New tank new filter > cycle

[Robv1965]

Just recieved my shipment from Big Al's! Orderd Sunday recieved Friday. Not to bad in my opinion.

One of the things I recieved is a Filstar XP3 for my 46 bowfront.

Would it help to run the new filter in my existing 30g for a week or so? The 30g happens to have a pretty heavy bio load? And then transfer it to the 46 and add a few small fish. Is it possible to avoid a full 4-6 weeks to cycle?

I could also take a bunch of gravel from my 30g's undergravel filter, put in a mesh bag and put it in the XP3?

One more question...I finally tested my 30g for nitrates. they were kinda high at about 70ppm. Is this good or bad for establishing the biological filter?

ok one more...should I put some water from my 30g into the new tank?

Thanks:)

[OrionGirl]

Running the filter on your existing tanke will help. I would go a full 2 weeks, more if possible, just to allow the maximum colonization by the bacteria. You'll still want to monitor the new tank for a few weeks, and go slow on the fish additions, but you should be able to avoid a large spike of ammonia/nitrites.

The nitrate levels really are not relevant to establishing new bacteria. They do indicate that you may want to increase the frequency of water changes. While nitrates are seldom harmful, they are indicative that other, less testable chemicals may be building up.

The water from your 30 may bring in a few good things, in terms of microfauna, but it will also be introducing other wastes that you don't want. It will not introduce the bacteria that process ammonia and nitrates. I probably would not do it. A handful of the gravel would be helpful, but since you'll innoculate the filter first, probably not needed.

[Must4ng s4lly]

I agree with OG! Cycle the tank as long as you can. I usually do it with a Betta. I would not introduce the material form the other tank as it could have paracitess and other things like ich in one of its cycles. I actually transfered ich to a tank this way! Yuck! Pushing your luck on the cycle can hurt too. I have lost many fish pushing the cycle on a new aquarium...