Cycling question

[catt410]

I am going to be getting a 20gl in the next couple of days. If I fill it with water from a cycled tank will it then be a cycled tank or will it have to be cycled? I was thinking when I do a water change on the 135 gl I could use that water????? I'm pretty sure I will have to get a filter so it will be new.

Thanks for the help.

[Weezer]

Water will not make it cycled, use some media and put some gravel in something, from another tank if you can....:)

[davexstumpe]

:iagree:

[catt410]

Got it. I will take some stuff from the large tank.....

[severum mama]

I cycle every tank this way. It will not be instant, but it will be very fast- I've cycled a 55 gallon in 3 days this way.

Start with a very small bio load of fish when you move the media over (you have to provide a source of ammonia for the bacteria or they will begin to die). I mean very small, like one fish! Test the water every day, just to make sure that the tank isn't experiencing a mini-cycle. Do large water changes as necessary to keep levels safe. Once you are sure the tank has cycled, wait another week or 2 and stock again.... lightly! Wait a couple of weeks in between new additions. The tank may be cycled, but it is not nearly as stable as a more established tank, so it will be very important to take it slow.

Good luck!:)

[Mgamer20o0]

you can put the filter for the new tank on the bigger tank then switch it over. you could use media or gravel from the old tank also. i would still fishless cycle it with the boost from the other tanks.

[mellowvision]

I have a question about priming the filter with the old tank... if that old tank has a BGAlgae problem, or any algae problem for that matter, will it be likely to transport that algae problem via the filter to the new tank?

I am waiting for a new tom rapids mini canister... it's in the mail, but I wanted to do exactly this with it... but my old tank is currently having quite an algae boom.

[mellowvision]

nump! I just got my new mini canister in the mail, and was hoping for some insight into the question above...

[severum mama]

I have a question about priming the filter with the old tank... if that old tank has a BGAlgae problem, or any algae problem for that matter, will it be likely to transport that algae problem via the filter to the new tank?

I would imagine, but I don't know for sure.

[ct-death]

Algae needs light to grow, but the spores will be prevelant throughout the tank system after it has been there for a period of time :(

[catt410]

If I ran the new filter on the old tank, how long should I do it? I'm assuming the new filter won't be very big so I can do both for a while.

Thanks again.

[severum mama]

2-4 weeks should be just fine.