Pond bacteria for cycle?

[iresq]

I am one week into fishless cycling a 55g (magnum 350 + AC70). I have two 5 gallon buckets of lava rock that are part of a trickle filter system for my pond.

I was thinking about taking a 1/2 bucket and dumping into my tank to push the cycle. Good idea or no?

 

[Mgamer20o0]

it might help. the only thing being out side its hard to know what has got into the pond.

 

[budrecki]

The lava rock would definitely work to "seed" your filter, however.....being part of an outdoor pond I would have a few concerns.

Are there any fish in the outdoor pond? Do you treat your yard with any fertilizers, insecticides, or other chemicals that may have contaminated the pond? Do you use any algaecides or other chemicals in your pond?

 

[iresq]

Thanks. I think I will try them for seed. Yes, the outdoor pond is stocked. I us no chemicals in the pond, just mechanical and biological filtration. The pond walls are elevated to keep run-off out (modified cinder block construction for you pond people).

 

[jennypenny]

As others have said, it could seed the tank, but I would not put outdoor rocks into a tank. I would be afraid of bringing in disease and parasites.