Santa's bringing new tank (I hope)

[jamie1972]

I have hinted to my hubby (Santa's helper) that I would like a 12 g aquarium for my office. We have a 30g at home....and have had it up for about 4 months. Water parameters are great.

That said....what is the best way for me to share the biological goodies from the home tank with the new one?

Gravel? filter media? filter media weighted down in the tank for awhile?

Advice please.

 

[Shagmaster]

Gravel and filter media from the old tank. Put some of the gravel in the bottom of your new filter and the filter media from the other tank. Should speed up your cycle. Did with my tanks.
Hope "Santas Helper" lets the Big guy know what to put under the tree.

 

[jamie1972]

Thanks, Shag. Don't mean to sound like an "igmo" but, do you think if I put some new filter media in front of the existing filter and left it there between now and Christmas....it would be colonized by then? And I will also follow your advice on the gravel.

 

[jm1212]

you have to have a source of ammoina, so if you tank out about half of the filter media from the 30 gallon, you will need to go out and get some fish right away to suppy ammoina for the bacteria, or, you could put some fish food in the tank and let it sit in there for a couple of days and then put the media in- both ways work well.

any ideas on stocking?

 

[Star_Rider]

what kind of filter do you have in the 30?

if it has a sponge you can squeezt the sponge goopin's into the new filter ..as suggested..you need a source of ammonia..so get yer fish..

it a good source of bacteria you will shorten the time it takes to cycle the tank. usually by weeks

 

[tjBlotto]

I'm excited about christmas!

 

[KeithL]

Thanks, Shag. Don't mean to sound like an "igmo" but, do you think if I put some new filter media in front of the existing filter and left it there between now and Christmas....it would be colonized by then? And I will also follow your advice on the gravel.

The easiest way would be if you have a filter that uses the same media. You can move used media from your existing tank to your new one. If not and can run your new filter in the old tank along with your current filter for a couple of weeks that will speed things up a bunch. The next best thing would be to put new media in the tank for a couple of weeks. A bag of new cleaned substrate sunk in your current tank can help build up the good bugs as well.

The person who recommended adding a source of ammonia was thinking you were asking about cycling your new tank starting now. Don't add ammonia to your existing cycled tank.

Make sure you test lots when you start the cycle on the new tank. At worst it will be a short cycle. Sometimes it is like the tank is already cycled when you add bacteria this way.

Enjoy your new tank.