Cycling new 75G

[KRUNNCH540]

I just upgraded to an A.G.A 75G and will be cycling fishless unless someone tells me otherwise. What I'd like to do is probably run a brand new Aqua Clear 110 for the brunt of the filtering. At the same time, I will be running my Penguin Bio-wheel 150 with the same filter cartridge from my already cycled 29G to help the process. Am I missing something or is that all I need to do for cycling the new aquarium? I've read over the #2 option for fishless cycling (stickie) and if I understand this correctly...basically I will be replicating what fish would be doing (producing ammonia) and measuring it until I reach the 2nd and 3rd stages where healthy bacteria growth is at an optimum? If it helps..the timeline I'm waiting for the tank to be fully cycled and ready to go doesn't matter. So if it is 4+ weeks before anything can happen...don't care. Also, I will more than likely be inhabitating the new tank with plants during the initial startup cycle.

Any insight or what I'm missing would be great.

Thanks,
Kris

[Coler]

You're good to go :)

[Rbishop]

If you already have an established tank, you can use filter pads from it and get some bacteria in the new tank immediately. You should be able to start a slow stocking and build the colony as you go, every two weeks or so.

Or use the pads and do the fishless thing with ammonia.

[KRUNNCH540]

Thankfully someone tells me that...I just spent the better half of an hour reading the "best ammonia" article over in "Freshwater Products and DIY" and subtletly came to the conclusion that ammonia while good in theory, scares me. So if I'm understanding you correctly, I run my old filter in the new aquarium and viola...several weeks later all is kosher. Perhaps should I throw in a tied off stocking filled with gravel from my already cycled tank in addition to the previously cycled filter media?

This brings me to bear the question, before I bring over pre-cycled media to the new tank..should the already cycled tank have and correct me if I'm wrong..

Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: <40ppm
pH: irrelevant as long as the fish are acustom to it (which in my case, my fish are readily fine at 8.4 and no signs of stress have been noted)

Thanks,
Kris

[Rbishop]

Actually bringing over media and pads from the current tank, will have some good bacteria on it. That bacteria will have to have a food source, or it will die off in a couple of days.

You could bring it over and put one or two fish in, monitor and do water changes as necessary. And one or two more fish every 2-3 weeks, repeating the monitoring and let the bacteria catch up. Do 50% water change whenever you .25 on ammonia or nitrites.

You could bring the media over, dose to 3 ppm ammonia, and be in the middle stage of a fishless. WHen a 3ppm dose disappers in 24 hrs as indicated by ammonia and nitrites at zero and an increase in nitrates, you do a massive 90% water change and go to full stocking.