Cycling Question

[Optimus]

Ok.. I just bought a 125 gallon tank about 2 weeks ago and I am in the process of buying all the additional equipment needed (filter(s), gravel, decorations etc....) before I start cycling the tank. I currently have a 60 gallon tank and do weekly water changes on it. Well when I do my 50% water change at the end of each month, I was wondering if I could transfer this water to my 125 gallon tank and then fill the rest of the tank with tap water if this would quicken the process of cycling? I have heard that you can transfer some of the gravel from another tank to help out, but wasn't sure if I could do the same with water. I figured since I am about to do one (water change) at the end of August, I would ask around and see.

Hey greensparrow just had a read through and figured I add my two cents.
To begin with the vast majority of your ammona and nitrite consuming bacteria live inside your filter. The ammount you'll find in the substrate will be minimal at best. I don't know what type of filter you have but to speed the process up I recommend taking a filter sponge from the cycled filter and placing it in between two of the new sponges. Allowing the A&N bacteria to spread

Another question I had... My 60 gallon tank has been running for about a month and a half with fish (after cycling) and was wondering if this was enough time for the "good bacteria" to form in the tank? Thanks!

I'm slightly confused by this part. To begin with if you have cycled your tank then that means you already have sufficient amounts of Ammonia and nitrifying bacteria. If you're unsure, the best way to measure this is take two 12 hour tests within a day using a liquid testing kit. If ammonia and nitrite are both at 0 then your good to go.

 

[Jspigs]

To begin with the vast majority of your ammona and nitrite consuming bacteria live inside your filter. The ammount you'll find in the substrate will be minimal at best.

Actually you have it reversed. The majority of the nitrifying bacteria will be in the substrate.

 

[Optimus]

I'm afriad this isn't true. The vast majority of A&N bacteria live inside your filter. I can link you to any number of articles as evidence if need be. The amount of nitrifying bacs present in your substrate is miniscule in comparison to the filter media which is where they live and reproduce.

I have cleaned my substrate using chlorine rich tap water and never saw a spike as I never let untreated water run through my external. Yet at the same time know people who have forgotten to add dechlor during a water change, had that chlorine enter their filter and went through a mini cycle as a result.

 

[KarlTh]

Heh. It's going to depend a hell of a lot on how long the filter's been established, what media it contains, what your substrate is, how oxygenated the water in the substrate is - a hard and fast ruling is probably a mistake.

 

[Rbishop]

Heh. It's going to depend a hell of a lot on how long the filter's been established, what media it contains, what your substrate is, how oxygenated the water in the substrate is - a hard and fast ruling is probably a mistake.

:thm: And just for reality, how well your tank circulation is and what kind of filters you run, such as UGF/RUGF. I have swapped out HOBs and canister filters with complete new ones and never seen so much as a spike.