come condition with much of the "good bacteria" nitrifying bacteria on it. I'll move this to saltwater where hopefully they will be able to give a better help.

 

[bgraber]

William is right.. Won't work. Try a few pieces of good looking live rock from an LFS.. Should have some bacteria to cycle the tank.. Or try to find a fellow reefer near you to spare a cup or two of their sand..

 

[Navarre]

Sounds advice from william and bgraber.

Get good quality live rock, the best filter you can get for a marine tank!

 

[paws03]

Great, thanks for the advice!