Okay, like the title states, I'm not a newbie, but this question kinda is! I've got quite a few tanks, but now the girlfriend wants one of her own...its just a 10 gallon but she loves it. My question is...HOW can I cycle it at my house (she started college soccer 2-a-days doesnt have time to test water/change water etc) and then transport it to hers? Obviously drain most water out before I take it over to her house...but how much do I need to leave in there so it doesn't mini-cycle when I fill it back up...? Thanks everyone!
not a newbie but a newbie question!
- Thread starter erk2581
- Start date
The water is not what is cycled, the filter is. As long as you keep the filter media wet and the transport happens within a 24 hour period, you should not have any bacteria die off. If she has a substrate, just leave enough water to keep it wet as well as there is some bacteria in the substrate.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Yea, as snoopy said the filter is what is cycled, so don't even worry about the tank water, Just leave the media and substrate wet.
If you take all of your media and put it in hers, your tank will go through at least a mini cycle. I would get her tank set up and add "squeezings" from your filters into her filter. Some bacteria will be transferred and her cycle will be jump started.
What i do is use two foam pieces in my ac 50 so if i get a new tank i just use one of those. Of course not all filters make it easy to do that. I also make sure my qt tank uses the same filter
When you move the tank, ensure the media is damp, NOT under water! It must have oxygen to live, so if the water is not flowing, it should have some air exposure. Same goes for the gravel.
I have found I can do pretty much of an instant cycle by swapping 50% of the new media with equal amount from an established filter.
I have found I can do pretty much of an instant cycle by swapping 50% of the new media with equal amount from an established filter.
