Cycling a Second Tank

[ChiaJesus]

My 55G SA cichlid tank officially finished cycling yesterday. I have to come clean and admit that I got impatient and added fish before it completely cycled. I don't think they're any worse for wear since nitrites never went above .2 but hey, I'm glad it's finally over.

The SA ciclid tank has two filters: one AquaClear 70 HOB (with sponge, carbon, and pellet bag) and a Fluval 4 Plus. I installed the Fluval last weekend so it's still pretty new. I also purchased a replacement carbon bag for the AquaClear.

Last weekend I started a fishless cycle on my 48G upstairs. The ammonia is starting to drop but it still has a few weeks to go.

So my question is...

How stupid would it be for me to replace the carbon in the AquaClear this weekend and swish the old carbon bag around in the new tank to help speed up the cycle? Considering that the 55 only finished cycling yesterday, would this be a dumb thing to do? Should I wait another week or so?

[petluvr]

I would wait a week or so, with newly cycled tanks such as yours a lot of things can be bad and cause the whole thing to have to be re-cycled. Wait a week or so then tank about five gallons out of the 55 and put into the 48, this will help speed up the process a bit.

[mountain_webste]

So my question is...

How stupid would it be for me to replace the carbon in the AquaClear this weekend and swish the old carbon bag around in the new tank to help speed up the cycle? Considering that the 55 only finished cycling yesterday, would this be a dumb thing to do? Should I wait another week or so?

IMO "Swishing" the old filter carttridge around in your new tank won't do anything. Good bacteria don't float around in the water column, they are attached to things like your filter media, gravel, decor etc. If you have the same filter on your new tank, you can take the old cartidge from the cycled tank and put it in the new tank to speed things along. But, like petluvr said, I'd wait a week or two more so you don't throw your 1st tank out of whack.

Another option is to take some gravel from your cycled tank and add that to your new tank to seed the bacteria colony. Again, I'd wait though.

[ChiaJesus]

Good stuff. Thanks for the advice. I won't do anything now and take some time to think about how to do this correctly next week.

[jm1212]

let your tank settle for a while.

taking media from filters is only a good idea if your tank is well established, or cycled for at least a few months.

[mostlycichlids]

IMO "Swishing" the old filter carttridge around in your new tank won't do anything. Good bacteria don't float around in the water column, they are attached to things like your filter media, gravel, decor etc. If you have the same filter on your new tank, you can take the old cartidge from the cycled tank and put it in the new tank to speed things along. But, like petluvr said, I'd wait a week or two more so you don't throw your 1st tank out of whack.

Another option is to take some gravel from your cycled tank and add that to your new tank to seed the bacteria colony. Again, I'd wait though.

I have cycled many tanks by squeezing out filter pads and swishing them around in the tank. You can also squeeze them in to your filter.

ChiaJesus I would wait a week or so.

[Brian Bivens]

What I do, and would advise you to do in the future, is keep a sponge over the intake of your AC70 (unless you really don't like the look of it) and at any given time, you can simply move it into a new filter for a newly cycling tank. Instant cycle. I have also cleaned out an existing filter, in fish water, in a bucket, then soaked the new filter media in the messy nasty old media water. It worked for me.

As everyone stated, you rushed this one along, and would hate to have the thing go into a re-cycle. Wait a bit, and maybe put a little scoop of your gravel in a mesh bag, in the filter in your new tank. That could seed, and help speed your other tanks cycle without hurting yours.

[petluvr]

The gravel idea is also great. I have a ten gallon that seems to be in constant cycle-CRAZY THING....I will take gravel from other VERY established tanks and throw in and it does help. Don't mess with the already cycled one however, it is wise that you decided to just wait a little-I know it's hard-but it is the best thing to do for the tank and the inhabitants.