2.8 gallon cycle question

[mzaltadena]

I just bought a new 2.8 gallon tank that is going to be used for a birthing tank for my female guppies that are pregnant.....QUESTION....when I set up the tank may I use water from my water change that I will be doing from my already cycled 10 gal tank???

[Hound]

Well, you can but it probably won't do much good. If your looking to jump start the cycle in the 2.8g what you should probably do is get a sponge filter and place that in your 10g for 2-4 weeks before you need it in the 2.8g.

[mzaltadena]

Well I do not have 2-4 weeks my female guppies are due any day!


Well, you can but it probably won't do much good. If your looking to jump start the cycle in the 2.8g what you should probably do is get a sponge filter and place that in your 10g for 2-4 weeks before you need it in the 2.8g.

[Hound]

Gotcha. Transfering water does help, but only to a small degree from my experience. If its possible to transfer some of the filter media from your 10g it would work. If thats not possible you can transfer a small amount of substrate or a piece of decor from the 10g. Pretty much anything with surface area should have some helpful bacteria on it. May also work if you just take a filter cartridge and shake it around in the 2.8g.