Seed/Cycle a new tank

[Gilcano]

undefinedundefinedHi, people I'm new to this website and also a beginner aquarist. I just to have a 30g tank with a couple of Oscars (2"), a Redparrot (4"), a Pleco (2"), and a Green Terror-new addition (2"). I upgrade to a 150g with a Fluval 304 and an Emperor 400 Filters. The guy who sold me the tank was using it as a Salt Water Reef Tank, with this two filters. He told me He cleaned the filters and the only thing I have to do is get a new MEDIA. my question is: can I use this two filters in my 30g tank in order to speed the seed/cycle of the new tank?. I want to transfer the fishes by the end of this month. The new tank will be filled with water this weekend (01/21).
Thanks

 

[budrecki]

Move the filter from the 30 into the new tank, and the gravel as well.

 

[kveeti]

At the same time you transfer your fish, either use their old filters on the new tank simultaneously for a while, or better yet, just put all the old filter media into your new filters. As long as the fish load is the same, you will be fine either way. Using the old gravel couldn’t hurt, but even if you don’t, the filters will catch up quickly. Using some of the old gravel or decorations as well is good, not only for the bacteria but also for the microfauna it will introduce.

 

[Gilcano]

Seed/Cycle new tank

OK, but the filter in the 30g tank is too small. I want to use the new filters (Fluval 304 and the Emperor 400) in the 30 gal tank so they'll picked-up the media. Then I'm thinking to use the water from the 30g tank in the 150g tank, transfer the filter and the fishes, but before I will have the 150g tank filled-up and treated for about 2 days. I won't use the same gravel tough. The reason for this is that I'll keep some fish in the 30g tank (3 gouramis) that belongs to my son.

 

[kveeti]

That would work; sorry I read your first post wrong and was thinking the other way around. Just note the “old” water has little to no nitrifying bacteria, but will help in acclimating your fish to the new water as well as adding microfauna, which is good, should help eliminate the “cloudy water” phase. Keep testing the new tank when things are transferred over, just in case. You can always cut off a piece of media (sponge) from the old filter and stuff it into the new one if you run into problems. The old tank will recover in no time from the bit of transferred media.

What kind of filter is on the old tank? I have an Aqua Clear with 2 AC sponges and regularly keep an extra half sponge (a Fluval sponge cut to fit, but it is half the thickness of an actual AC sponge) for cutting up and transferring to a quarantine tank if needed.

 

[Gilcano]

Seed?cycle a new tank

OK, The filter in the old tank is a small AcuaClear (w/sponge-carbon and noddles media). I'm thinking to use this filter in the 150g tank and also got a very good idea from a friend, I'll get the gravel from the 30g in a ladies hose so it will be easy to remove later also to transfer the bacteria and the microfauna. I'll transfer the water also from the 30g. I'll get the 2 tanks side by side for 2 weeks.