Filter Media/Cycling Question

BettaNewbieX03

BettaNewbieX03

AC Members
Aug 1, 2007
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Hey guys,

I am going to be purchasing a new aquarium shortly and I had a question about cycling and using media from my already established tank.

I have a 10 gallon cycled tank with a Tetra Whisper Filter. I have one sponge filter and two of the other bio-filter bags shoved in it to provide extra media for the bacteria to grow on (and the water still flows through them fine).

My questions are, if I take out one of those Bio-Bags and put them in another Tetra Whisper filter and place that in the new Tank just to kick start the cycle, will that hurt my already established tank by taking that media out and therefor a deal of good bacteria? Also the new tank will probably have a Bio-Wheel filter running also, will the Bio wheel develope enough bacteria so that I can remove the whisper filter once the fishy cycle is complete?

Sorry to be so wordy and thanks for any help!
 
It won't hurt the tank.
 
The best thing would be to simply set up the 2nd filter on your exusting tank now and let it build up for 2 weeks at a minimum.

The next best thing would be to use the extra media you have now (again in the tank for 2 weeks or more) and transfer it over ot the new filter when ready. I would also suppliment this with a handful of gravel into the new tank, maybe grabbing a decoration or two, etc.

CAUTION: If you existing tank is relatively new, such as the cycle is not at least 2 months old or more, removing the media may very well cause a mini-burp in the existing 10G. ALSO, the cycle is a balance, and simply by swapping media from one filter into another will not necessary grant you an instant balance for your new tank, its size and bio-loads, etc.

Okay, I hope I didn't confuse, but in short: Run the 2nd filter in the existing tank for 2+ weeks if possible, if cannot, setup the new tank and run the new filter using old media from the existing filter off of the 10G. Adding anything from the old tank into the new can only help, just be careful not to strip too much out of the existing tank if it is relatively new ;)
 
welcome to ac.

yes, you can move one some of the filtration over. It will help the cycle along with a boost from the bacteria. The bio-wheel filter will def have bacteria on it in a few weeks for sure and you can remove the other filter. you dont even need the whisper filter on the new tank actually unless you are really trying to cycle as quickly as possible. You could just put the media from the existing tank into the back of the bio-wheel filter.

And it won't really hurt your established tank that bad if you take out a sponge or bio-bag. I wouldn't feed your fish as much as normal at first, just in case the nitrogen balance is slightly off. but there is bacteria all over your tank and it shouldn't be too bad.
 
Thanks guys, and I didnt think the media from the old tank would fit in the Bio wheel filter, never actually seen one before so I assumed the media wouldnt fit.

Now how many fish could I start off with if I used the established media? would I want to use more or less the same amount I have in the 10 gallon? Will the Bacteria die off if there is not enough ammonia or nitrite for the bacteria to eat? How should I compensate for the lack of waste in the water?
 
Do a site search on fishless cycling :-)

The amount of bacteria in a stable tank is a function of the available food for it. Adding a 2nd filter or more media to an exisiting one will not increase the total amount of bacteria. Removing media from an established tank for seeding a new one will effect the tank from which it is removed. Whether this will be a problem or not depends on how much bacteria is removed.
 
I agree with two tank
I usually just squeeze bacteria out of a sponge from an existing tank into the new filter..
you can seed a new tank either way(adding media)..usually best if you keep the bioload down as you will not have enough bacteria to get a heavy load ready before you get some spikes in ammonia and nitrites.

if done correctly the new tank should cycle in 3-5 days.
 
Thanks guys, found a few good sites on Fishless Cycling. My first tank was cycled by my one betta, so my next one will be fishless. That way I can get experience from both ways of doing things.

Thanks again!
 
I actually cleaned my filter media from my 75g in my 10g to cycle the tank. All that brown 'sludge' is full of bacteria. The water looked almost muddy afterwards but cleared up completely within 24 hrs and haven't had any detectable ammonia or nitrites in over a week. This sludge will also serve as a food source to keep feeding the bacteria until the fish are added.
 
Slappy*McFish said:
I actually cleaned my filter media from my 75g in my 10g to cycle the tank. All that brown 'sludge' is full of bacteria. The water looked almost muddy afterwards but cleared up completely within 24 hrs and haven't had any detectable ammonia or nitrites in over a week. This sludge will also serve as a food source to keep feeding the bacteria until the fish are added.
Click to expand...

Isn't it bad that you cant detect any ammonia? Does that mean its already cycled with just one squeeze from your media? Do you have any Nitrates?
 
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