Avoiding the Cycle..

loucas6290

Lurking Since 2005
Jan 2, 2005
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I recently purchased a 30 gallon tank with a wisper 30 would it be possible to avoid the cycle by taking an already established filter from a 10 gallon tank and switching them? I'm going on the theory that there is enough nitrafying bacteria In the 10 gallon tank to still sustain while another bacterial colony was being established in t he whisper 30. i am wondering if i would be abloe to use a small amount of fish rightt away with the already established filter and then slowly adding until the tank is stocked. also, i currently dont have the money to fully stock a tank like it should be done after a fishless cycle. i will fishless cycle if it is needed. any input or advice will be greatly apreatiatend
 
It would work but would only be able to support the same amount of bioload that was in the 10g. Over time, as you slowly increase your stocking levels for the 30g, the bacteria population will grow to support the bioload. Start slow and work your way up.
 
Thanks....Yea I wasn't gonna add anymore fish but I just wanted to know if that would be okay as a substitute for like 2 weeks until the new filter is ready to run in the 30.
 
Thats what I did, sorta. A friend has 3 well established tanks, I waited until he was ready to change half his filter mesh. Setup my tank, ran it for a few days, added 3 guppies and most of his used mesh, added 3 corys a week later, and then some neon tetras a week after that. Like others have said, just build up the bioload slowly.
 
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