Any benefit to using established water?

[yonsu]

It is my understanding that the vast majority of the tank's bacteria thrives in the filter media, and to some extent, the substrate. Is there any benefit to transferring water from an established system when setting up a new tank? Just the water, nothing else.. I always assumed such efforts were useless, but I seem to often hear otherwise..

Thanks!

 

[BrkD]

I think the only thing you'll get out of it is some nitrate and dechlorinated water. So there really is no point.

 

[wataugachicken]

no, not in a new tank.

 

[Beasts]

If you have a gravel cleaner (Python) use it to pull water from the gravel and then put that water in the new aquarium. The tumbling action of the siphon will loosen some bacteria from the gravel which will then be transferred to the new aquarium. An excellent seed for the nitrogen cycle. The detritus which will also be transfered will be covered with good bacteria.
Beasts

 

[jpappy789]

Most of the bacteria are on solid surfaces...ie tanks decor, substrate, filter media. Very little reside in the water, as stated earlier.

 

[boostnbuds]

i would just transfer and established filter media to the new tank.